As I was turning down the road to my church Sunday morning, I noticed a large “Dantzler Farms – Pick-Your-Own Strawberries” sign. I immediately thought, “We’re in the midst of strawberry season,” yet I have not picked, nor have I purchased any fresh strawberries.

Fortunately, I have eaten some great strawberries. Our Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce members recently enjoyed a Business After Hours at Francis Beidler Forest, just outside off of Highway 178 near Harleyville. Mike Dawson, Nancy Jean Nettles, Barbara Thomas, Millie Chaplin and other staff members presented a luscious array of foods that included a mound of big, juicy red strawberries accompanied by a fountain of flowing chocolate. Ahhh!

Every spring I remind readers that fresh strawberries aren’t merely delicious, they are literally packed with nutritional value. They provide large amounts of vitamins, especially vitamin C, plenty of fiber, plus antioxidants and phytochemicals known to prevent certain diseases. Berries of all kinds provide folic acid, which helps prevent birth defects and may help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and colon cancer. Berries can also help lower LDL cholesterol, a contributor to heart disease, stroke and arteriosclerosis. Strawberries and other berries are high in ellagic acid, which has been shown to help reduce colon and cervical cancer and leukemia.

We in The Times and Democrat readership area are fortunate to have many Department of Agriculture-approved roadside markets and pick-you-own strawberry farms. To find a nearby fresh produce outlet, contact 1-800-628-4571 or log on to www.scfb.org. Remember, there is something special about hand-selecting your own fruits and vegetables. Besides the personal satisfaction of choosing individual strawberries, consider that a strawberry-picking adventure with your children and/or grandchildren will be an outing to remember! So, what are you waiting for?

You may want to consider adding strawberries to your cereal, snacking on berries, topping your bowl of fat-free ice cream with berries, stirring berries into your yogurt or tossing berries into your dinner salad – they’re even good in chicken salad. Of course, you could always whip up the traditional strawberry shortcake or a quick trifle, but if you really want to get creative, try the following recipes.

Berry Good

Fruit Cobbler

4 nectarines, cut in thin slices

1/2 cup peach preserves (you may use the no-sugar-added preserves)

1 pint of fresh strawberries, cut in medium-size pieces

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup plain flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup whole milk or evaporated milk

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

Ice cream or whipped cream (optional)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the nectarine slices, peach preserves, strawberries and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract until well combined. Pour this fruit mixture into an 8-inch square baking pan. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar by tossing with a fork. Then make a well in the center and pour in the milk, melted butter and remaining teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir to combine until thick batter forms. Gently smooth this batter on top of the fruit mixture in the pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping or eat it plain. To be sure, you, your family and guests will enjoy it any way you serve it!

Mrs. Ellen’s

Strawberry Pie

1 large Keebler graham cracker pie crust

1 cup sugar

1-1/2 cups water

2 heaping tablespoons cornstarch

2 cups fresh strawberries, cut in chunks

Small 3-ounce box strawberry Jello

1 large tub of Cool Whip

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water and cornstarch. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium and boil, stirring frequently, until mixture is clear and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in dry Jell-O. Refrigerate – in the pan – until slightly congealed. Stir in the strawberry chunks and pour into pie shell. Chill until firm. It#,s actually best when chilled overnight. Top with Cool Whip just before serving. For those of you who are trying to cut calories, you may want to use sugar-free Jell-O and fat-free Cool Whip.

For more information on the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, call 843-462-2150 or log on to www.beidlerforest.com.

* If you have a recipe to share or if you’re searching for a special recipe, write to Teresa Mizzell Hatchell, 179 Cherry Lane, St. George, SC 29477, or e-mail her at tgmhatchell@yahoo.com.

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