Seasonal Star: Strawberries!

The days are lasting long into the evening, the grills are fired up, and temperatures are finally climbing--time for something refreshing! That means red, juicy, sweet...STRAWBERRIES! Low in calories (a mere 55 per cup) and high in healthy antioxidants and vitamin C, these berries are a late spring and early summer seasonal standout in abundance right now at farmer's markets across the Garden State.

Enjoy them all by themselves, cool and fresh, or dip them in whipped cream. Or get a bit more decadent and indulge your chocolate cravings with this recipe for strawberry shortcake with chocolate "gravy"--otherwise known as "soppin' chocolate." And then there's strawberry meringue cake, so pretty you might want to make two: one to look at and one to eat!

But don't limit these berries to the end of a meal--make them part of the meal. Add sliced strawberries to a salad of spinach and fennel and drizzle with balsamic vinegar for a quick nd healthy starter or side bursting with flavor.

And since Independence Day is right around the corner, show your stars and stripes with this super-simple, no-bake twist on a classic Fourth of July dessert: strawberry short cakes!

Storage tips: Strawberries are fragile fruits and will go bad quickly without proper handling and storage. Refrigerate berries as soon as possible and store them in a shallow, uncovered container. And only wash your strawberries just before you eat them--excess moisture will speed up spoilage.

Did you know?

• There are about 200 tiny seeds on every strawberry. Have you ever seen another fruit with seeds on the outside?
• Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
• Many New Jersey farms offer opportunities to pick your own strawberries and other fruits. Search for one near you.