Strawberry season is in full swing and we are taking full advantage of it at our house!
Farm fresh strawberries – or better yet, picked yourself! – are one of the glorious perks of springtime. Whether you drop them into smoothies, bake them into tarts, or eat them straight out of the bowl, now is the time to eat as many as you can. Our family tends to treat strawberries like asparagus; eat as much as you want until you are nearly sick of them, for this time of year comes around only once.
Obviously, there are an infinite number of ways to eat strawberries. The following recipe happens to be our current favorite. Who doesn’t love colored milk? Fruit and a bit of sweetener get pureed into a syrup that you add to a milk of your choice. My 10 year old can make this recipe from beginning to end and the giggles that I hear from the kitchen as she works with her younger brothers is music to this mommas heart!
This is a very easy recipe so plan on making it often! We like to keep the syrup in the fridge for an impromptu, after school snack or an after dinner treat. It would be super fun to serve at a kids party or a family BBQ. Add a blue straw and your fourth of July treat is done! However you enjoy it, I recommend taking it outside in the warm, spring sunshine. I swear it tastes even better that way!
Easy Strawberry Milk
When I tested this recipe, I had planned on straining the syrup. When my kids got a hold of it, they unanimously agreed that they liked the little chunks of strawberry in the drink and asked me to leave it that way. If you prefer a smoother beverage, after pureeing, simply press the strawberry syrup through a fine mess sieve.
2 quart containers of fresh strawberries, rinsed and hulled and cut into quarters
1/4 c of sugar, honey, or sweetener of your choice
1/4 c water
1/2 tsp vanilla
milk of your choice
Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Place over low heat and let cook just until the strawberries get a tiny bit soft and sweetener is dissolved. Let cool slightly and pour into a blender or food processor. CAREFUL! IT MAY BE HOT! Carefully puree the strawberry mixture until smooth. Taste to see if you have added enough sugar. Some fruit is more tart than others so feel free to adjust to your tastes but resist the urge to go overboard! You want to keep the fresh taste of the strawberries. Pour into a container, seal, and chill until ready to use. To serve, start with a large spoonful in a cup of any kind of milk you choose! You can add as little or as much as you prefer! Swirl and stir gently to combine and enjoy immediately! Leftover syrup is kind of awesome over ice cream or added to a milk shake!