Strawberry Pie

In saucepan, mix water, sugar and cornstarch.  Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute.  Remove from heat; add gelatin, stirring until dissolved.  Cool slightly, then add strawberries.  Pour into crust.  Refrigerate until set. 

If using frozen strawberries, increase cornstarch to 3 tablespoons. 

Freezing Strawberries

Easy whole unsweetened strawberries.

Wash strawberries and take stems off of them.  Place strawberries in a single layer on a cookie sheet; freeze until hard.  Quickly transfer to heavy-duty bags or prepared containers and store in freezer.

Sliced sweetened strawberries

Wash strawberries and take stems off of them.  Slice berries in half or smaller pieces.  Use 1/2 cup to 1 cup sugar for 6 cups of berries.  Gently mix strawberries with sugar and let stand about 10 minutes until sugar dissolves.  Berries will become juicy.  Spoon berries and juice into plastic containers, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.

Strawberry Freezer Jam (low sugar)

Wash strawberries, discard stems.  Crush berries 1 cup at a time, using a potato masher for best results.  If using a food processor, pulse to chop.  Do not puree.  Jam should have bits of fruit.  Measure 4 cups of crushed strawberries.

 Measure exact amount of sugar into large saucepan.  Stir 1 box of Sure-Jell for lower sugar into sugar in saucepan, mix thoroughly.  Add 1 cup water.

Bring mixture to a boil on medium-high heat, stirring constantly.  Boil and stir 1 minute.  Remove from heat.

Stir crushed fruit into hot mixture.  Stir 1 minute or until thoroughly mixed.  Pour into prepared containers.  Any plastic containers with lids will work, can also use glass jars with lids.  Allow 1/2 inch space at top for expansion during freezing.

Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours until set.  Store in freezer up to 1 year.  Keep refrigerated after opening container.

Recipes for using frozen strawberries

Easy Strawberry Lemonade

Combine in blender, frozen strawberries and lemonade to fill blender.  Blend until smooth.  Add mixture to rest of lemonade.

Breakfast Drink

Combine in blender

Strawberry Slushy

Combine in blender, 1/2 of each item.  Blend until smooth.  Pour mixture into ice cube trays.  Repeat for other half.  Makes four ice cube trays.  Freeze until solid.  Remove cubes and store in plastic bag or container.

When ready to serve, put in punch bowl and cover with lemon-lime carbonated drink.  Or put 2-3 cubes in glass and add carbonated drink.

Strawberry Jello

Mix strawberry jello according to directions.  Add 1 pt. of frozen strawberries to jello and stir.  Refrigerate until set.  May top with vanilla yogurt.

Strawberry Fruit Salad

Use fruit combinations you enjoy.  Just before serving add partially thawed whole strawberries.  (If totally thawed they will be soft and mushy).

Colorful Winter Fruit Salad (using local produce from the summer)

Partially thaw strawberries and blueberries, combine with canned peaches, serve immediately.

Strawberry Sauce

Combine thawed strawberries, water and sugar in saucepan.  Dissolve cornstarch in mixture.  Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil 1 minute.  Cool.  Use as sauce over strawberry shortcake, pancakes, ice cream.