THE DISH

Fresh, local strawberries are only with us for a short time each spring; get out and get some while the gettin’ is still good.

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The arrival of strawberries each spring is cause for celebration. The shiny, cardinal-red berries crowned with green leaves are so pretty, they’re a treat for your eyes before you ever get them into your mouth. When you do, and the first bite releases their sweetness, a perfect marriage of simple sugar with a tiny tang that pops up on the back end of your taste buds, you know you’ve got a good one.

Fresh strawberries are best enjoyed straight out of hand; if you’re lucky enough to grab some from a U-pick farm, you can achieve nirvana eating the ruby gems while they’re still warm from the sun.

But if you’d like to make further use of them, here are a few ways to embellish but not outshine them.

A SPRING TIME TREAT FRESH FOR PICKIN’

GO GET ‘EM!

Picking strawberries is a pleasant and tasty way to spend a spring or early summer morning. Try Sugar Hill U-pick farm in Verbena. In a hurry? Grab a few buckets at a farm stand or farm market like Sweet Creek Market in Pike Road.

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Remember to only wash your berries right before you want to use them. Wet strawberries will mold and spoil very quickly. Once you do wash them, slice them and add just a sprinkling of sugar to pull out their natural juices.

Can’t get enough of all-things-strawberry? Check out this strawberry-centric event, Cullman’s annual Strawberry Festival on April 27. Fun fact: It’s the state’s oldest strawberry festival, established in 1939.

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S P R I N G E V E NT

Simple Strawberry Dip

8 ounces of 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened 1 15-ounce jar of marshmallow cream ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg Blend the cream cheese, marshmallow cream and nutmeg with a hand mixer or with a whisk. Place the cloud-like mix in a pretty bowl and use whole strawberries, tops still on for handles, to scoop it up.

Strawberry-Lime Cooler

This drink is a great one to make in a big batch and serve from a punch bowl for a pretty presentation; just triple or quadruple the recipe. It’s also a great way to use up strawberries that are about to be too ripe. FOR FOUR DRINKS: 1.5 cups very ripe strawberries, caps removed 2 limes cut into very thin slices 1.5 cups of ginger ale 1 cup of club soda Smash the strawberries a bit with a fork and place in a bowl with the lime slices and a squeeze of lime juice. Let the mix soak for an hour or two in the fridge. Pour the mixture into a pitcher (or punch bowl if you made enough) and top with ginger ale and club soda. Give it a stir and serve over ice.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

You can make Simple Strawberry Dip and use it as a dip, or layer it with sliced berries in mason jars for a picture-pretty dessert.