SWEET, SWEET STRAWBERRIES

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Sweet, Sweet Strawberries

‘Tis the season for celebrating strawberries.

// BY MELISSA PETERSON

Whether indulging in the strawberry season at home with a yummy dessert or making your way to one of our state’s strawberry festivals, one thing is for sure—you won’t want to miss getting your hands on some of these delicious berries.

GET FESTIVE

Near or far, there’s guaranteed to be a strawberry festival you’re sure to love.

The Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival, now in its eighth year, takes place on Saturday, March 6. With all festival proceeds bene tting the construction of a new Habitat for Humanity of Marion County home—the organization’s 200th home, to be exact—the festival will feature over 200 vendors, entertainment, a car show, a pet contest, a kids’ zone, a pie-eating contest and, of course, delicious Florida-grown strawberries for purchase.

The festival organizers have taken great care to put safety precautions in place to keep vendors and attendees safe.

“To stay within the CDC regulations, all volunteers and food vendors will wear masks, and we have asked our vendors to wear masks,” says Joanne Black, development director for Habitat for Humanity of Marion County. “We will have social distancing, lower the number of vendors and make our aisles a little bigger to give people more room.”

Visit habitatocala.org/strawberryfestival to learn more.

Also local to the 352 area, The Villages’ annual Strawberry Festival will take place on February 26 from 4-9pm at the Brownwood Paddock Square. Enjoy free live entertainment, a pie-eating contest at 7:30pm, dancing, market vendors, food and more. Learn more at thevillagesentertainment.com.

The big to-do among strawberry lovers, though, is the Florida Strawberry Festival, an 11-day event scheduled for March 4-14 this year. Each year, nearly 500,000 visitors enjoy the Plant City festival’s midway rides, youth livestock shows, exhibits of commerce, strawberry shortcake and, under normal circumstances, headline entertainment. This year is anything but normal, though. Unfortunately, festival organizers recently decided to forgo headline entertainment for the 2021 event.

“We are diligently planning to ensure visitors to the 2021 festival can have a safe and fun experience with their families just like they have for 85 years,” said Paul Davis, Florida Strawberry Festival president. “This year, we believe it is in the best interest of everyone to not have patrons sitting shoulder to shoulder for an extended period of time.

“The festival’s other major attractions will continue, as they are all held either outdoors, in open-air facilities or in areas where guests can move around as they please,” Paul said.

Visit flstrawberryfestival.com to learn more and purchase tickets.

HOME SWEET HOME

Can’t make it to one of Florida’s strawberry festivals? Try one of these recipes at home to celebrate the sweetness of the season.

STRAWBERRY SPRITZER*

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home Find more drink recipes at culinary.net

• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen sliced strawberries, sweetened and thawed • 2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled • 1 can (12 ounces) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed

STRAWBERRY CAPRESE SALAD WITH BALSAMIC AND MINT*

Recipe courtesy of Candace Dyer of Authentically Candace and the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, oridastrawberry.org

• 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar • 1 1⁄2 tablespoon brown sugar • 1 pint of cherry tomatoes • 1 container of strawberries (about 1 pound, cut in quarters) • 1 handful of basil, shredded • 1 handful of mint, shredded • salt and pepper to taste • 8 ounces of mini mozzarella balls

In blender, process strawberries until blended thoroughly. Pour strawberries into large pitcher; stir in soda and pink lemonade. Serve immediately. Substitution: Ginger ale may be used in place of soda. Mix together olive oil, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, whisking until smooth. Cut cherry tomatoes in half, and place in bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Quarter strawberries. Add strawberries and mozzarella to a large bowl, and add in cherry tomatoes. Add in basil and mint. Toss with balsamic dressing, and serve immediately or refrigerate.

EASY STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE*

Recipe courtesy of Pillsbury. Find more dessert recipes at culinary.net

• 1 can (5-8) Pillsbury aky buttermilk biscuits • 2 tablespoons butter, melted • 1⁄4 cup sugar • 3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced • 1⁄3 cup sugar • 1⁄2 cup whipping cream • 2 tablespoons sugar • 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 375°F. Separate biscuits. Dip tops and sides of biscuits in melted butter. Dip biscuits, covering tops and sides, in sugar. Place sugarside up on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 13-17 minutes or until golden brown. To make strawberry mixture: In medium bowl, mix strawberries and sugar. Set aside. To make whipped cream: In small bowl, beat whipping cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Add vanilla and beat into mixture. On plate, split biscuits, and put dollop of whipped cream mixture on bottom half of biscuit. Add strawberry mixture. Replace biscuit top, and dollop with whipping cream.

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY GIN FIZZ*

Courtesy of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, oridastrawberry.org

• 3 large Florida strawberries • 1 teaspoons sugar • 2 shots gin • 1⁄4 teaspoon rose water • 1 pinch of salt • Club soda

Rinse and quarter strawberries. Toss with 2 teaspoons of sugar, and let the combo sit at room temperature for a few hours, or as long as possible, to get the most juice. Mash the strawberries with a fork, and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add strawberries, gin, rose water and a pinch of salt. Shake until well mixed. Pour the gin concoction from the shaker into a glass with ice. Top with club soda, and garnish with a fresh strawberry and lime.