Strawberry season

AT COOKIE JAR CAFE

Between the extra sunlight and the budding gardens — both illustrated beautifully in the Sequatchie Valley — spring is such a hopeful season, brimming with life.

“Spring is a big deal!” said Sue Ann Lockhart, owner of Cookie Jar Cafe.

Located in Dunlap, Tenn., the cafe sits on the Johnson Family Farm, which has been in Sue Ann’s family for 150 years. And like all working farms this time of year, it is celebrating the arrival of garden-fresh produce and new baby animals.

Cookie Jar’s on-site petting zoo, said Sue Ann, will open Easter weekend and will include animals such as sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits.

“It’s always such a joy to see everyone enjoying being outdoors and loving the baby animals like we do,” Sue Ann said.

While the petting zoo is a big attraction, it is matched in popularity by the cafe’s famous fresh strawberry desserts.

“Strawberries are in!” said Sue Ann. “We are getting them from Florida right now and they are delicious.”

There are now a number of seasonal treats to try, such as strawberry cake with cream cheese icing; strawberry pie with handmade crust; old-fashioned strawberry shortcake with ooey-gooey strawberry-sugar topping; strawberry cupcakes; strawberry cheesecake; and strawberry torte, featuring a pecan crust.

Starting in early May the fruit is sourced locally, alongside more local spring vegetables.

But in the meantime, why not grab a slice of something sweet and a seat on Cookie Jar’s front porch, overlooking the budding Sequatchie Valley.

“We have a small window for truly enjoyable weather,” Sue Ann said. “People love to take full advantage of that.”