Berry delicious

Take advantage of strawberry season with these tasty recipes

Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast Ingredients

• 12 slices home-style white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes, divided

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cold cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 1 ½ cups sliced fresh strawberries

• 2 cups half-and-half

• 12 large eggs

• 1/ 3 cup pure maple syrup

Sauce:

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 cup water

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

1. Generously grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Arrange half the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Evenly distribute cream cheese cubes over the bread cube layer; sprinkle 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries atop cream cheese layer. Layer the remaining bread cubes over strawberry layer.

3. Pour half-and-half into a blender; pulse for a few seconds. Blend eggs into half-and-half until fully incorporated. Add maple syrup and blend until smooth. Pour mixture evenly over bread mixture. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

4. Remove baking dish from refrigerator 45 minutes before baking.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

6. Bake the covered casserole in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and continue baking until French toast is puffed and golden brown, about 30 more minutes.

7. Stir sugar, water, and cornstarch together in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until mixture has thickened, about 5 minutes. Mix in 1 cup sliced strawberries; cook and stir until strawberries have softened, about 10 minutes. Add butter; stir until melted. Serve hot over French toast.

Old Fashioned Strawberry Pie Ingredients

• 2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

• 1 ¼ cups white sugar

• 1/ 3 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 4 cups fresh strawberries

• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place one crust in a nine inch pie pan.

2. Mix together sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Mix lightly through the berries. Pour filling into pastry lined pan, and dot fruit with butter or margarine. Cover with top crust, and cut slits in the top. Seal and flute the edges.

3. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is slightly browned.

Cilantro-Lime Grilled Chicken with Strawberry Salsa Ingredients

Cilantro-Lime Chicken:

• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

• ¼ cup club soda (Optional)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 lime, zested and juiced

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

• 4 small chicken breasts

Strawberry Salsa:

• 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes

• 1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries

• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 5 green onions, chopped

• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

• 1 lime, juiced

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Combine cilantro, club soda, olive oil, honey, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and pepper in a blender. Process marinade until smooth, about 30 seconds.

2. Place each chicken breast between plastic wrap and gently pound using a meat mallet to about 1/2-inch thickness. Place in a large bowl and pour marinade over chicken. Let sit for about 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.

4. Toss tomatoes, strawberries, cilantro, green onions, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until chicken is ready to serve.

5. Grill chicken on the preheated grill until no longer pink inside and juices run clear, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Spoon salsa over grilled chicken.