I have a glut of alpine strawberries

[gimlis1mum]

My alpine strawberry plants are going wild...I can pick almost a quart, every couple of days. Anyone cooked or baked with them? I'm thinking about trying a jam.

[youngmodernist]

Of course there is jam, BUT, I had an excess of strawberries this year and now have a quart (or half-gallon, not sure how much) of strawberry liqueur resting in my cabinet. It's really easy to make with some vodka, strawberries, lemon peel (or whatever you want to add) and sugar. yumm

[gimlis1mum]

thanks for all of the suggestions. The plants have slowed down production a bit in this heat, but I still picked two cups of berries this morning. Added a quarter cup of sugar and let them macerate all morning. Added a little lemon juice, brought to a boil and simmered for just a few minutes. Wowee, it's good stuff. Yeild was less than a cup of jam. Upon seeing a partially-filled jar cooling on the counter, my hubby remarked that that was my smallest batch of jam EVER.

I read somewhere that alpines have a higher pectin content than regular strawberries. I was surprised at how quickly the jam set up - it's a bit soft, but not bad at all for a first try.

Can't wait to make more, and to try out some of your other suggestions!

[vircabutar]

Strawberry Clafoutis!

[eclecticsynergy]

I sure envy you your problem. Here's the 4-step solution my family employed when we had
fresh strawberries weren't going to be eaten or otherwise used right away:

1) Cut in half
2) Sprinkle with a little sugar
3) Freeze
4) Enjoy anytime 'til next year's crop arrives.

Fresh-picked and frozen they're SO much better than factory farmed frozen strawberries! The sugar helps them to juice out just a little bit. Can be used for instant smoothies or blender cocktails, or thawed and served over ice cream or custard or cereal (like over toasted steel-cut oats with a little brown sugar, mmm!) or just eaten with a spoon. I certainly wouldn't discourage you from making pie or jam or cobblers- especially since they're the super tasty little alpine ones- but do be sure to keep some frozen too. It's fast & easy and you won't be sorry!

[mcf]

strawberry rhubarb crisp!

[wyogal]

Yes, jam!

[visciole]

Wow, this is what I call a really high-quality problem!

What, you can't eat a quart of alpine strawberries every few days?

I would make pie :)

[gimlis1mum]

I know, poor me, right? :-) I used the plants to border a walkway in a new garden. In their old spot they were not nearly as productive...but the extra hours of sun and a bunch of compost has them going like gangbusters.

[tim irvine]

Strawberry jam is easy and wonderful. Berries, sugar to taste, maybe a few drops of water, cook on low heat. You can't get those small alpine berries.