The top five ways to enjoy strawberries as a part of your cheap eats strategy

 4. Freeze for use in smoothies and daiquiris. Who doesn’t love a frozen treat in the hot Tampa summer? Plan ahead and freeze fresh berries now. They will keep for 6-8 months in the freezer and be a great treat come June.  3. Make Strawberry topping for waffles, ice cream, or even biscuits. This simple recipe can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer. 2. Dehydrate them for trail mixes and snacks. Dehydrated strawberries can run as much as five dollars per ounce at the grocery store. Dehydrating them at home while they are in season will save on groceries and only takes a little prep and a watchful eye.View the list »
1. Make Strawberry Jam to enjoy all year long. One flat of strawberries will make about four jars of jam. It is much easier than most people think and can save tons at the grocery store.

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The record warm winter in Central Florida is causing Strawberry season to come a little early this year. The Florida Strawberry Festival does not open until next Thursday, February 28, and yet the supermarkets and farmers markets alike are filled to the brim with Plant City Strawberries. For Tampa Bay budget meal fans, this is the best time to stock freezers and pantries with the ruby red fruit in all its bountiful beauty. With flats selling for as little as ten dollars, a year’s worth of jam, dried berries, and frozen berries for smoothies can be made for $100 or less; potentially saving hundreds on the year’s grocery bill.

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Here are the top five ways to enjoy Strawberries as part of a family’s cheap eats strategy year-round:

View the list
  • 1. Make Strawberry Jam to enjoy all year long. One flat of strawberries will make about four jars of jam. It is much easier than most people think and can save tons at the grocery store.
  •  2. Dehydrate them for trail mixes and snacks. Dehydrated strawberries can run as much as five dollars per ounce at the grocery store. Dehydrating them at home while they are in season will save on groceries and only takes a little prep and a watchful eye.
  •   3. Make Strawberry topping for waffles, ice cream, or even biscuits. This simple recipe can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer.
  •  4. Freeze for use in smoothies and daiquiris. Who doesn’t love a frozen treat in the hot Tampa summer? Plan ahead and freeze fresh berries now. They will keep for 6-8 months in the freezer and be a great treat come June.
  •  5. Wash and indulge. At this time of year, in Tampa, Strawberries are a budget-friendly way to eat the recommend 3-5 servings of fruit per day. A serving of Strawberries is about half a cup.
View the list

, Tampa Bay Budget Meals Examiner

Renia Carsillo is a Mommy-Preneur, freelance food writer, and grassroots marketing freak show by day and a cooking and recipe creation mad-scientist by night. Just a simple mom with one big life purpose: to make the world a more delicious place to live.

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