Recipe of the Month – Strawberry and Chia Preserves

Strawberry and Chia Seeds Preserves, servings per container: 30

Recipe by Max Goldstein, RD, LD, CDM with Farm to Body Wellness

Strawberry and Chia Preserves

Being newer to Florida, I was not quite sure when strawberry season was, but recently I found out that it is now (end of February to beginning of March. I saw the billboard about the Strawberry Festival in Clay County and planned to go with my wife, but unfortunately that did not happen. Regardless, it is common in our house to attempt to make many foods that are available in the store from scratch. And with it being strawberry season it is a great time to utilize those strawberries.

To learn more about me and some of these recipes, check out The Farm to Body Wellness Podcast. I have always loved berries. They are unique and one of the types of plants that you can grow year after year. The plants take some tending too, but it is one that is fun to continually watch. Check out this month’s recipe, where we have a fun, simple, and interesting way to make strawberry preserves. This goes a little light on the sugar, but we try to use less in our cooking. If you want to make more, just add more berries. At the end of the day you are the one eating it, so make it how you want it!

Ingredients:

• 3 pints of Fresh Strawberries
• 1c Sugar
• 3Tbl Chia Seeds

**Disclaimer: Recipes for cooking do not have to be exact in quantity or ingredient. If you have a different oil, type of salt, or any other ingredient, please use what you have. Enjoy!

Instructions:

Step 1: Rinse and chop the strawberries into smaller chunks equivalent to a large dice. Mix together with the sugar and add to a sauce pot.

Step 2: Cook over medium to low heat (uncovered) and stir approximately every five minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure that it is not sticking too much to the pot or burning. It should turn into a liquid and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes.

Step 3: Once it is cooked and is a good consistency. Turn off the heat and let it cool down. After the preserves have begun to cool, add the chia seeds and stir in. 

Step 4: After the preserves have completely cooled down, store in a glass jar (mason style) with a tid lid and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 weeks. 

Step 5: Enjoy on a piece of toast, in a PB&J or in your greek yogurt (instead of buying yogurt with jelly already added to it)!