Summer is here and for most parts of the country, that means it's strawberry season. Fresh fruit is one of my favorite parts of the summer, and ripe, sweet strawberries are probably the most popular berry around. There are countless ways to eat them and incorporate them into your favorite dishes. Thanks to this community thread on GardenWeb, I've discovered some new, interesting recipes, including strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, strawberry mint jam and a dip that combines sour cream and brown sugar for a sweet, zero prep-time snack. One of my favorites is a recipe for a strawberry roll (see the mouthwatering photo!) -- a delicious alternative to strawberry shortcake.

Of course, you can always serve strawberries with champagne (Prosecco, an inexpensive Italian sparkling wine, is a great alternative) or dipped in chocolate. Simple, classic and sure to be crowd-pleasers!

--Kate Torsiello

photo courtesy of member ann_t