Strawberries - how to sniff 'em out!

Visit your local farmer's market right now and you'll be greeted with the unmistakably sweet smell of fresh, organic strawberries. The Delta breeze escorts the scent in cool waves as you stroll by the bright-red baskets of fruit. In fact, your nose is the best tool to lead you to those tasty, ruby-red jewels! Choose a berry and give it a sniff. It should smell sweet and rich, not sour or worse - no scent at all. Look for firm, evenly-colored berries with bright green tops. Wash gently immediately prior to eating. You can put strawberries in the fridge, but I wouldn't suggest the practice as I think it mutes the delicate flavor, so best to keep them at room temperature. Eat them quickly, which shouldn't be a problem once you taste the difference between these and lack-luster store-bought berries!

Slice them thinly and macerate with a few tablespoons of sugar and the juice from a lemon. Add a couple grinds from your peppermill to take them to the next level, and to impress your friends. I know it sounds odd, but a bit of black pepper intensifies the strawberry flavors berry nicely. Add a splash of Grande Marnier if you're feeling really decadent. Cover and let the mixture rest overnight in the fridge. Spoon onto waffles or pancakes in the morning, or top a scoop of vanilla-bean ice cream for a delicious sundae. Strawberries are incredibly versatile, and shouldn't be confined to topping spongecake or pureed into a smoothie. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.