It's easy on the host and fun for the guests. Here's the step-by-step on how we do it:<\/p>\n
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- Buy the best berries you can find, preferably fresh from a local farm or farmers market.<\/li>\n
- Here's a link to Boston area farmers markets<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Here's a link to farms where you can pick your own strawberries.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Reserve the most perfect berries for dipping in chocolate and eating out-of-hand. Put a shaker of sugar near the plain berries for those who would like to sprinkle a bit on their choices.<\/li>\n
- Slice and sugar the rest and allow them to form a natural sauce overnight in the refrigerator.<\/li>\n
- Collect a variety of bases \u2013 dessert cups, short cake<\/a>, biscuits, ladyfingers, cookies, and angel food cake<\/a> are a few I've used for this.<\/li>\n
- For July 4th, add a big dish of blueberries for red, white, and blue creations.<\/li>\n
- Add a fondue pot<\/a> of dipping chocolate, and you'll have guests swooning.<\/li>\n
- Arrange a selection of toppings. I've set out whipped cream<\/a>, yogurt, ice cream, creme fraiche<\/a>, and fudge sauce.<\/li>\n
- For something tall on the table, add wine buckets filled with bottles of sparkling wine<\/a> that guests can pour over a few berries in a champagne glass.<\/li>\n
- Set up a tray of "special enhancements" (rums, liqueurs<\/a>, and dessert wines<\/a>) to drizzle on the cakes or sip with the shortcake. Most popular around here was limoncello<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Add big napkins to protect clothes; spoons, dishes, or wine glasses to hold your guest's creations; and let everyone have fun with the fruit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need<\/a>
and support this site!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
- Here's a link to farms where you can pick your own strawberries.<\/a><\/li>\n