I <em>love </em>May and Strawberries. A lot.

Strawberries are a quintessential part of spring for me. I guess this is because strawberries are in season in the Pacific Northwest between May and July.

[caption id="attachment_2735" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Look how red these Strawberries are! "]<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dsc01647.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2735" title="Look how red these Strawberries are! " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dsc01647.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a>[/caption]

To me, they taste like sunshine, spring, rain and a little bit of earth. So when I saw strawberries at Billa at the end of April I thought--too early. But then I bought 500g anyway. They were surprisingly good.  I don't know if I've ever bought strawberries in the grocery store--a big chain grocery store that were as ripe as these. I mean these strawberries out they are red all the way to middle. It's unheard of in the states to buy strawberries that are red in the middle from a big chain--by far the norm is strawberries from the grocery store are largely white in the middle.  Not these!<!--more-->

[caption id="attachment_2736" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The strawberries are red all the way to the middle! "]<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dsc01648.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2736" title="The strawberries are red all the way to the middle! " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dsc01648.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a>[/caption]

Since last week, I've eaten lots of strawberries.  Strawberries on yogurt, strawberries in salads, strawberries and cheese, strawberries whole straight from the box.  It's the life. I tell you, strawberries make everything better. In fact, it's like having magic in my refrigerator. Okay, okay.  Now I am sure you're thinking: gesh, stop exaggerating Carolyn.  But this is probably just because you're jealous. So I am excusing you.

I mean, check out what I had for breakfast:

[caption id="attachment_2737" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Strawberry Breakfast!"]<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dsc01649.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2737" title="Strawberry Breakfast! " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/dsc01649.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a>[/caption]

I am <em>almost</em> jealous.  And, I ate it for breakfast.

See how the strawberries are turning the yogurt red? That's the sign of a good strawberry. And I know my strawberries after picking my fair share of u-pick strawberries when I was younger and working at a fruit and berry stand when I was in high school and college.

So the only thing left? Well, now I've got to whip up a batch of strawberry short cakes with cream. That seems like a great way to celebrate spring. On top of that it seems pretty wholesome and like a fairly American pursuit.