Strawberry Days

This week is Strawberry Days in the beloved city where I reside. Pleasant Grove, Utah. Such a lovely little town. Pleasant trees. Pleasant little shops. Pleasant (lack of) traffic. Pleasant people. Pleasant neighbors. Ahhh, yes. 'Tis a lovely place to be.

I woke up this morning thinking about the week of festivities that is Strawberry Days. Carnival, strawberries, parade, strawberries and cream, rodeo, strawberries, Chipman's Block Party (on the street behind my house), and of course, strawberries. What could be better on a morning during Strawberry Days than a pile of pancakes and warm, fresh, homemade strawberry syrup. Mmmmm.....

Strawberry Syrup

1 pound of fresh strawberries
1 cup sugar
about 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Wash, hull and dice the strawberries. 

In a large saucepan, combine diced strawberries, sugar and a few good long squeezes of orange juice (about 3 tablespoons, but who's counting?).Cook and stir over medium-high heat until it comes to a rolling boil.

I mash the berries some more using a potato masher, but this is completely optional. You could leave the berries in slices, or dices, or you could puree them. It matters not. Stirring occasionally, cook until it is thick and yummy, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Serve warm over pancakes or anything else you please. Waffles, French toast, ice cream... It's good cold, too.