photo by: SARA GREEN

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Farmers put fertilizer on strawberries. We put chocolate on ours. For an alterna-treat, mix in cherries or roasted nuts.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound milk chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon shortening
• 1 pint fresh strawberries

Directions:

• Skewer strawberries with toothpicks.
• Bring a medium pot 1/3 filled with water to a boil, then drop to a simmer.
• Place a stainless steel bowl on top (this is called a double boiler), put the chips in the bowl and stir. When the chips begin to melt, add shortening and stir until smooth.
• Regulate melting by removing the bowl from heat with a folded, dry dishrag in hand.
• Dip strawberries in melted chocolate and place on a sheet pan or cookie sheet covered with parchment or wax paper.
• Cool in refrigerator until hardened.