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By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

Strawberry season has arrived in Chilton County.

Chilton County residents and those from surrounding areas enjoy eating this red fruit in a variety of ways.

The Clanton Advertiser asked our electronic reading audience to share their favorites.

Some use them in recipes or enjoy them in desserts made by others.

“Love them over cheesecake,” Amanda Sosa said.

Amy Jolley said she enjoys using strawberries in a cake recipe she found on a social media site.

Cake was also a favorite for Etta Hayes and Pamela Simmons. Hayes said she also enjoys strawberry pudding.

Strawberry pudding is a favorite for Brianna Headley and Sheila Kidd as well.

“A good ole southern strawberry cobbler absolutely can’t be beat, especially with Chilton County strawberries,” Kimberly Hamm Reynolds said.

Ryan Smith agreed.

“We love to eat the strawberries in a homemade cobbler, with white cake, dipped in a little sugar and just plain,” Shea LeAnn Wright said. “You can’t go wrong with fresh Chilton County strawberries.”

Those looking for a strawberry cobbler recipe can find one on the Chilton County Alabama Extension Office Facebook page.

“I make Strawberry Jam,” Pat McCarrick-Hayes said.

Blanca Mendez prefers marmalade.

Racheal Turner’s favorite way to eat them is “topped with sugar and whip cream and over pound cake.”

“I make an icebox cheese pie … I like to cut fresh strawberries up with a little sugar let them set and then set over the pie,” Shelia Ann Knight said.

She even shared the recipe she uses for the Icebox Cheese Pie. All it requires is a graham cracker pie shell, a can of sweetened condensed milk, a block of cream cheese and a 3/4 cup of lemon juice. Mix all of the ingredients and pour into pie shell. Chill for at least two hours and then top with fruit.

“I love eating them with powder sugar,” Christine Seagle said.

Alexis Carroll dips strawberries “in a mix of whipped cream cheese and marshmallow creme.”

“I love dipping them in melted white chocolate,” Bridget Gonzalez said.

Katelyn Kim also likes them with whipped cream.

Popwell Maddox likes to eat strawberries on top of French toast.

“Condensed milk. Slice, mix, and refrigerate. Delicious,” Diane La Rose Knighten said.

Others, like Evelyn Hamby, enjoy Chilton County strawberries just the way they are.

“If they are fresh juicy and sweet you don’t need anything, just wash them and eat right out of the bucket,” Chrissy Aparicio said.

Sharon and Daniel Kelley as well as Margaret Little said they enjoy them right off the plant.

Sherry Driver, Marie Ratliff and Tracy McDaniel also like eating them just as they are. However, Driver said she also enjoys them with milk and sugar, while McDaniel said she also enjoys them “with cheesecake filling.” Ratliff also enjoys strawberry pie and was willing to share the recipe.

The recipe calls for graham cracker crust, 8 ounces whipped topping, 3 cups sliced strawberries,  small sugar free flavored gelatin, 3 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute, 3 tablespoons, cornstarch and 1 cup hot water. To make the pie, mix flavored gelatin and sugar or sugar substitute in medium pan, then add water. Cook mixture on “medium heat until bright red and thick. Add strawberries to mix coat well place in crust.”  Finish off by spreading the whipped topping on top and then chill until ready to serve.

Brenda Reed also said with milk.

“I prefer a little Splenda on mine,” Vernetta Wright said.

While many think sweet treat when they think of strawberries, some lovers of this local fruit prefer them with salt instead of sugar. Teresa Farrow, Tawana Jones and Keela Haigler are just a few of them.

“With salt, I know don’t judge me,” Jones said.

A few Chilton County Strawberry consumers like the sweet and salty routes. Loretta Holifield said she enjoys strawberries with salt but she also likes to make strawberry shortcake with a lot of whipped cream.

Debra Collins said her favorite ways to eat them were “With salt, whip cream or straight of the vine. Love Chilton County Strawberries.”