A simple strawberry syrup made with fresh strawberries and sugar perfect for, pancakes, ice cream, and these yummy Italian Cream Sodas.
 [Image] Spring is here and so are all those beautiful seasonal berries that go along with it. Strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries are my favorite summer treat! When late May
and early June roll around, it's berry picking time in North Texas. 
Currently our local pick-your own strawberry farm is closed most likely due to all the heavy rains we've received. Our lawns our fully saturated right now, so the ground can't take too much more rain. Mother nature can be a blessing and a beast at times, but the much needed rain is certainly welcomed. 
If you can't pick your own strawberries the next best thing is farmers markets, road side stands, or supermarket strawberries. Strawberry season is usually in full swing around mid - late spring at my local Walmart. Once I start seeing those red beauties pop up I usually can't contain myself, because everyone in my house is crazy about strawberries. 
[Image] Today I want to share a few tips to keep in mind when purchasing supermarket strawberries. When selecting strawberries, choose smaller, bright-red berries with a sweet aroma (giving the berries a good sniff is important). Turn the container over and inspect the bottom. 
Make sure the bottom of the containers are not stained (stained containers are a sign of over ripe, soft, mushy berries). Never purchase containers that have moldy berries inside. Always use fresh berries as soon as possible because strawberries are very perishable, and do not ripen any further after picking. 
[Image] When strawberries are in season, I tend to pick up a package or two just about anytime I'm in the grocery store. Last week was no different during a quick stop into Walmart for a few grilling essentials, I spotted a display of fresh strawberries priced at $1.50 for 16 oz packages and $2.98 for a 32 oz size. 

I've been wanting to try my hand at making Homemade Strawberry Syrup, so the timing was perfect. My family doesn't care for store bought syrups, so I thought homemade would be a better option. I used a easy recipe consisting of the basics, strawberries, water and sugar. The strawberry syrup turned out awesome!    

[Image]The next day I used the homemade syrup to make these tasty Strawberry Italian Cream Sodas for our cookout. Everyone loved them and they're super simple to make. Italian Cream Sodas are a refreshing bubbly drink made with sparkling water, strawberry syrup and half and half. Top with whipped cream and it makes the perfect summer drink. These cold, creamy sodas are a huge crowd-pleaser, making them perfect for parties and celebrations.   

[Image] Today I have two recipes to share with you. One for a homemade strawberry syrup, and the second for Italian cream sodas. The ingredients you will  need for the Italian cream soda's are: Half & Half, club soda, strawberry syrup, whipped cream, and strawberries for garnish. Both of the complete recipes are listed below.  
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You can also check out my my previous Walmart spring berry posts for this Easy No Bake Flag Cake & this beautiful Strawberry Cream Cake.    




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