And the quest to make every possible strawberry dish continues. At this stage it’s jam time. And strawberry jam goes with just about everything. And bears no resemblance to the shop bought variety, even if the first batches can lack consistency, no pun intended!

Shop bought strawberries are often grown hydroponically, and for some reason they have less pectin, resulting in a runnier jam. So use sure-set if you need to, half and half is probably best.

My next favourite recipe, which requires a little planning is mini strawberry tarts. Perfectly proportioned, these little beauties are best fresh and cold, and unlike most desserts, go equally well with both a cup of tea and a glass of champagne.

Credit at this stage must go to my willing team of helpers (and tasters) who rescued me as I frantically tried to get the shoot set up outside before the sun went in behind a cloud.They get paid well in food- don’t worry!

And for my nephews third birthday- a chocolate fudge cake filled with cream- and strawberries. He even managed to sneak a few off the cake before anyone else got to it.
