Even though we grow our own strawberries (and are expanding our strawberry beds this year), it's hard to pass up grocery store strawberries at this time of year. True, they aren't as good as home grown, but they are still delicious. I often find them for $3 a lb. or even cheaper, and while we mostly eat them the way God grew them, sometimes I think to whip up a strawberry dessert. Each of these is quick and easy to prepare - and absolutely scrumptious

Strawberries and Ice Cream I grew up with this dish and it's simple as can be. If you allow the strawberry sugar mixture to chill in the refrigerator for an hour before serving with ice cream, it's tastier than if you immediately serve it. What You Need: Fresh strawberries Sugar Vanilla Ice Cream Paring knife Potato masher How to Do It: Wash strawberries by running them under warm water. Pat dry. Cut off the tops, removing the leaves and stem. Cut each strawberry into quarters. Mash the strawberries with a potato masher; you don't want them to turn into pulp, but you should soften them and release their juices. Add sugar to taste. Serve over vanilla ice cream. 

Surprise, Surprise My sister Lisa created this absolutely scrumptious dessert. What You Need: 1 1/2 cubes butter, melted 1 (13.5 oz.) box graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup sugar 2 (8 oz.) packages light cream cheese 1 (16 oz.) tub thawed Cool Whip or Cool Whip Lite 2 - 3 baskets fresh strawberries 2 (3.4 oz.) packages instant vanilla pudding 3 cups milk 3 or 4 bananas Mixing bowl 8 x 11.5 x 2 glass baking pan Paring knife Electric mixer How to Do It: In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of the baking pan, and slightly up the sides. Chill in the refrigerator while you continue with the recipe. Mix cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 the Cool Whip in a separate mixing bowl. Whip with electric mixer until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture into crust and chill in the refrigerator. Clean strawberries by running them under warm water. Pat dry. Cut off the tops, removing the stems and leaves, then slice into circles. In a separate bowl, mix pudding with 3 cups milk. Layer strawberries over cream cheese mixture. Slice bananas into circles and lay over strawberries; spread pudding on top. Chill at least 2 hours. Before serving, top with remaining Cool Whip.