Thanks to my special friend Rachel for today’s Kelly’s Kitchen suggestion. Rachel’s Mom Simone works here with me, and she told me Rachel wanted to know how to make chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day. What a good girl…but only if she shares. It’s really very easy. All you need are some chocolate chips, a little butter or shortening to thin the chocolate out a bit, and you’re all set to dip. This recipe uses the double boiler method, but quite honestly I prefer the microwave. Biggest piece of advice though is to do this in small batches and keep a close eye on the chocolate. It can burn easily and that’s not pleasant. For a special touch melt some white chocolate and drizzle that across the top. Oooo…and hollow out the center of those especially big strawberries, save the cap, and fill them with cheesecake filling!

   Perfect time of the year to do this, too. All the fresh markets and produce stands are selling our fresh berries, and the Florida Strawberry Festival is opening soon. That's this years's Queen, Kelsey Fry! Look for the really fresh berries with long stems for easy dipping. Of course, you could always pick your own, and I think that’s something I’m going to do soon.

   Don't forget! The Florida State Fair is officially open and if you have to fine the Fair Food of your dreams make you to take a picture and send it to me at ann.kelly@coxmg.com . Best shot wins a prize from Kelly's Kitchen.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

“Are wild strawberries really wild? Will they scratch an adult, will they snap at a child? Should you pet them, or let them run free where they roam? Could they ever relax in a steam-heated home? Can they be trained to not growl at the guests? Will a litterbox work or would they make a mess? Can we make them a Cowberry, herding the cows, or maybe a Muleberry pulling the plows, or maybe a Huntberry chasing the grouse, or maybe a Watchberry guarding the house, and though they may curl up at your feet oh so sweetly can you ever feel that you trust them completely? Or should we make a pet out of something less scary, like the Domestic Prune or the Imported Cherry, Anyhow, you've been warned and I will not be blamed if your Wild Strawberries cannot be tamed.” – Shel Silverstein “Where The Sidewalk Ends