Choose the ripest of fresh berries for this recipe. Frozen ones are okay if ripe fresh ones are unavailable. You can get excellent strawberries year-round now, just make sure they are ripe all the way through. This treat does add some fiber to the diet.

1. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl. Discard the seeds and reserve the juice.

2. Put the lemon halves in a large saucepan with the strawberries, vanilla bean, and sugar. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring to prevent scorching.

3. Simmer for 25 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat, remove vanilla bean and lemon halves, and stir in lemon juice.

4. Ladle or pour the preserves into hot sterilized jars, filling to ¼″ from the top. Wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids and screw-on bands. Let cool at room temperature.

Calories: 157.46

Protein: 0.23 grams

Carbohydrates: 40.44 grams

Fiber: 0.94 grams

Fat: 0.14 grams