Oven Semi-Dried Strawberries

That wonderful flavour of fresh picked strawberries is pretty hard to beat with its promise of spring days and fresh produce. When the opportunity presents I like to semi dry the berries in the oven to use them in cakes and salads. It is a simple process, and the net abounds with different methods and how to's but I just simply wash them, slice away the top and halve them, placing them onto a paper covered biscuit tray.
If I am planning on using them for cakes etc., I sprinkle just a little brown sugar over them and put them into a slow oven 130 degrees Celsius, for about 50 - 60 minutes.

If the plan is to use them in a Spinach and Strawberry salad, just pop them into a bowl, sprinkle a little brown sugar over with a splash of balsamic vinegar, turn them to coat and pop them out onto a baking paper lined tray and into the oven for the same time and temperature.

When sliced open, the halves are still full of moisture, the flavour is intensified and the dry surface helps them not to sink to the bottom of the cake mix.

They will keep for awhile in a jar in the fridge, how long I'm not sure as I use them pretty quickly, these will be made into muffins tomorrow.