The appeal of strawberries is nothing new. In Elizabethan times, both wild and cultivated strawberries were highly esteemed for medicinal purposes. Strawberries have been growing in the Americas for hundreds of years. When your hectic schedule begins to close in on you, step back and take the time to go strawberry picking. And now, I hate to spoil this lovely strawberry reverie, but I must share a bit of bad news with you.
Strawberries consistently rank near the top of lists of foods most heavily sprayed with pesticides.
I can't begin to tell you or even offer an opinion on whether soaking them helps reduce the residue. Remember, these are thin-skinned fruits, so you can almost draw your own conclusion. Try to buy organic strawberries. Yes, they are more expensive, but they are also riper, sweeter, and juicier than mass-produced strawberries. The almond flavor of amaretto melds perfectly with the sweetness and aroma of lush, ripe strawberries.