With warm weather comes the ripening of aromatic, bright red strawberries. On hot summer days, homemade strawberry ice cream is both refreshing and fun. Marinated strawberries in balsamic vinegar create a surprisingly delicious and sophisticated dessert. Strawberry shortcake, which originated from the Native Americans who baked crushed strawberries into a cornmeal cake, is a favorite dessert to round out a light summer meal. Simplest yet, strawberries are famously delicious with fresh cream.