1 1-pound bag frozen strawberries; or 1 pound ripe, sweet, strawberries, hulled

1/2 cup sugar, preferably organic fair trade sugar

1/4 cup water

2 cups milk (2 percent or whole)

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Pinch of salt

1. Place a 1-quart container and one smaller container -- for any extra gelato -- in the freezer. Combine the strawberries, sugar and water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the strawberries thaw and become very soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, and transfer half the mixture to a blender. Since the mixture is hot, just cover the top of the blender jar with a dish towel pulled down tight. Blend until smooth, and then add half the milk. Blend again until smooth. Repeat with the remaining strawberries and milk. Transfer to a bowl, and chill in the refrigerator.

2. Stir in the lemon juice and salt, and transfer to the container of an ice cream maker. Freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions. Scrape into the chilled container, and return to the freezer for at least two hours before serving. If frozen solid, allow to soften in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

Yield: Just under five cups, serving six to eight.

Advance preparation: This will keep for a couple of weeks in the freezer. The strawberry base can be made up to a day before you make the gelato.

Nutritional information per serving (six servings): 135 calories; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 7 milligrams cholesterol; 28 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 44 milligrams sodium; 3 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (eight servings): 101 calories; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 milligrams cholesterol; 21 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 33 milligrams sodium; 2 grams protein

Martha Rose Shulman is the author of "The Very Best of Recipes for Health."