Set up for water bath canning.

Wash berries, and remove caps and stems. Set aside.

Add sugar to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Scrape the black seeds from both halves of the vanilla bean into the food processor. Reserve the vanilla pod.

Process until the vanilla seeds are fully mixed into the sugar, then add the strawberries and pulse until only small pieces of strawberry remain.

Scrape the strawberry sauce into a large, shallow-sided saucepan. Add the reserved vanilla bean pod to the sauce. Heat the sauce to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer until the berries are soft and the sauce has thickened slightly and turned glossy, about 10 minutes.

Skim off foam, and ladle sauce into clean half-pint jars, leaving a 1⁄2-inch headspace.

Set lids according to manufacturer’s instructions and process sauce in a boiling water bath canner for 10 minutes.

Using Your Sauce:

Swirl it into plain or vanilla yogurt

Top your ice cream sundae

Top Char’s Cheesecake Squares