Last weekend felt like true summer (finally) in the Northwest and the first thing that comes to mind is, berry picking. June is officially the strawberry season in most parts of the United States including Oregon. We just happen to live a few miles from several berry picking farms and every time we go there, it feels like such an escape from all the people and the concrete.
This year, we went to Columbia Farms in Sauvie Island with some friends. We enjoyed the day with the backdrop of Mount Hood, rolling meadows, lush greenery and rows and rows of planted strawberries. The farm had several types of strawberries including 'hood' and the 'puget' varieties. My personal favorite is the 'hood', small berries but excellent in taste.
We brought in a load of about 3 pounds of luscious strawberries which then quite quickly whittled down to half after some snacking :) I made some jams with the rest.
I would rate strawberries as one of the best ways to eat a healthy snack. You can have them plain, with a sprinkling of sugar, with a drizzle of both white or dark chocolate, chopped up in a fruit salad with pine nuts, made into a vinaigrette or a sauce for pancakes (
Click here for the recipe) and a dozen other ways.
Happy Strawberry eating!
We brought in a load of about 3 pounds of luscious strawberries which then quite quickly whittled down to half after some snacking :) I made some jams with the rest. 
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my family just went strawberry picking this past weekend and I made some glorious jams and ice cream! Its so refreshing to see that others still go to pick your owns!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I found this to be a very good family activity. I think marionberry season starts in July and marionberry ice-cream sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteDear Shree - I am going to the farmre's market to get my buckets of strawberries this weekend.
ReplyDeleteStrawberry with other berries ice cream is on the menu this weekend :)
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
What fun strawberry picking. I'm a big raspberry fan too. I think I eat more than I pick!
ReplyDeleteHey Shree, I love strawberries too, but I've never been picking! I guess I just really want to pick at an organic strawberry farm or field, and there aren't any around here.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you guys had fun. Oh, and you just made me crave chocolate covered strawberries (smile)!
We got some delicious strawberries this weekend and they were gone long before I could think about making jam. Have you posted your jam recipe already? I'd definitely be interested :)
ReplyDeleteI went strawberry picking this week! Better than apple picking!
ReplyDelete@Mother Rimmy - I love raspberries too. It would be fun for more berry picking :)
ReplyDelete@Stella - Ohh chocolate covered strawberries are such a lovely way to have em'
@lawyerloveslunch - Aahh unfortunately this is one of those times when I was experimenting and haven't perfected the recipe yet. If I do, I will certainly put it up.
@Rick - Oh? I've never been apple picking so can't say which is better. We are growing some strawberries (few) and columnar apples this year. Maybe I can have a competition and see which is better :)
I'm picking tomorrow and making jam on Sunday... as well as coulis and freezing...dessert....
ReplyDeleteUsed to take my 3 kids picking when they were little. The youngest always came out of the patch with the roundest belly, juice-stained face, fingers and shirt, and no berries in his basket. I offered to have him weighed going in and out, but they laughed and said it was a part of the fun.
ReplyDeleteBerry days are happy days in the PN, yes?! And cherries will be ready any moment; another annual thrill!!!
When we were little we use to go ollieberry picking with my grandmother and your posting brought back such great memories! Thank you!
ReplyDelete@ Steve - yumm strawberry coulis with some icecream. perfect!
ReplyDelete@ Pam Frank - thats awesome! I can almost imagine your kid with the stained shirt and face :))
@ Lisa - Thank you :)
I've never been strawberry picking before - what fun! I hope you post your jam recipe! Or have you already?!
ReplyDeleteOh Shree, what a great post! I am allergic to strawberries so I will never have the pleasure:(
ReplyDelete