berry pickers

[sal]

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon when picking your favorite berry/berries: once you start you just cannot stop? I cajoled my husband into going to the strawberry patch to help me pick some berries to freeze, and we ended up with a huge flat of berries. It was his first time, but I couldn't get him out of there, he kept stopping on the way out to pick another and another ... Some of my girlfriends have commented about this same issue; and we all keep going back to get more, till our freezers are overflowing with fruit? sally

[JillC]

We went berry-picking on Sunday and after picking one flat, I was definitely ready to stop! My husband felt the same way. I'm very glad we weren't compelled to pick more, that was a lot of berries to take care of when we got home!
Jill

[emilycat]

Oh, I can relate -- I've grown up picking blueberries and strawberries , and you truly don't want to leave any of those beautiful berries! My mom and siblings visited my grandparents this weekend and picked bushels of blueberries. I'm going to get some from my mom this weekend. Oh, and I laugh when I see the $3 half-pints in the store http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Julie A]

I picked strawberries Saturday, and ended with a gazilion! However, I made lots of people feel "special" when I gave them some (they had no idea how much they were helping me!)

[Curleytop]

I grow boysenberries (wild) in the bottom of my canyon under an orange tree. It is a spiny, slippery area. I pick daily, wearing long sleeved sweats and gloves. I only pick the ripe berries. Then I place them on a cookie sheet and freeze them. Then bag them up for pies and frozen yogurt later in the year. I love doing this! It is such fun!
You lift up the spiny mess, and there is another berry to be picked.

[RobinC]

This reminds me of last summer when my mom and I went out to pick marionberries. We kept saying, "Oh, here is a really good vine." 20 (yup 2 - 0) lbs of berries later, we finally stopped. Marionberries are just about ready to come back into season....and I think I finished by last bag of berries in the freezer. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[sal]

Well, yesterday I went ahead and bought a Cuisineart ice cream maker to give me another option to create with all these berries, but that is part of another thread. Strawberry season is about over in our area; blueberry and raspberry are just starting, sour cherries are almost a lost cause due to a late frost (but I found a secret source). It's an addiction, but one I will happily admit http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif. sally

[Julie A]

Oh curleytop we have a boysenberry bush and I never know what to do with them! They're still green, so I have a little time, but do you have any jam recipes or anything?

[heeter]

Is there anything better than a fully ripe strawberry, picked and warm from the sun?

Brings up many fond memories for me. I always freeze the fresh fruit for later days, muffins, ice cream, etc.

[This message has been edited by heeter (edited 06-20-2001).]

[Curleytop]

Originally posted by Julie A:
Oh curleytop we have a boysenberry bush and I never know what to do with them! They're still green, so I have a little time, but do you have any jam recipes or anything?

Here is the recipe I use:

* Exported from MasterCook *

BLACKBERRY/BOYSENBERRY JAM 1

Recipe By :Sure.Jell Fruit Pection (KRAFT)
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:15
Categories : Jams

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
5 Cups Prepared Fruit (2 qt.Fully Ripe) -- Crushed
7 Cups Sugar (3 lbs)
1 Box Sure.Jell Fruit Pectin
1/2 Teaspoon Margarine

First prepare fruit. Crush, one layer at a time. Measure 5 cups pulp into 6 - 8 quart saucepot and a Margarine.
Measure sugar and set aside.
Mix fruit pectin into fruit in pot. Place over high heat and stir until mixture comes to a FULL BOIL.
Immediately add all sugar and stir. Bring to a full boil again. and boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam with metal spoon. Ladle quickly into hot sterized jars, filling to with 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with hot melted parafin.
Let sit a few minutes, and add a little more hot parafin and
tilt to fill all cracks. Cool overnight, cover, label.

Here is my frozen yogurt recipe:

* Exported from MasterCook *

STRAWBERRY FROZEN YOGURT

Recipe By http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gifENI SCOOP FACTORY
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:30
Categories : Berries Blender
Desserts Food Processor
Frozen Desserts Fruit
Low Fat Yogurts


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 Cups Plain or Vanilla Yogurt
1 Cup LowFat Sourcream
1/4 Cup Light Corn Syrup
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Pureed Strawberries, Raspberries,
Boysenberries or other fresh ripe fruit -- Pureed

Several hours before placing in DENI SCOOP MACHINE!
Prepare berries, pureed and strained if necessary. If frozen, thaw, might need more fruit after thawing.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, blender or food processor.
Beat Well
Chill thoroughly.
Follow standard instructions on Page 2 of DENI SCOOP FACTORY ( About 20 minutes of mixing}.


Place in plastic bowl, cover and freeze.

Description:
"THIS IS THE BEST RECIPE!"
Yield:
"1 Quart"
Start to Finish Time:
"8:00"

: THIS IS THE ONE! GREAT WITH STRAWBERRIES, BOYSENBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES!
Measure perhaps 2 cups of the frozen fruit to make 1 cup of puree. Frozen berries can be microwaved to hasten the process.
Use miniblender to to puree fruit

[Curleytop]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Curleytop:

Julie,My sons also have blackberries in their canyon, the recipes work for both!



[This message has been edited by Curleytop (edited 06-20-2001).]