Monday, May 17, 2010

POP! a glorious sound


The periodic pop I hear tells me another jar of Mara des Bois strawberry (picked today), blackberry, and lemon preserves is sealed and ready to be stored for gifts or for our own use long after strawberry season is over.

And for dessert? Sunday's glut of waffles with double Devon cream, and the warm leftovers from tonight's jam-making.



My adorable assistant and I have been picking a bowlful every day for about 2 weeks now. From the first batch: blackberry, raspberry, strawberry.



Five cups of crushed berries yield about 10 small jars of preserves.



Are you growing strawberries? What are you doing with your harvest? Don't grow strawberries? WHY??!!! Oooooh! Just heard another pop!
Posted by Wendy at 8:54 PM
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13 comments:

  1. Strawberries are only grown in the highlands here. I love the fruit and its jem. I haven't tried them preserved like what you done though. Did you say a bowlful every day?... that's a lot!
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  2. yum, you are making me hungry, looks great!
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  3. Gorgeous post! Looks super fabulous!! YUm! And what a sweet helper!!
    Kiki~
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  4. I'd like the raspberry and blackberry but your little assistant is the sweetest of them all.
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  5. That looks so good! Might I ask where you got your Mara des Bois plants? I remember reading (Barbara Damrosch? Anne Raver?) about them a year or two ago and then forgot all about them. Whoever the writer was, she raved about the wonderful taste of that variety.
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  6. That's a darling little assistant you have working for you! I try my best to grow strawberries and raspberries but they seem to disappear in fresh form too quickly to contemplate jams. :)
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  7. Oh yum, looks (and smells) divine, Wendy! Your assistant is indeed adorable ... a darling photo.
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  8. Oh Wendy, I'm so proud of you! I was afraid you'd give up on canning altogether and here you are, posting about it like it was nothing at all. Great work! We're growing strawberries again this year, but we never do well with them - barely enough for the girls to pick one and eat it once in awhile. I had to buy my jam berries at the store. (Still better than store bought jam though, for sure!) Just finished the last triple-batch of strawberry jam this morning, hopefully we have enough to last till next year now. If you lived closer, I'd ask you to trade me a jar, your preserves sound lovely!
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  9. I'm impressed! I bet it is delicious. Well, I do grow strawberries and I get about a bite at a time with container growing. I would have to increase the production quite a bit...:) Your assistant is so very cute!
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  10. The way I water (or actually don't water) my strawberries in the past never grew much or produced anything approaching five cups' worth. I think part of the problem was the gardener snacking on them as I did my garden chores...
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  11. Hi Wendy~~ Your strawberries are several weeks ahead of mine. I've picked maybe three so far and they ripen intermittently over the entire summer. Usually we end up going to a farmer to U-Pick just so we'll have a large quantity all at once. Ditto with blueberries.

    Your little helper is absolutely cherubic. You must be one proud Mama.
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  12. Thanks for visiting!!

    I'm really pleased with the strawberries. Last year we got just a few - the kids fought over the small handful and the show was over. We're contemplating strawberry ice cream this weekend...

    Entangled - I believe the strawberries are from White Flower Farm. My strawberries are not a really sweet strawberry, but it's been good b/c the little helper is way too addicted to sugar and a more tart berry is a good thing. Plus, it's great for using in cooking and for the jam.

    Julie - I was working with you in mind - I knew you'd be proud. :) Actually, it's largely due to your encouragement that I gave this a try again. It "only" took me 2 hours - to make 1 batch of jam. For my second batch, I didn't even read directions!! :)
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  13. :-) As you get more confident in your own skills, start employing the girls! They can help with things like washing and smashing and your oldest could definitely be stirring while you're washing and smashing the next batch. Even with just my seven year old for help (because we all know the two year old isn't really that useful) I get a lot more done more quickly. And it makes for some good memories, too!
    Very proud of you, can't wait to see what else you make this summer!
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