Sunday, July 15, 2012

what became of the blueberries...

Last week we went blueberry picking at a local organic farm.
We picked...
...and we picked...
...and we picked...
...and came home with quite a haul.




It took a few days, but all the blueberries have now found their way into our stores for the coming year. Well, all the ones that didn't find their way into hungry bellies first, that is. :P

Didn't need to make jam this year as I made an overabundance last year so we've got plenty left. So instead, most got frozen. I use the easy peasy, yet somewhat time consuming method of freezing them spread out in a single layer on cookie sheets, and then transferring to containers once frozen. We ended up with 20 pints. Most of these will be nibbled away during the course of the year--frozen blueberries are the kids' favorite snack--but I hope I'll be able to hide a few pints away for muffins and coffeecakes. This freezer is filling fast--this month's blueberries and last months's strawberries.


I also made blueberry "syrup" topping for French toast, pancakes, ice cream, whatever. Froze 5 pints. We pigged down another, on some French toast made with homemade bread this morning. Mmmmm...


And finally, the rest I dried to use in scones and granola. Rich got me a dehydrator for my birthday, and this was it's inauguration. It did a fabulous job. In fact, I'd really love to get back and pick another 10 pints or just to dry. We really can go through the granola, after all. :)





Now, if only I could figure out what to do with all the radishes in the garden...

6 comments:

Jean said...

The blueberries look great. I think you should definitely get more for drying. As for the radishes, they do make great finger food for snacking.

Megan said...

Yum! What a haul! I love berries but don't eat nearly enough of them. Maybe if I lived at *your* house.... ;-)

Debi said...

Jean,
Yep, that's my favorite way to eat radishes. And well, honestly, my only way other than in salads. :P

Megan,
Well, you could certainly come visit! :D

chrisa511 said...

There are no words for how excited this post made me!! First of all, I absolutely love that you all went and picked that many blueberries! I really want to find a pick your own farm down here. That would be so much fun…but I loved everything that you did with these!!! I think it would be so much fun to get tons of fruit and then decide what to do with it all :) That blueberry syrup looks freaking AMAZING…omg I want some NOW! Oh…and I'm so in love with Annie's new haircut!! You have to pass it on for me! Rich posted a pic on instagram the other night and she's ADORABLE! I so wish you'd get an iphone just to get instagram :p

kreed said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kreed said...

I always think of y'all when I see blueberries - it reminds me of the trip we took to Michigan and how your kids just gobbled them up! It looks like you have quite the store of fabulous fruit for the coming year - YUM!

P.S. That was my comment that I deleted above...had a typo I just couldn't handle!