The Welcome Mat

It's berry picking season

It’s berry season again! Time to enjoy some delicious and nutritious cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries, mulberries, strawberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants.

A fun, family summertime activity is to go to a farm and pick some yourself. Find a farm near you that accommodates guests picking from their canes and bushes. Many of these farms also feature other great attractions, such as hay rides and petting zoos.

Once you bring these fruits home, the possibilities are endless. You can put them on your breakfast cereal, make pies with them, dip them in chocolate, or can them. If you’re interested in canning, check out the college of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of Ohio State University’s Web site. Once you’re there, click on the large food icon, and you’ll find in-depth, easy-to-understand articles on canning under the heading Food Preservation.

You could also make frozen fruit smoothies by combining in a blender:

·     A cup and a half of plain or vanilla yogurt
·     Two spoonfuls of skim milk
·     A half cup of oatmeal
·     A spoonful of wheat germ
·     A spoonful of sugar or sugar substitute
·     A couple of large berries

Blend this until it has the texture of ice cream, then start adding more berries, two or three at a time, giving the blender plenty of time to break up the frozen fruit. Combine until you have enough to fill two large glasses. Try adding some granola on top. It makes a healthy and delicious breakfast.

Have your own recipes or other berry ideas? Share them with us!