Blueberry season! Hubby and I were so excited to read that blueberries were ready to be picked and that we could go and pick the berries ourselves. My hubby and kids love berries: blue, rasp, straw, black, service - you name it, they'll eat it. Me - I get most excited over blueberries. Those little dark blue buttons of sweet and sometimes tart juicy goodness are wickedly habit-forming.
Hubby and I went blueberry picking with my SIL in Michigan a few years ago. We thought that Michigan was blueberry central, and yes, their blueberries are terrific, but Ohio has some great berry farms as well. My family and friends are the perfect example of just how delicious Ohio blueberries are - we went picking twice in one week. I don't think I've ever eaten so many berries in my life and felt as if I was turning into a regular Violet Beauregarde. The Blueberry Patch was our blueberry bush vineyard of choice because the farm was close and easy to get to. We had also seen their blueberries offered frozen at the Worthington Farmer's Market after blueberry season commenced and also at various gourmet food markets, such as The Hills Market.
We picked over 12 pounds of berries this year and I turned most of the berries into jam. Since learning how to make jam from my buddy Rachel over at Hounds in the Kitchen, I can't stop. Forget the bread! Homemade jam made from fresh blueberries can be eaten with a spoon. I barely saved some blueberries to eat or freeze for winter months because I was busy boiling jars, boiling fruit, and canning. Trust me, no blueberry or blueberry piece was left...I took my finger and scraped the sides of the jam pan to be certain of it. My mouth loved me.The most enjoyable part about the blueberry experience was that we spent time together as a family. Hubby and I are so lucky (right now) to have children that are easy to take places and enjoy being with us. I am dreading the days when they will vehemently pass on going blueberry picking because it isn't cool anymore...hopefully that won't happen. And, hopefully they will continue to love my jam...because there is lots of it!
Miss P helped me not only pick and eat the berries, she mashed, stirred, added sugar and smiled the whole time. It was so stinkin' cute, and I believe the jam tastes better because it was made with a little love and adolescence thrown in (Yes. I am a "Like Water for Chocolate" fan).
6 comments:
What a fantastic post.... I loved reading about your fun blueberry adventures!!
It was lots of fun!
Also blueberry picking is always cool - see the big kid in red pictured :)
Very cute pictures! I need to go picking somewhere next week before the season is over.
oooh inspiring...I love making jam! Geoff and I have a long-standing tradition of making jam as Christmas presents, but now I want fresh-picked blueberry jam...
Cheers you.
My mouth is watering...
We took the kids blueberry picking last summer and I swear we ate three times as many berries right off the bushes as we actually put into the baskets. And most of the ones we paid for were gobbled up on the car ride home! Addictive, indeed!
Post a Comment