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Farm Kitchen:  24 quarts of strawberries!  |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 03:44:14 AM
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We went picking yesterday. I plan on canning preserves, probably today. Not sure how much I'm going to make yet. Still hammering that part out.
Wondering what to do with the "leftovers". How should I prepare them for the freezer? Should I freeze them whole? Or cut them up and freeze them in a container? Which would be the best way. We'd probably use them for smoothies, shakes, breakfast's etc.
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Farm Girl #790
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 03:55:32 AM
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That's a lot of strawberries!!! There's nothing like homemade strawberry jam, yum!
Last year hubby wanted me to freeze the extras whole for him to use in his smoothies. The whole ones don't mix up as well though when they're frozen, so this year I will be cutting them at least in half first. Then I lay them on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer. When they're frozen, they get popped into ziploc bags!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 04:18:06 AM
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The cookie sheet idea works great. We do that with green beans, too. Strawberries are so nice to work with compared to other fruits that have to be peeled, de-pitted, etc. The worst thing is stained fingernails. No big deal.
My Dad, Hubby & I picked 42 lbs of strawberries last Monday. I was able to put up 16 pints of jam, 2 pints of strawberry-rhubarb jelly, freeze several quart bags of sliced strawberries, make strawberry-rhubarb pinwheel cookies, make a strawberry-rhubarb pie, strawberry shortcake throughout the week and have fresh strawberries for cereal, etc. My DHs favorite jam is strawberry so I make enough so we don't have to buy any until next Spring. Much cheaper at $1.30/lb vs. $3.50 plus for a little bitty jar of organic. Enjoy your berries!
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 04:45:47 AM
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Lucky! Strawberries are out of season already here! It was also a bad year and I didnt can any jelly7 :( good think I still have 9 1/2 pints left !
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 2:05:56 PM
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Alee, we went to a farm to pick. We don't have any ourselves. We did pick 5 cups of raspberries so far. I need a few more cups to make preserves out of those.
I cleaned enough to make 9 pints of preserves and 1 batch on a freezer sheet for future use.
What a job. I'm not done yet. My family wants dinner. Strawberries perhaps? 
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Farm Girl #790
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3320 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3320 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 2:48:24 PM
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LUCKY----
I have about a dozen or more strawberry plants in one of my raised beds and so far I have been able to salvage maybe a handful or more-something is nibbling away at those dear sweet berries and leaving the rest! I have been scanning every morning just to grab what I can before whoever is enjoying MY strawberries returns!
I LOVE making strawberry jam!
My DH and I go every year not far from here to a strawberry farm to pick and they even let you "munch" while you pick--- Last year we picked 4 huge flats...
Melody
Farmgirl #525
www.melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
http://www.farmgirlhistory.blogspot.com/
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com
www.longtallsallys.etsy.com
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JenniferJuniper
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Jennifer
New Hampshire
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2010 : 05:15:20 AM
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I just picked some too! Going back today for more. If you have the freezer space make a few batches of fresh-strawberry muffins & scones to freeze in heavy duty zipper bags. They will be a welcome breakfast treat when the berries are long out of season. I also puree berries with a bit of sugar in the food processor and freeze in small quilted freezer-safe jelly jars. Thawed it makes a nice strawberry sauce for cheesecake and other desserts. Heated & add more sugar, it is a yummy pancake/waffle topping.
Farmgirl Sister #204 |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2010 : 05:28:41 AM
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Yummy! Perhaps I should make some strawberry sauce as well! I have a gallon bag of "flash frozen" berries done so far. I have 8 quarts left to clean. I found a recipe for strawberry muffins that I'm saving. Hubby said he'd help me clean the rest tonight.
I'm going to work on the raspberries today. Need to pick what's ripened in the past day or so. Hopefully will have enough for a small batch of preserves.
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Farm Girl #790
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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tea_lady_tammy
True Blue Farmgirl
1485 Posts
Tammy
NE
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2010 : 10:21:29 AM
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oh how I am sad. I love strawberries and my little patch got rained out. the strawberries in the grocery store have not been looking good at all.
hugs
Tammy
Tea is like being in the stars with God.
http://breathsoffaith.blogspot.com |
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smurfy1019
Farmgirl at Heart
8 Posts
Whitney
Avilla
Indiana
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 10:23:28 PM
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I picked fourteen pounds earlier in June... What wasn't eaten at my grad party I turned into smoothies!!
The yummiest recipe I tried (aka the one consumed the quickest):
1 serving, multiply as needed
1/3 cup straberries
1/3 cup orange juice
6-8 oz of lemon yogurt (more for thicker smoothie, less for a thinner consistency)
Blend until... well, smooth!
Delicious!! |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2010 : 03:37:01 AM
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Our season went out end of May. It was great while it lasted, so the freezer is stocked and ready for jam makin' later on.
We are also nearing the end of wild blackberry season. Picked so many last night my hand started to hurt form holding the bucket!
Will also try and locate a decent blueberry source next week |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2010 : 03:45:04 AM
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I managed to make 3 pints of raspberry preserves with what I picked from my own yard.
Normally we head up to Michigan for blueberry picking but decided to do strawberries this year instead. I think I still have a gallon size bag still in the freezer.
I need to find a new apple orchard for the fall. The place we normally go to has become really commercial.
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Farm Girl #790
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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smurfy1019
Farmgirl at Heart
8 Posts
Whitney
Avilla
Indiana
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2010 : 07:14:30 AM
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| We are in the process of making our "straight from the woods" black raspberry jam. Makes the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ever! As for blueberries, we always pick way too many to eat fresh, so we freeze them and I make pie, muffins, and coffeecake all winter long. |
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Farm Kitchen: 24 quarts of strawberries! |
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24 quarts of strawberries!
