Oh, happy day.
We're on the mailing list for a particular
pick-em-yourself-strawberry farm in Point Harbor,
just north of the Wright Memorial Bridge.
pick-em-yourself-strawberry farm in Point Harbor,
just north of the Wright Memorial Bridge.
And on Friday, we boogied on up
to Currituck County to the immaculate beds.
(Well, shoot. Why wouldn't they be immaculate?
They're covered in space-age material
with holes cut out where the strawberry plants were stuck into.)
to Currituck County to the immaculate beds.
(Well, shoot. Why wouldn't they be immaculate?
They're covered in space-age material
with holes cut out where the strawberry plants were stuck into.)
and picked beautiful strawberries.
We're preparing for winter.
For our smoothies.
Mr. Hawthorne washed and trimmed
the strawberries
and packaged in individual snack baggies.
and packaged in individual snack baggies.
Then he put his snack baggies in a freezer bag
and froze his berries.
(Heh. 12.)
Next it was time for lunch
and I was craving something green.
I steamed asparagus and spinach
and Mr. Hawthorne seared the tilefish,
lightly seasoned with salt, pepper, and Old Bay,
in a combination of butter and olive oil.
I topped the veggies with buttah and lemon juice
and this was wonderful.
Tilefish is very light, delicate, flavorful, flaky, moist, and tender.
and Mr. Hawthorne seared the tilefish,
lightly seasoned with salt, pepper, and Old Bay,
in a combination of butter and olive oil.
I topped the veggies with buttah and lemon juice
and this was wonderful.
Tilefish is very light, delicate, flavorful, flaky, moist, and tender.
... this little lime.
Now, Mr. Hawthorne didn't use up all the strawberries.
I made two strawberry pies,
one for us and one for my friend, Natasha,
who is recuperating from knee-replacement surgery.
Ouch.
I've made the recipe for the single pie many times,
and it's the absolute best strawberry pie I've ever had.
However, I've never doubled the recipe before.
If I double it again, I'll use more cornstarch,
since the filling was not as set as I'd like it to be.
Now, Mr. Hawthorne didn't use up all the strawberries.
I made two strawberry pies,
one for us and one for my friend, Natasha,
who is recuperating from knee-replacement surgery.
Ouch.
I've made the recipe for the single pie many times,
and it's the absolute best strawberry pie I've ever had.
However, I've never doubled the recipe before.
If I double it again, I'll use more cornstarch,
since the filling was not as set as I'd like it to be.
I'll give you the recipe for a single pie:
1 quart strawberries, plus extras
1 cup granulated sugar
2 TB cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 TB butter
In the above picture, everything is doubled.
1 quart strawberries, plus extras
1 cup granulated sugar
2 TB cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 TB butter
In the above picture, everything is doubled.
Normally, I would make my own crusts,
but because of time-restraints,
I Sandra-Lee'd it with Pillsbury Pie Crusts.
One thing I don't like about these pie crusts
is that by leaving the dough out to thaw
dried out the edges so I can't flute the rims
as well as I'd like to.
And the rim on that left pie kinda sucks looks-wise.
You just can't do anything with dried-out pie crust.
Now, on to the filling.
but because of time-restraints,
I Sandra-Lee'd it with Pillsbury Pie Crusts.
One thing I don't like about these pie crusts
is that by leaving the dough out to thaw
dried out the edges so I can't flute the rims
as well as I'd like to.
And the rim on that left pie kinda sucks looks-wise.
You just can't do anything with dried-out pie crust.
Now, on to the filling.
I mixed the corn starch and water
and added that to the mixture.
Now, if you double this recipe,
like I said, I'd add more cornstarch.
To double the recipe,
I'd try 4 TB cornstarch to 1/2 cup water.
and added that to the mixture.
Now, if you double this recipe,
like I said, I'd add more cornstarch.
To double the recipe,
I'd try 4 TB cornstarch to 1/2 cup water.
I took a package of softened cream cheese (8 oz.)
and mixed with about 4 TB of the strawberry mixture.
and mixed with about 4 TB of the strawberry mixture.
Here's my slice.
Like I said, doubling the recipe requires more cornstarch.
Still tastes delightful.
But the texture is a bit too runny for my tastes.
The extra cornstarch would have taken care of that.
Hey, cook and learn.
You know me.
I tell it like it is and like I see it.
Like I said, doubling the recipe requires more cornstarch.
Still tastes delightful.
But the texture is a bit too runny for my tastes.
The extra cornstarch would have taken care of that.
Hey, cook and learn.
You know me.
I tell it like it is and like I see it.
This is the leftover strawberry puree
which didn't fit in the pies
and which will be wonderful on toast.
Now, fast forward to this morning's breakfast.
which didn't fit in the pies
and which will be wonderful on toast.
Now, fast forward to this morning's breakfast.
I love a strawberry smoothie like nothing else.
And this is why we picked 20 pounds of strawberries.
For our smoothies for next winter.
Instead of using ice and fresh, ripe strawberries
to make a smoothie, we like to use the frozen strawberries.
And this is why we picked 20 pounds of strawberries.
For our smoothies for next winter.
Instead of using ice and fresh, ripe strawberries
to make a smoothie, we like to use the frozen strawberries.
And each snack baggie is perfect
for one individual smoothie.
With frozen strawberries, you don't need to add the ice
so you get a much more intense, richer strawberry flavor.
It's undiluted.
And it's sublime and exquisite.
With frozen strawberries, you don't need to add the ice
so you get a much more intense, richer strawberry flavor.
It's undiluted.
And it's sublime and exquisite.
I like to add a bit of orange juice
to flavor my smoothies.
Mr. Hawthorne does not like the OJ in his smoothies.
Mr. Hawthorne does not like the OJ in his smoothies.
It would be good with pineapple added or with banana.
You can make a smoothie with almost any fruit.
Just use your imagination.
Now, Mr. Hawthorne is making his breakfast.
Buckwheat pancakes.
We got the buckwheat from Mabry's Mill
when we visited there on our trip last fall.
He mixes equal parts buckwheat flour and all purpose flour,
along with sugar, egg, baking powder, vanilla, and buttermilk.
Then he added sliced strawberries.
along with sugar, egg, baking powder, vanilla, and buttermilk.
Then he added sliced strawberries.
He topped his strawberry buckwheat pancake
with fresh strawberries and the strawberry pie filling mixture and maple syrup.
And don't forget the sausage!
(OK, Ticky, there was absolutely no maple in the syrup.
It was all chemicals! And it was all very good.
But don't worry, I'm all over the whole wheat pasta now,
like Pauler on Buttah!.)
with fresh strawberries and the strawberry pie filling mixture and maple syrup.
And don't forget the sausage!
(OK, Ticky, there was absolutely no maple in the syrup.
It was all chemicals! And it was all very good.
But don't worry, I'm all over the whole wheat pasta now,
like Pauler on Buttah!.)
I love his buckwheat pancakes.
They have a fabulous crunch to them that's
just not in regular pancakes which I don't even like.
But I love Mr. H.'s buckwheat pancakes.
And the strawberries?
Took it over the top.
They have a fabulous crunch to them that's
just not in regular pancakes which I don't even like.
But I love Mr. H.'s buckwheat pancakes.
And the strawberries?
Took it over the top.
5 comments:
I love strawberries!
A quick question about the pie. Are the pretty berries taken out of the 1 quart of berries you started with, or are they in addition to the 1 quart of berries?
I hope that makes sense!
I can not wait for strawberry picking here in NJ, about 3 weeks. You are fantastic.. look at all the ways you used your berries. The pie looks amazing, even if a bit runny as you say. Do you make jam? I am trying this year. I have a method that requires no pot boil thingie.. easy. LMK if youd like the link. NICE post, thoroughly enjoyed it. Pancakes.. buckwheat.. oh yes..
Hairball, they were in addition to the quart, but it really wouldn't make any difference. Just find the prettiest berries.
And Donna, yes, I make jam too and I would like that link. Thanks.
Ooooh, strawberry season means one thing here (IF I get out to picking them) - FREEZER JAM. Best thing since sliced bread. Or on sliced bread.
Good for you on the WW noodles. Now replace the AP flour with WW flour in the pancakes, and you're on like Donkey Kong!
Hah! Great minds and all that. Busty/Kathy, I was thinking freezer jam when I read the comment above yours, and then, you mentioned it.
Our friend Miss Aunt Pam makes THE BEST freezer jam I've ever eaten. We have to remember to hide it in the very back of the freezer when my brother visits, since he ate 1/2 a jar last time he was here.
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