strawberries!

every fall and into winter since we have lived in oregon, i have wished that we had picked more berries the previous summer. oregon berries are so sweet and delicious, so eating frozen other berries does not come anywhere close to the taste. oregon is known for growing awesome berries, and every summer i want more! one thing we really need is a freezer, more money to pick and the time to pick and prepare the bounty, be it jams and/ or freezing.

usually i pick with the kids. our general yield for one trip is about 20 lbs. this time chris came with us...and our yield for 1 1/2 hours was... 49 lbs!!! woot! the weather was breezy and not too hot, the fields were bursting with tons of ripe, big berries.

in between going to my son's american kenpo karate belt test where he earned his 6th belt, a green belt, going out with friends to celebrate aforementioned belt testing, making dinner for some new friends who bought a house i was processing berries. the trick to freezing them is gently washed berries layed out on your freezer shelves in a single layer, and then when frozen placed in freezer bags.

we also love strawberry freezer jam. it's like sunshine in a jar all winter long! we also gave a jar to each of our older, retired neighbors. they were so thankful. it's important to us to show our kids how to build community so we share with our neighbors, and give them surprises (like on may day) and assist them with yard work and such.

another strawberrry favorite is the strawberry/lemon bread from claire's. here's marley making a loaf totally by herself, no more small kids around here. :)