Harvest Time

The strawberries M'Lady planted last year are finally here. In the last few days we have harvested 55 pounds of berries with many more still to come.

We are experimenting with various jam recipes, drying some for granola and probably freezing some. The best though is eating them right off the vine. This evenings meal, which we did not sit down to eat until after 9:00 PM because we were busy canning, consisted of garden salad greens, purple onion, goat cheese, fresh strawberries and grilled chicken breast dressed with balsamic vinegar.

Canning, in general, is hard work but we find it to be a wonderful way to stock our larder with items picked at the peak of their flavor.

Besides, the lavender hand soap we use mixed with the scent of strawberries is not altogether displeasing either when you're cleaning up after picking or canning.