7/7/12

Berry Busy

Erik and I spent the morning at the Portland Farmer's Market.  Our weather was stunning.  Summer has finally arrived in the Northwest. Here's our weather forecast for the next several days:


I realize that some of you are slow-roasting in record-setting heat. If you consider, however, that it has been raining in Oregon since last September, you'll understand why we are bragging about our great weather.  Don't worry, it will only last until about Labor Day, and then we'll be back to another year of rain.  And besides, you have thriving vegetable gardens.  Mine is a total loss this year. Even the zucchini is a failure, and you know it's a bad year in gardening when zucchini won't grow.

No matter because we are very lucky to have a wonderful Farmer's Market.  Today I picked up some red raspberries.


Those were promptly doused in vodka to make raspberry-infused vodka.  I blogged about how to make berry-infused vodka when I made it last year.  And I told you what to do with it too.  (Hint:  It starts with lemon, and ends with drop.)

And I got some pretty peaches, which were promptly put into a peach pie.  (Absolutely awesome alliteration, huh?)  For whatever reason, I've had a yen for peach pie.  I think it was all the peach recipes that came out in Food & Wine recently.  Anyway . . . these were so fragrant, I could smell them as we approached.  And they are also very sweet.  This variety is called "Red Haven," but I would call them "Red Heaven".


And here's my beautiful pie!



Also, I got some blueberries, which are in season for us now. Tomorrow I'm going to make blueberry chutney out of these guys. I'll tell you how I do it then.  And allow me to say just one thing about blueberry chutney:  Yum.


And I found these monster zucchini.  They aren't very good for eating, but they make great zucchini relish.  I'll be making that on Tuesday.  I'll show you how to do that too.  It's the simplest thing, and so good on sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs.


And finally, just because they were beautiful, some tomatoes.  I'm not sure where these came from, but I'm guessing Southern Oregon.  It's a little early here in Portland for ripe tomatoes.  Still, these looked and smelled so good that I brought some home.  They aren't for anything fancy.  They're for eating like apples.


Not much sewing going on lately.  It's too beautiful to be stuck in my basement sewing room.  Time to be outside, soaking up some of that Vitamin D.

13 comments:

Debbie said...

Very envious of your summer weather...even some of the rain. Produce looks great....most of our gardens are drying up and browning off already.

Marj said...

You are right it is very hot here in the South. Also you might not want to advertise the great weather in Oregon, as it might bring on a mass migration from the Southeast.... just saying.LOL

Snoodles said...

Yep, I agree with the comment above...I'm ready to pack up and come to visit, and eat peach pie. LOL I got my ingredients today for the chutney, and also picked all the ripe berries I could get my mits on before the no-see-ums ate me up. :)

mary mahoo said...

It's very, very hot up here in Ontario, Canada! We could use some of your rain in the worst of ways in my neck of the woods; even the weeds are dying. Your fruit looks wonderful. Peach pie is my fave--I always put 2 (at least) in the freezer for Christmas dinner. Enjoy!

The Slow Quilter said...

Yes, I envy you your wonderful weather, we are frying eggs on the ground here in D.C.I might even throw some beacon at there. Your market run looks good, can't wait for the receipies.

quiltzyx said...

Looking forward to seeing what yummy things are coming! Great Farmer's Market photos too!!!

Lynette said...

mmmm - that pie pic turned my mouth into an instant waterfall :)

Diane Wild said...

I'll be waiting on that zucchini recipe. My zucchini is threatening to take over the fridge.

Karen said...

Oh my that pie looks amazing! I can taste it right through the computer! I may have to whip something up to satisfy that craving now. Thanks for sharing!

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

I wonder how it would work if you used the raspberries to make a pie after they were in the vodka. Would the alcohol bake out? Probably. If not, wouldn't that be a surprise!

Kate said...

It all looks yummy (and very pretty in the photos too). It's too hot to do much here, so I'll be in the sewing room this afternoon. Enjoy your nice weather. As you say, the pretty times never last long enough.

barbara woods said...

send some of those temps down south please 102 is not what we wont

Lee said...

I enjoyed my visit up in your neck of the woods during June, actually had dinner one night at Lil Cooperstown in Newberg - loved the flavor explosion in their garlic/feta cheese burger (not sure if that's the actual name). While Nick and I enjoyed the cool weather and rain, I'm sure you thought summer would never arrive. I'm so sorry your garden was a 'wash out' this year :(