The season has once again arrived here in Oregon. Its the next thing I look forward to after Christmas. Is it Spring I look forward to? No, although Spring is one of my favorite seasons. This special season can beat out Spring any day in my book. This is the beginning of STRAWBERRY season.
Yes, its true you can get strawberries most of the time if you are willing to pay exorbitant prices for them. I am not rich, so for me Strawberry season runs from sometime towards the end March or beginning of April through most of summer. This is the time of year when Strawberries begin to be reasonably priced.
I spotted them at Costco a few weeks ago...but they were out of my price range. $10.99 for a 4 lb container. I tried to stay away from the produce section so as to avoid the temptation to get them anyway. The next week I saw that they had gone down to $9.99. Still too rich for my blood. Then last Friday I was at Costco for a few things and I was feeling a bit down. I made a deal with myself that I would get some Strawberries only if they were below $8.00 (which is still somewhat steep, I usually wait until they are under $6.00). There is no way they could be below $8.00 already. This is what I was thinking as I approached the area they were in. I couldn't read the sign until I rounded the corner and stood in front of the Strawberry display. (Cue the angelic singing). AAAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! There it was! $7.99! Of course, as much as I love Strawberries, I am also a connoisseur of fine quality. I was not about to pay that much for inferior fruit. Then the smell hit me...the sweet smell of nicely ripened berries. I took my time looking through several boxes to find just the right balance of deep color, without impending mold...and made my purchase.
Were they perfect berries? No...But they were good. Oregon Strawberries are frankly much better in my opinion than California ones. Oregon berries are smaller, darker, and sweeter. However, Oregon Strawberries won't be in season until June...so I will just make do with the big California ones. Our Friday night date (traditionally we watch a movie, play games or do something fun together...this week it will be watercolor painting...on Friday nights after the kids are in bed) included chocolate dipped Strawberries and a DVD rental. Sunday I made a fresh Strawberry pie. I also enjoyed just eating the Strawberries sliced up, and sprinkled with just a bit of sugar (unfortunately the Cali berries need a little sugar to sweeten them up.)
I am looking forward to the next few months of Strawberry bliss. Strawberry shortcake, Strawberry milkshake, Berry smoothies, and anything else I can think of. For those of you who know me, I would have a tough time deciding between Chocolate and Strawberries if I could not have both. I think if I could get the Strawberries at a reasonable price and quality year round, I might be able to shake the chocolate habit. Lucky for me I can have both, and I can even have them together! I think that Strawberry season might be able to pull me through until my next favorite season starts (school supply season.)
I think I am also going to add an egg slicer to my birthday list this year after reading Scribbit's blog about creative kitchen gadget uses. I never thought about using them to slice anything but eggs before.
For those of you wondering at my use of a capital S when I type the word Strawberries...its not because I am an idiot. Its because I love Strawberries that much.
Yes, its true you can get strawberries most of the time if you are willing to pay exorbitant prices for them. I am not rich, so for me Strawberry season runs from sometime towards the end March or beginning of April through most of summer. This is the time of year when Strawberries begin to be reasonably priced.
I spotted them at Costco a few weeks ago...but they were out of my price range. $10.99 for a 4 lb container. I tried to stay away from the produce section so as to avoid the temptation to get them anyway. The next week I saw that they had gone down to $9.99. Still too rich for my blood. Then last Friday I was at Costco for a few things and I was feeling a bit down. I made a deal with myself that I would get some Strawberries only if they were below $8.00 (which is still somewhat steep, I usually wait until they are under $6.00). There is no way they could be below $8.00 already. This is what I was thinking as I approached the area they were in. I couldn't read the sign until I rounded the corner and stood in front of the Strawberry display. (Cue the angelic singing). AAAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! There it was! $7.99! Of course, as much as I love Strawberries, I am also a connoisseur of fine quality. I was not about to pay that much for inferior fruit. Then the smell hit me...the sweet smell of nicely ripened berries. I took my time looking through several boxes to find just the right balance of deep color, without impending mold...and made my purchase.
Were they perfect berries? No...But they were good. Oregon Strawberries are frankly much better in my opinion than California ones. Oregon berries are smaller, darker, and sweeter. However, Oregon Strawberries won't be in season until June...so I will just make do with the big California ones. Our Friday night date (traditionally we watch a movie, play games or do something fun together...this week it will be watercolor painting...on Friday nights after the kids are in bed) included chocolate dipped Strawberries and a DVD rental. Sunday I made a fresh Strawberry pie. I also enjoyed just eating the Strawberries sliced up, and sprinkled with just a bit of sugar (unfortunately the Cali berries need a little sugar to sweeten them up.)
I am looking forward to the next few months of Strawberry bliss. Strawberry shortcake, Strawberry milkshake, Berry smoothies, and anything else I can think of. For those of you who know me, I would have a tough time deciding between Chocolate and Strawberries if I could not have both. I think if I could get the Strawberries at a reasonable price and quality year round, I might be able to shake the chocolate habit. Lucky for me I can have both, and I can even have them together! I think that Strawberry season might be able to pull me through until my next favorite season starts (school supply season.)
I think I am also going to add an egg slicer to my birthday list this year after reading Scribbit's blog about creative kitchen gadget uses. I never thought about using them to slice anything but eggs before.
For those of you wondering at my use of a capital S when I type the word Strawberries...its not because I am an idiot. Its because I love Strawberries that much.
2 comments:
I won't by the Cali Strawberris. They looks so beautiful and taste like styrophome...but I will spend 10$ on a flat of local berries....oh yeah.
I had a home party the other night and had chocolate covered strawberries from berries I got from Coscto. So big and yummy. I had enough left over to make a quick double batch of freezer jam. I needed a few extra berries so I took the chocolate shell off some of the leftover covered berries and it came exactly right. Now I have a lovely counter full of freezer jam. I was on such a high from it. Those strawberries tasted SO GOOD!!!! Thanks for the post, it got me thinking about berries in general and now I'M obsessed with them. :)
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