Picking the strawberries has become part of my daily afternoon routine. Although it's a bit cool today, it is sunny and the skies are deep blue with big puffy 'cotton ball' clouds--perfect for yard work. For those who asked questions about our strawberry patch, here's a little bit of the raised wooden box pictured that Mike built. After the ground freezes, I mulch/cover the plants well with straw. In the spring I pull the straw off the plants but still leave it around them for mulch. Once the plants fill in, I have had virtually no weeds. Last year, beside this raised bed, I covered the ground with landscaping fabric, poked holes in it, and planted the 'daughter' plants from the originals. Then I covered it well with straw also - and no weeding!
I was fixing supper the other night and was too busy to bother with individual shortcake biscuits for our dessert, so I found this recipe and made it in an 8" square baking pan. I just gently pressed the dough into the buttered pan, and then brushed the melted butter over the top. I think it baked for 20 - 25 minutes and is absolutely delicious with strawberries and freshly whipped cream!
In an effort to justify the eating of more than one strawberry shortcake a day, I found this information on the great benefits of strawberries...see eating healthy can be fun ;)
Your strawberries are lovely. I just got finished canning strawberry jam and I love the look of the red jars glimmering on my counter tops!!
ReplyDeleteOh they look yummy!! Our berries are gone for this season but getting ready for blueberries!!
ReplyDeleteI have always made my shortcake biscuit dough into 2 big "Hoecakes" and layered them with the berries and whipped cream. Wish I had one right now!!!
Wonderful! Do you have any tips for keeping the birds off the ripe berries?
ReplyDeleteHi Jen,
ReplyDeleteI take you mean wild birds and not the chickens. The chickens are not able to free-range when the strawberries are on--they love strawberries!
So far, we have never had any problem with other birds eating the strawberries.
For blueberries, I do cover the bushes with netting and that works well.
Deb
Yum. Your strawberries look delish. Ours are just starting to form and I hope to get a nice crop this year.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Deb, you have a lovely patch and I am going to try that receipt for the cake--thanks!
ReplyDeleteLuscious! We've had our share of strawberry shortcake & then some...but looking at these pic's makes my mouth water for another!!Yum!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, our strawberries won't be ready for a few weeks here, but am looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteNothing beats strawberry shortcake.
ReplyDeleteI don't have many berries this year but the pick your own farms are open and that means jam!
I posted the recipe for those rhubarb muffins I mentioned.
Oh! I hope my strawberry patch fills in like that next year!
ReplyDelete