You caught me red handed!

I love strawberries! Yesterday we went out to our local berry farm with baskets in hand to pick some ripe strawberries. I shouldn't say some strawberries because we actually ended up picking 13lbs of them! I really enjoyed getting to walk up and down the long rows in the strawberry patch picking...and eating...our own strawberries. There is something about doing it yourself that makes them taste better. :) You should've seen us though after we were finished! Eric and Philip had red stains all over their clothes, shoes, and hands, and Mom somehow managed to get some on her purse! I managed to walk out with stainless clothes...but my hands were bright red. :)

Hmmmm...now what to do with all of those strawberries! Strawberry ice cream was first on our list yesterday. ;) Today, Mom said that I could put some freezer jam up and that would at least use up most of them. I ran out to the store this morning and bought some sugar and fruit pectin. I doubled the recipe, and this afternoon, I was able to fill up six freezer containers half-way. I have never made freezer jam before so I'm hoping it won't turn out to be strawberry soup. :) I just wiggled a container about 10 minutes ago, and it seemed to be setting up okay. We shall see! Well, that put a little dent in our strawberry supply...but we still have half of a basket full of strawberries to use. Any suggestions? I was thinking about a strawberry cake or pound cake of some sort. Hmm...

We were excited to have Nan drive out this morning for a visit! You know what happens when us ladies get together...shopping. :) Mom, Nan, and I decided to drive around our little town to several antique stores. Then, we stopped for lunch at a little country diner...I have decided that I love onion rings. :) Afterward, we popped into a small fabric store that I had been meaning to check out (to see if they had good deals :). For some reason...I was under the impression that they only sold upholstery fabric. Well, I was wrong! A little old lady runs it, and she carries a rather wide selection of quilting fabrics and supplies. I was happy to see that her fabrics were reasonably priced...around $3.84-$4.50 per yard...which is great! Mom and I spotted this fabric on the rack for around $4, so I thought I'd grab some to make into another skirt. Hopefully, I can get that made this week! Anyway...I am talking way too much. :) It's from all of those strawberries I ate yesterday. :) Again, if anyone has suggestions for what to with all of these strawberries, I'm all ears!

Comments

[Heartathome]

We love strawberries too and freezer jam is my favorite. I've only had one "flop" batch but even it tasted good-just was too runny to use for jam. Instead, we used it on ice cream, waffles, and pancakes. So even if your jam doesn't set, don't throw it out!
BTW, I've visited your blog before-just to see what you're keeping busy with. With two younger daughters still to be raised, I'm always looking for ideas~
Many blessings

[Elise]

I love strawberry jam-we just canned some from our own outing a few days ago, but it was a bit of a runny batch, so I want to go pick more. You could just freeze your extra berries.
Love that fabric too!! Do you have a particular skirt pattern you use? Is that in your archives? I will probably find it there and go, "Oh yeah..."
Happy Wednesday!!
Elise

[Michelle]

Hey Alli,
I've been reading your blog and I love it. Julia and I took a quilt class and we are addicted. Of course Julia is way ahead of me. I'm also trying to teach Chelsie to sew a dress for Grace. Did you find the fabric store in town? I didn't know there was anything like that out here :)

[Nan]

I enjoyed my day out with both you and your mom. We will have to do it again real soon. Hope your skirt turns out to be as pretty as I think it will. A strawberry pie is hard to beat. You should find one on the internet. Love, Nan

[Meredith]

I've been in total strawberry mode yesterday and today also! :) How much does the berry farm charge per pound (I'm assuming you went to the one on 360?)? I tried to call last night to find out, but I think they must have been closed.

I can't wait to hear how the freezer jam turns out... I've never tried that before. Yesterday I canned two batches of berries and right now I have two strawberry pies in the oven... Have you considered making pies? I have a really good strawberry pie recipe I'd be glad to email you if you'd like it! :)

Elliott, Oliver, and I were trying to set a record yesterday at the field we pick at in NC... We heard that two women were in the newspaper because they picked 97 lbs. in 2 hours up in VA Beach, so we picked 103 lbs. in 1 hr. & 10 minutes. I'm hoping to sell lots of strawberry pies and jam at the farmer's market on Saturday! :)

Are you talking about the fabric store behind that restaurant? I'll have to check it out some time. I figured it was all expensive. Your fabric is very pretty!

Well, as usual, my comment turned into a letter as long as an email! Talk to you soon...

[Morgan]

Oh wow, yum!! We love strawberries. :) My niece has just discovered them and she wants to eat them all day long. :) It's so cute to watch her sign "strawberry"! :)

We usually make strawberry pies with any "extra" (ha!) strawberries. :)