Hey Mom, We're on TV!

Hey, I forgot to mention that we're famous. We won the "Best Overall Business Plan" competition at the 6th annual Mohawk Valley Edge Awards!! The anchor of this news clip is a hell of a lot cuter than we are, so just take a look for details....http://www.news10now.com:80/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=104896 Make sure to click on "watch the video." Our somewhat adorable mugs were not on this clip - I'll pull that up and add it tomorrow....

Watch the poor guy in the front of the picture at the beginning of the clip - he's chewing away, oblivious to being filmed.... That wasn't any of us, but could have been - Murphy's Law...

'tis the season

Strawberries still looking good - and so are the families coming out to pick. It looks like a Hallmark Made for TV Movie around here lately - moms and kids during the week, grandparents and kids during the week, Dads and kids on weekends. Then you get the serious pickers that bring their own containers and wagons, and pick enough to can/freeze for the neighborhood.

Speaking of that - my favorite lazy man's jam:

Easy Fresh Fruit Jam

• 1 lb strawberries washed, hulled and sliced thin (about 3 generous cups - don't use over-ripe berries)
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 TBS lemon from one lemon
• Bring all to a gentle boil in a 10-12 inch skillet
• Stir frequently and skim foam for about 6 minutes until it looks syrupy
• Test by putting 1/2 tsp on a cold plate - if it gels, it's done, if it runs, cook a bit more
• Put in pretty glass jars, give to neighbors and pretend you worked all day.
• Use within 3 weeks

So the grandkids are having a ball with the Strawberry Jerk. (http://tassleberry.com/Detail31c7.html?no=7). It's actually Strawberry JAMACIAN Jerk, but as you might imagine, the chance to call someone a Strawberry Jerk is irresistable. When the eyebrows are raised in their direction, we get an innocent "What??"

Aside from that, it tastes good, too. We had our moment of fame in The Nibbler http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/rubs/best-barbecue-sauce.asp, and are happy to say that either lots of you have been reading that online newsletter, or the sauce is just finding an audience, because it's selling well. Thanks.

If you have a favorite BBQ sauce, jam recipe, whatever - let me know...

Pickin' season, and I don't mean guitars

CRAZY around here right now - picking georgeous berries that look and taste like a strawberry is supposed to. And ours don't have that spongy white core in them like the boxcar strawberries - what IS that thing? Our kids are fascinated with it - they like to "core" the hard winter strawberries from the grocery store and stick them on the ends of their thumbs as puppets. Gross.

While we're in the middle of picking, it feels like eternity, but really, the season's over in a flash. Farming is ridiculously difficult - more so since the appetite for out-of-season stuff has stores shipping rock hard fruit in from all over the place. People who couldn't find Chile on a map with both hands are more than happy to eat a sour plum from there in January. Go figure.

Glad we started the food line. (see http://www.tassleberry.com/) What doesn't get eaten/sold in strawberry season at least has a fighting chance to come back as a jar of marinade. Good marinade, at that.

Our current favorite snack - wierd as it sounds - is strawberries dipped in Strawberry Dressing and Dip. http://www.tassleberry.com/Categories473c.html?category=Strawberry+Dressing+and+Dip Add a hunk of cheese and a glass of Savignon Blanc (makes it taste less citrus-y, smoother), and bring on the night. And as my Granddaughter pointed out with the wisdom of a 6 year old - "it says DIP."

I'll end with a video my friend sent me - he didn't mean it to be funny, but I think it is. How to Make Strawberry Shortcake. http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b4LQIbYqj8. First of all - it ain't Strawberry Shortcake. Second of all, his pace is so manic I had to do a Yoga Pose to calm down afterward. Third of all, the focus on his hands had me thinking of the Seinfeld episode "Man-Hands."

Click on the clips at right for other recipes.

Let me know what you think...