新手上路
庶人 三级
- 积分
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- 威望
- 20 点
- 资产
- 30 金币
- 注册时间
- 2007-6-5
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Strawberry season is sweet for many delicious reasons, and it heralds the beginning of summer.7 Z( c3 U7 V9 N7 p# ~
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4 R9 f- \4 b1 G* yFor homegrown treats, it\'s hard to beat the strawberry, the first sweet fruit of summer.
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For the next few weeks Southwestern Ontario residents can buy strawberries at a local farm, or be farmers for a day and pick the strawberries themselves. & N' o) ?$ {0 ~* c' `. D5 C9 e
% c4 d0 x& g3 G8 T: x3 q _Mike O\'Shea of the O\'Shea\'s Farm Fresh, a family operation near Granton, said this year\'s crop is much better than last season because the weather has been much more co-operative.
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\"It\'s not as cold and wet as it was last season, so it looks a lot more promising,\" he said. . Y6 P0 M6 n" f7 z
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\"If the weather continues this way and maybe gets a little cooler, it will be just perfect, and we\'ll have a great turnout,\" he said.
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" H- Z5 f- ~; H9 S; v* [3 fO\'Shea is encouraging residents to phone in before coming out to pick.
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( H0 f8 E8 v W* Q5 [& C3 h" d0 pOver at Red Barn Berries, near Woodstock, Sue Hilborn is expecting big things.
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\"It\'s going to be huge,\" said Hilborn of this year\'s strawberry crop. \"We avoided any frost.\" ! T, }; w( r' ?1 o6 U1 {; S
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Their pick-your-own operation opens today, said Hilborn, who urges residents to stock up on the summer treat. ' x/ z* B/ ?" q2 _: q" |/ @" h, R
" s3 }/ Z' P/ c3 A5 \" b\"It\'s going to be easy picking,\" she said. 4 N( h' m |/ E6 \7 {/ L
6 M% {: C! L2 p0 E3 U# l4 uSTRAWBERRY PAIRINGS
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5 E1 x( q6 [' i8 m; E9 s- Serve fresh strawberries with a cheese platter for an appetizer or after-dinner treat. - B* Z4 x% W3 A. K
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- Slice fresh strawberries into a salad of arugula and pecorino cheese.
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8 V! h7 H9 e* x9 L9 B y9 N# q8 w- I- Another option is a salad of greens, sliced yellow pepper, strawberries and cooked pancetta or bacon.
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" [" m1 Q0 Y: W. S, K- Try sliced strawberries in an omelette. ! B) B# e5 A" O4 q; m7 T
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- Marinate a pint of strawberries with 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) sugar and 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) balsamic vinegar and serve chilled garnished with freshly ground black pepper.
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' D7 D& y/ c. }, [5 TSTRAWBERRY TIPS ' _! @* X9 |! C3 A9 D
( [& P+ s0 _3 L- When buying fresh strawberries, look for bright red berries with a sweet smell and no white or green spots. % S7 M0 L, n& R- L; f6 u0 \$ f
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- Size doesn\'t matter -- large or small, all strawberries are equally sweet and juicy. , v [8 W8 l+ r5 L
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- Avoid crushed berries or those packed in juice-stained containers. Remove any damaged berries before they spoil the rest. m% o2 n7 t' R/ ?: V) l# n
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- Refrigerate in a single layer with hulls intact. Just before using, gently rinse under cold running water and pat dry. ! L7 _8 Z$ w4 N. Z$ I4 P& n+ X' r
1 F" Y f3 {4 ^/ d. [8 Y5 ?2 D- If freezing, place a single layer on a tray and freeze until firm. Pack into freezer bags and seal. # Q/ P% j% m# s* I! V$ K
4 Y& N- c5 W u, v% j# Z9 EFOR THE HEALTH OF IT
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2 p, A; N7 t K& h- C, q/ B5 uStrawberries literally burst with healthy compounds, including anthocyanins -- natural plant pigments in berries that function as powerful antioxidants, sweeping out harmful free-radical molecules.
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They contain ellagic acid, which is effective in neutralizing carcinogenic agents. As well, they are rich in kaempferol, which may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol.
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5 o1 o$ N0 h* |- E6 IHOW SWEET ( p b, T k7 `5 V+ L3 r
. v/ i% p7 P9 y7 q* [A sampling of area farmers offering strawberries. " e9 G' u! g* h
1 J% N" m( [3 P; ^- Foley Farms & Carolinian Winery, 4823 Dundas St., London, 519-268-2000 % Q4 ^7 o! L8 }, i2 b
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- Ferguson\'s Produce, Wellington Road South, RR 6, St. Thomas, 519- 631-6589
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- G & M Howe and Sons, RR 5, Aylmer, 519-773-3837 0 ~; H; _- ^: o. E) q
T& s8 w# l0 `! D2 Q) s8 n- Heeman Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, 20422 Nissouri Rd., Thorndale, 519-461-0555 or 519-461-1416
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' E) }+ n+ {, S- m4 ~- J.M.D. Vandepoele Farms, RR 1, Drumbo, 519-463-5796 * c! i4 u. J* r9 S+ d6 B. J
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- Kerr Farm Market Inc., RR 6, Chatham, 519-352-4164
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+ Q! g2 P8 o; L1 f5 _, ~3 @- Listowel Greenhouses, RR 2, Listowel, 519-291-2434 |
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发表于 2007-6-13 16:21
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