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庶人 三级
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- 30 金币
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- 2007-6-5
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Strawberry season is sweet for many delicious reasons, and it heralds the beginning of summer.( Z8 a, c7 p5 M) W
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6 E8 W4 O0 ]/ K2 pFor homegrown treats, it\'s hard to beat the strawberry, the first sweet fruit of summer. 4 @/ A3 D' c* S5 R
; o0 h/ A; v. F+ m5 OFor 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.
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- K2 |3 o: {8 c( VMike 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.
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3 e1 E8 b0 W3 V3 `/ i\"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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O\'Shea is encouraging residents to phone in before coming out to pick. : U( o( W8 _* Z- }& g4 j
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Over 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.\" ; F- B8 e/ {* x% G
4 }9 z1 a3 M' K4 K1 w* p* g) @ |& STheir pick-your-own operation opens today, said Hilborn, who urges residents to stock up on the summer treat. 9 s1 M9 V! ?4 ^ @; B. A' I* a6 p7 v
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\"It\'s going to be easy picking,\" she said. 2 h) a6 ^6 S# m% S- Y1 n; A: Z
7 F% |; a0 x# L5 F" @* V! dSTRAWBERRY PAIRINGS " W0 z* Q- U: C; L3 n
0 ~& z! D, W; F0 W* t% U( m8 g- Serve fresh strawberries with a cheese platter for an appetizer or after-dinner treat.
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- Slice fresh strawberries into a salad of arugula and pecorino cheese. a; e9 T' ~9 @. P" W: K5 u
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- Another option is a salad of greens, sliced yellow pepper, strawberries and cooked pancetta or bacon.
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2 C1 o; b* z5 A @- Try sliced strawberries in an omelette. ' A8 p8 R) y, r* X/ C! O
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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. % u( x& x* n& g. F
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STRAWBERRY TIPS
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% _/ `5 A" f( M4 e* y2 Z, B- When buying fresh strawberries, look for bright red berries with a sweet smell and no white or green spots. ) {# N/ v Z `: w
: K. _3 P$ c( C7 Q- Size doesn\'t matter -- large or small, all strawberries are equally sweet and juicy.
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- Avoid crushed berries or those packed in juice-stained containers. Remove any damaged berries before they spoil the rest. # g; [7 D- k p6 a# c- e% y
# v t3 Z4 c. Q' j; O) S5 F! f- Refrigerate in a single layer with hulls intact. Just before using, gently rinse under cold running water and pat dry. 2 } y, I4 i7 m* Z: U t
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- If freezing, place a single layer on a tray and freeze until firm. Pack into freezer bags and seal.
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) M! c- [4 k1 D, }! F8 o( j2 h( ^FOR THE HEALTH OF IT + u. X8 _4 ?% j: g
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Strawberries literally burst with healthy compounds, including anthocyanins -- natural plant pigments in berries that function as powerful antioxidants, sweeping out harmful free-radical molecules. 3 G5 t7 a- C1 J; Z
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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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HOW SWEET
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8 u" P- y" _; K# W) K4 G- a* `A sampling of area farmers offering strawberries.
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- Foley Farms & Carolinian Winery, 4823 Dundas St., London, 519-268-2000 - A7 b$ {: ~8 m% }
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- Ferguson\'s Produce, Wellington Road South, RR 6, St. Thomas, 519- 631-6589
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) ^) e1 G* E. Z" z) L- G & M Howe and Sons, RR 5, Aylmer, 519-773-3837 u0 F$ w5 o* M* o
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- Heeman Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, 20422 Nissouri Rd., Thorndale, 519-461-0555 or 519-461-1416
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! F' p4 x( l2 l! K, ]# u- J.M.D. Vandepoele Farms, RR 1, Drumbo, 519-463-5796
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- Kerr Farm Market Inc., RR 6, Chatham, 519-352-4164 : e: t: s4 D3 ?$ @0 ]) R7 e, Y8 J& k
0 W; f9 a4 z7 \- Listowel Greenhouses, RR 2, Listowel, 519-291-2434 |
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发表于 2007-6-13 16:21
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