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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.& r$ f; k+ C1 |6 }
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For homegrown treats, it\'s hard to beat the strawberry, the first sweet fruit of summer.
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8 \4 T" f# h4 a2 |: QFor 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. ' g$ B% o$ o3 k H* U
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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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- |% g8 }2 S: v' B5 @; x\"It\'s not as cold and wet as it was last season, so it looks a lot more promising,\" he said. + J$ `, A% V9 Z; G, a* q8 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. % R! s1 [+ E7 F
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O\'Shea is encouraging residents to phone in before coming out to pick. 4 x) q1 ?: G% `" L% _. @, c
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Over at Red Barn Berries, near Woodstock, Sue Hilborn is expecting big things. & V6 r/ ~$ O' c5 f7 |1 d
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\"It\'s going to be huge,\" said Hilborn of this year\'s strawberry crop. \"We avoided any frost.\"
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Their pick-your-own operation opens today, said Hilborn, who urges residents to stock up on the summer treat.
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1 u, n/ R7 J4 r\"It\'s going to be easy picking,\" she said. : k2 e6 U* ?/ C6 G" z+ c
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STRAWBERRY PAIRINGS
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- Serve fresh strawberries with a cheese platter for an appetizer or after-dinner treat. z3 l0 X) y2 \/ J& U4 q
( L! q+ X' h. Y' D9 _( A. v- Slice fresh strawberries into a salad of arugula and pecorino cheese.
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w- m# C H: ]( _8 h' X0 J- Another option is a salad of greens, sliced yellow pepper, strawberries and cooked pancetta or bacon. + s' }0 j% X1 r; m% }) p# U
$ `& ?; x" a, N5 ?" x# \6 Z- Try sliced strawberries in an omelette. + L q3 o. P, x) }) l1 J+ _- @+ x
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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. ' J# m& d9 t- l A' L; ?
5 k5 f7 E+ [( ^* f9 E& uSTRAWBERRY TIPS 7 l4 V _2 f0 l+ g/ z
9 d. M1 f$ Y9 H1 F" u3 p- When buying fresh strawberries, look for bright red berries with a sweet smell and no white or green spots. ) V# e4 R" |6 V, J
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- Size doesn\'t matter -- large or small, all strawberries are equally sweet and juicy.
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% K) ^# }+ O1 p7 a. |- Avoid crushed berries or those packed in juice-stained containers. Remove any damaged berries before they spoil the rest.
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7 m+ X. t1 H/ d7 p- O- s- Refrigerate in a single layer with hulls intact. Just before using, gently rinse under cold running water and pat dry.
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- If freezing, place a single layer on a tray and freeze until firm. Pack into freezer bags and seal. 8 l0 M. g" e5 U) V
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FOR THE HEALTH OF IT
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/ z1 ~; Y, v0 z( WStrawberries 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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A sampling of area farmers offering strawberries.
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7 _8 Y( t8 S1 l" I- Foley Farms & Carolinian Winery, 4823 Dundas St., London, 519-268-2000 % w- v- b) r/ [3 P
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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 , L0 U) j3 d2 w
) W& Z8 W( z+ f& F7 z' x3 u# ?- Heeman Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, 20422 Nissouri Rd., Thorndale, 519-461-0555 or 519-461-1416 6 Z! a6 {4 Z& P A9 f) W7 ?
, E( X" P8 ?4 K0 h/ f' E3 ~- J.M.D. Vandepoele Farms, RR 1, Drumbo, 519-463-5796
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4 D- A/ b) M" m0 C( |# T- Kerr Farm Market Inc., RR 6, Chatham, 519-352-4164 ) g7 \4 } \' ]6 T& S
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- Listowel Greenhouses, RR 2, Listowel, 519-291-2434 |
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发表于 2007-6-13 16:21
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