sinistral
Lovely, Happy & Gorgeous!
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Posts: 291
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Post by sinistral on Jun 21, 2009 19:43:06 GMT
I have a glut of them from the allotments at the moment. Jam making this week,some in the freezer to use later in the year. Some crushed and mixed with a little sugar to go in yoghurt. Then today I made a very nice strawberry and banana trifle. Sherry goes very well with strawberries.   |
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Post by motorist on Jun 21, 2009 20:02:52 GMT
When I moved over here from England I wasn't expecting many strawberries but the ones grown over here are more lush and tasty than the English ones. Most goodificating  |
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sinistral
Lovely, Happy & Gorgeous!
[N4:#####]
Posts: 291
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Post by sinistral on Jun 21, 2009 20:25:41 GMT
I don't suppose your summers are too hot,moto. I've noticed here that if the weather is very hot and dry when the strawbs are swelling and ripening then the fruits are much less juicy. This year it's been fairly cool with rain every few days and the fruit is scrummy!  |
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Post by motorist on Jun 21, 2009 20:34:20 GMT
Our summers are often warmer than England. But we also get colder winters  |
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Post by Patrick on Jun 21, 2009 21:22:18 GMT
S'funny, I thought the strawbs were riper this year 'cos it had been drier? The armpit of Britain hasn't seen much rain compared with the last couple of Junes! In fact so much has it been disgusting that by the second week one just expects the heavens to open as part of normality! Still - Wimbledon next week - that should sort it.
Had some yummy organic strawbs last week - petitte - but juicy.
Strawberry Pavlova with masses of cream is my favourite. Nice juxtaposition twixt the soft fruit and the crunchy meringue!
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sinistral
Lovely, Happy & Gorgeous!
[N4:#####]
Posts: 291
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Post by sinistral on Jun 21, 2009 22:07:29 GMT
S'funny, I thought the strawbs were riper this year 'cos it had been drier? The armpit of Britain hasn't seen much rain compared with the last couple of Junes! In fact so much has it been disgusting that by the second week one just expects the heavens to open as part of normality! Still - Wimbledon next week - that should sort it. Had some yummy organic strawbs last week - petitte - but juicy. Strawberry Pavlova with masses of cream is my favourite. Nice juxtaposition twixt the soft fruit and the crunchy meringue! Well drier than the last two Junes I'll grant you.....but not blisteringly hot and (at least in these parts) we've had just the right amount of rain. Hey Patrick.....ever tried Eton Mess? |
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Post by jean on Jun 22, 2009 7:51:21 GMT
I have a glut, too - last weekend it had been so dry they all ripened beautifully, but now the rain's started, they won't keep - and the slugs are out, of course.
OH won't let me make jam out of them. She ate three large bowlfuls last night.
Practically the only variety grown commercially here is Elsanta,which is hard in texture so keeps better on its way to the supermarket, but unfortunately does not taste of anything very much.
I see that M & S is selling other varieties 'grown for taste' (or something) but they are very expensive.
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sinistral
Lovely, Happy & Gorgeous!
[N4:#####]
Posts: 291
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Post by sinistral on Jun 22, 2009 8:00:56 GMT
I have a glut, too - last weekend it had been so dry they all ripened beautifully, but now the rain's started, they won't keep - and the slugs are out, of course. OH won't let me make jam out of them. She ate three large bowlfuls last night. Practically the only variety grown commercially here is Elsanta,which is hard in texture so keeps better on its way to the supermarket, but unfortunately does not taste of anything very much. I see that M & S is selling other varieties 'grown for taste' (or something) but they are very expensive. On one of my beds I have problems with wood ants damaging the fruit.  Three bowls......Good grief! Beware the perils of oxalic acid.  What a joke.......grown for taste.What the hell are the others grown for? |
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Post by Patrick on Jun 22, 2009 8:20:25 GMT
On one farm where we used to go strawberry picking years ago was a small roofless plywood hut. Just standing their in the middle of the field. It contained one of the stinkiest toilets I've ever had the misfortune to visit.
Memory fails me as to the quality of strawberries from that place.
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sinistral
Lovely, Happy & Gorgeous!
[N4:#####]
Posts: 291
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Post by sinistral on Jun 22, 2009 11:14:34 GMT
On one farm where we used to go strawberry picking years ago was a small roofless plywood hut. Just standing their in the middle of the field. It contained one of the stinkiest toilets I've ever had the misfortune to visit. Memory fails me as to the quality of strawberries from that place. Is that the bottom line? ;D |
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Post by jean on Jun 22, 2009 12:35:23 GMT
Does anyone have any recommendations for a strawberry with a really good flavour?
I've been leafing through plant catalogues, and I find that the variety Marshmellow is recommended as 'the most successful amateur strawberry we have bred'.
I'm a bit worried about the lack of commitment implied by that amateur - wouldn't a professional strawberry be better?
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sinistral
Lovely, Happy & Gorgeous!
[N4:#####]
Posts: 291
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Post by sinistral on Jun 22, 2009 17:47:10 GMT
Does anyone have any recommendations for a strawberry with a really good flavour? I've been leafing through plant catalogues, and I find that the variety Marshmellow is recommended as 'the most successful amateur strawberry we have bred'. I'm a bit worried about the lack of commitment implied by that amateur - wouldn't a professional strawberry be better? Not necessarily Jean. I think they probably mean it's suited to growing in small quantities with several weeks cropping and fruits that have taste rather just bulk to deliver a profitable product. Anyway....I can recommend "Marshmellow" it's one I grow. Also "Pegasus" which is a very good variety. |
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Post by sesley on Jun 22, 2009 20:29:30 GMT
a pavlova is nice ,loverly marshmellow meringue with whipped cream with strawberrys tumbled all over, crush some push through a sieve to get the seeds out mix in some icing sugar,stir over heat to bubble to get a jammy sauce eat then pour over your strawberry pavlova the sauce. what a loverly way to eat strawberrys and cream,while watching those Wimbledon ladies grunt away,or the men depending what you like.
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Post by Patrick on Jun 22, 2009 21:06:00 GMT
On one farm where we used to go strawberry picking years ago was a small roofless plywood hut. Just standing their in the middle of the field. It contained one of the stinkiest toilets I've ever had the misfortune to visit. Memory fails me as to the quality of strawberries from that place. Is that the bottom line? ;D Nothng wasted on that farm I can tellyou! As for Eton Mess - There were features galore on it in last year's paper - first time I'd come across it! One to revert to childhood for and eat with the fingers! |
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Post by jean on Jun 22, 2009 22:59:23 GMT
[As for Eton Mess - There were features galore on it in last year's paper - first time I'd come across it! You mean...you weren't at Eton? (All respect rapidly evaporates.) |
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Post by Patrick on Jun 22, 2009 23:42:18 GMT
Of course I've been to Eton! I bought a pot plant at their Summer fete!  It didn't last. |
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Post by trubble on Jun 23, 2009 14:02:06 GMT
I prefer raspberries.
I prefer most other berries in fact.
Strawberries are.. meh.
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Post by jean on Jun 23, 2009 14:06:56 GMT
I prefer raspberries, too. And they freeze much better.
Though a good variety of home-grown strawberry is better than anything you can buy.
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Post by sesley on Jun 23, 2009 20:23:07 GMT
if you want something different with strawberrys how about a strawberry risotto ? was on Market KItchne tonight. by Gennaro Contaldo
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Post by Patrick on Jun 23, 2009 20:28:33 GMT
I prefer raspberries. I prefer most other berries in fact. Strawberries are.. meh.  There's always one trubblemaker! |
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