Jam Anyone?

So, as a city girl, berries came in neat packages at the grocery store.  With the exception being an occasional cherry tree or a strawberry patch.  Or a backyard raspberry bush.  Berries happened, and life, like berries sometimes came neat and tidy.  Other times, like this weekend, berries became much more hands on for us.

Enter the Elderberry bush.  Last year I didn't have a clue what one was. Didn't know we owned one, what the blossoms were like or when the fruit was ready. Now I know. How does one figure out life and berries? Sometimes you simply need to ask and go from there.  I started with a photograph of a random bush with its fruit.  Now, truth be told I have never tasted Elderberry anything.  But, that will change soon.

Jam is in the works, and it better be good.  After stemming elderberries I have a greater appreciation for any plant that has large fruit.  Let's just say this it's labor intensive.  It's a patience builder, and in a way it's therapeutic. It's especially nice if you have a tasty beverage, and a friend by your side as you stem them.

Someone asked me why I made them my mission this summer.  Because they are there, because I've never had them and because I love small culinary adventures.  Last year it was choke cherry's and wild plums, this year elderberries.

Isn't that a good enough reason to try something new?  Because you can, because you haven't and because life is made up of little adventures.  In the end we'll have jam and satisfaction.  Both will be sweet from making the effort.

Let There Be Pie

As a city girl I had no idea the significance of pie.  Don't get me wrong, pie happened.  It came in a couple shapes and forms.  Pumpkin, pecan, cherry, apple.  It was not my forte, though I can muster up a good pumpkin and a lovely apple.  Perhaps I missed the depth of pie because I only have those two pies up my sleeve.

Let me just say my eyes have been opened.  And I owe it all to rural living. Several times a year now I participate in pie events.  The women's group I belong to does pie in a really big way.  Apple, Cherry, Rhubarb, Rhu-Berry, Strawberry-Rhubarb, Triple Berry, Pear, Apricot, Gooseberry, Pecan, Blueberry, Peach and others I probably have forgotten. May I just say the Pear pie is amazing!

These ladies can probably kick some pie butt in the realm of cream pies too, but for events it's fruit pies only.  You could say I've come to embrace a life of pie.  But, and there is always a but, I accept my limitations.  I clearly own being crust challenged. Double crust pies thwart me at every turn. Yup, I know you can buy frozen pie crusts.  It should be simple.  Lots of things should be simple, and simply are not.

For now I stick with the pies I know how to make and sample all the other's I don't.  It's a good thing, It's a pie thing.  Life dishes up some delicious things and they often come in the shape of pie.