The berry-picking dress.

7.12.2010

The berry-picking dress.

Happy Monday!
Hope you all had a great weekend... I did, and I really enjoyed spending my Saturday afternoon picking raspberries at a local u-pick farm!
I never did this as a kid, but I've been a few times as an adult and I loooove it!  I don't mind doing the grunt work for my own food; in fact, I really like picking out my own berries to eat or freeze for later (and snacking as I go, which is encouraged!).  I filled a 2-quart freezer container full of organic, no-spray raspberries and paid $4.73 for the whole thing.  What a deal.
It was in the upper 80's the day we went picking, full sunshine, but luckily I had the perfect dress... one I made a while ago (pre-blog) for those super hot days when you don't want to wear much at all.  I wanted something bright and fruity-looking, berry-colored or farm-appropriate or just very summery.  I had this sheer cotton plaid that was left over from something my mom made (I think it was from Fabric Depot in Portland or Fashion Fabrics Club online, so nice quality), and I only had enough to make a simple halter style, so I lined it with plain cotton and added a 4" wide band of elastic under the bodice that I gathered the fabric onto so it looks like a midriff panel.  I added small bust pads in between the bodice fashion fabric and lining so I don't have to wear a bra with it! ;)
Here are some pictures of our awesome trip and the perfect berry-picking dress!

They had all kinds of berries, but we stuck to the raspberries, tried the blackberries (not quite ripe, or not enough ripe to make it work walking down the aisles), and looked for the tayberries (a cross between the two former), but couldn't find them and were hot and sweaty so happily went home with our raspberries.

Delicious right off the bush!  Stains your hands, though...

The dress in action!

My friend and I both had a great time!

The farm had shady eating tables for a picnic lunch after picking...

And what to do with all our raspberries?  I froze most of mine for smoothies throughout the summer, and hopefully longer (I want to go back and pick another $5 2-quart container!).  I make fresh fruit and spinach smoothies almost every morning for me and Jason, and I love being able to use organic berries at such a great price.  TIP for freezing berries: lay them out on a cookie sheet first, spread out enough they they're not all mushed together (they will much together with all the weight of the other berries on top of them).  Freeze them this way, then when they're solid, put them back into the container with the lid, or ziploc bag or whatever.  Otherwise you'll end up with a big frozen chunk or raspberry ice!
After berry-picking we drove around the countryside north of Portland's western suburbs, because the Oregon Lavender Festival was going on this last weekend, also!  We stopped by one of the participating farms and enjoyed the lavender goodies there, too.

Oregon grows a lot of lavender.  The air in the countryside smells so good!
So I wanted to share with you  my fun summery weekend activity, and the perfect dress for it.  Oh, on the dress, by the way, I used the top front and modified back from New Look 6557 and made up the skirt and midriff elastic addition.
Did you get to spend some time outside this weekend?  Any great summery plans?

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Oregon raspberry and Marionberry salad

7.07.2015

Oregon raspberry and Marionberry salad

Summer is my favorite! In part because of berry-picking, and the bounty of local veggies and fruits around us. I go berry-picking every summer, and nowadays those berries are some of the only fruits I eat all year. Which makes them even more special!

I'm so grateful to live in a place like Oregon, with so many foods that grow here and all the people that appreciate fresh, local, quality food. I recently got an email from the Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission, an official organization representing the farmers and growers of Oregon’s bounty of berries. They're working with bloggers to inspire new recipes for these delicious summer crops! (See some great recipes from local bloggers here.)

So after we went berry-picking the other weekend, I came up with this tasty, real food, local food-based salad using raspberries and Marionberries! Salads are great in the summer if you can find or grow fresh lettuce in the heat, and aside from the homemade dressing, all of the ingredients for this salad can be found at your farmers' market, CSA box, nearby farm, or store selling local products!

Marionberries are a variety of blackberry created at Oregon State University in the 1940's. Most people from out of state haven't heard of them. They taste a little sweeter and less tangy than blackberries, but you could easily substitute blackberries in this recipe if you can't find them! 

I don't usually eat dairy, but goat cheese is easier for me to handle and the flavors are SO good with the sweetness of the berries, tartness of the dressing, and crunch of the nuts. Leave it out for a dairy-free, pure Paleo salad, or add it in for a primal/personalized Paleo dish.

Oregon raspberry and Marionberry salad

Ingredients:

Dressing:

• 2 oz. olive oil
• 1 oz. red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• sprinkle pepper

Salad:

• 1 small head lettuce (or mixed greens, whichever you prefer)
• 1 c. Marionberries (or blackberries if you don't have Marion)
• 3/4 c. raspberries
• 1/3 c. crushed hazelnuts
• 1/3 c. goat cheese, crumbled (optional)

Instructions:

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and blend with an emulsion blender or whisk.
2. Wash and spin lettuce.
3. In a large bowl, add dressing to lettuce and toss.
4. Add berries, crushed hazelnuts, and goat cheese in the large serving bowl or on individual plates.

Serve immediately! Serves 4-6.

Thanks to the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission for sponsoring this post by providing me a gift card for berry-shopping!

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How to pick and freeze strawberries! A local farm u-pick win

6.23.2017

How to pick and freeze strawberries! A local farm u-pick win

I've blogged before about how I love berry picking, how I didn't do it as a kid but have discovered it as an adult, and how it really says SUMMER to me! But I never had made it early enough in the season for strawberry picking until last year. We had an amazing experience last summer and did it again this past weekend! Here are our tips for how to do a u-pick strawberry trip, and how to freeze all those delicate, fresh berries!


Being out in a quiet, open space, feeling the sun on your back, being surrounded by the sweet smell of homemade strawberry jam... what a fantastic summer experience!

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Off the summer bucket list: Berry-picking!

8.11.2012

Off the summer bucket list: Berry-picking!

Whew! One important thing I can cross off my bucket list this busy summer: one of my fave activities, berry-picking. I have a favorite place south of the town I grew up in where tons and tons of berries of many kinds are $1/lb and no spray! Raspberries are toward the end already, but there are some, and marionberries, blackberries, boysenberries, and of course blueberries--might be my favorite. Blueberries are also super easy to pick.

I love this place (Rowell Bros, if you live around the Portland area) and have been there several times before. The price is amazing, the people are friendly and not snooty, and there's even a whole blueberry grove area that you can park and pay near. And, the sign when you drive up to the place says something to the effect of "All you can eat free!!"--which is good, because I am a snacker while picking. ;)

I went with my old friend Alyssa, and we had a great time catching up and filling containers with berries. I may have to go back some weekend soon while there are still things to pick!, but I also gotta hit up the U-pick peach place soon. They weren't quite ripe last weekend.

I looooooove summer! It's been flying by with all the house stuff happening! So it was extra great that I was able to spare some time for hangin' out on the farm, snacking on berries. Mmmmm.

Although now I have a few too many, and I still had some frozen from last year. What would you do with an overflowing berry haul??

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23 pounds of blueberries!

8.15.2010

23 pounds of blueberries!

I went berry picking again.  I think this was my fifth time this summer, and I'm not slowing down yet!  I still want to pick some blackberries at this natural area outside of my friend's town, and I want to find a place to pick peaches while they're ripe so I can slice and freeze them and use them for smoothies later!
Yesterday I went blueberry picking with my fiancé and his siblings.  Together, we picked 23 pounds of blueberries!  In less than an hour and a half.  They were 0.99 cents/lb--I called around the local farms to find a good price, and these are no-spray.  It is so fast and easy to pick blueberries compared to other berries, and it is so much cleaner and less painful!  No thorns, no mushy berries that get all over your hands, easy to cup your hand under a cluster and pull them off with your thumb.  And you don't have to bend over much unless you want to get the low-hanging berries.
Here's the lovely "Blueberry Valley" at the farm we went to.

We got there in the morning, so for the first hour or so we were in rows shaded by the big trees and it was almost chilly!

Here are the berry-pickers (we have nearly matching cars):

So I thought I'd do a little how-to on freezing blueberries, which is pretty much the same as freezing raspberries but easier!  Since you may be wondering what I did with all my 23 pounds of blueberries...

1. Dump blueberries out onto a cookie sheet.  Sort out the little leaves, stems, wrinkled berries, etc.
2. Freeze on cookie sheets for a long time--they freeze unevenly, so even after overnight some of mine aren't totally frozen.  But, get most of them frozen.
3. Dump into containers or freezer bags and store for months!  Fresh smoothie ingredients into the winter months.

I love summer!

Hope you are having a good weekend--have you done any great summery activities in this August heat?

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Raspberry mango lime salsa - from fresh or frozen berries!

4.26.2016

Raspberry mango lime salsa - from fresh or frozen berries!

I got really creative with this recipe and - spoiler - it totally paid off!!

This recipe is fun and exciting and summery, which was just what I needed on the grey afternoon I made this partial vision into reality! Summer is not here yet, despite the nice days we've had, and while I can't wait for Oregon berry-picking season, in the meantime I'm trying new things to do with frozen berries. The Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission, who represent the Oregon farmers and berry growers, are working with bloggers this winter to share recipes for frozen and preserved berries--including in savory/non-dessert recipes! (See recipes from local Oregon bloggers here.) (Over the summer I made this delish salad from freshly picked berries and it's on that list!)

I took on the challenge of a non-dessert appetizer recipe and made this tangy, spicy salsa. I wasn't quire sure what it would be like but I used fresh salsa essentials (lime, cilantro, etc.) and it ended up being so tasty and perfect with plantain chips (one of my favorite foods of all time)! Would be an excellent springy or summery party appetizer! Serve some guacamole or avocados on the side, too, or try it on top of a protein like chicken, pork, or maybe even fish.

I love berries so much and while I love picking them myself and eating them right away, I also love freezing them and having them on-hand later on. I'm out of raspberries we picked last summer so I bought these at a local natural grocery store - look for some near you! More than 90% of the berries we grow in Oregon are flash frozen within hours of being picked at the peak of ripeness, locking in maximum nutrition, taste, and color.

Raspberry Mango Lime Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1/4 c. red onion, minced
• 1/4 c. cilantro, minced
• 1 jalapeño, minced (about 1/4 c.)
• Juice and pulpy bits of 1-2 limes (mine were small so I did 1.5)
• 2 c. fresh or frozen raspberries (I used frozen organic Oregon raspberries!) (I recommend getting them out of the freezer while you chop the other ingredients so they can begin to thaw, but they soften pretty fast)
• 1/2 c. mango, chopped

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients except mango in a mixing bowl. Stir so raspberries begin to break apart.
2. Add mango chunks last, stirring gently but not too much so the bright orange color is still apparent.
3. Enjoy!! Serve with plantain or corn chips, or with fish?, chicken, or pork!

Husband was very skeptical of this flavor combination but this recipe really won him over! A success!

Thanks to the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission for sponsoring this post by providing me a gift card for shopping for these ingredients!

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Paleo strawberry dessert pizza, and celebrating strawberry season with local berry varietals!

6.25.2018

Paleo strawberry dessert pizza, and celebrating strawberry season with local berry varietals!

I looooove berry season in Oregon, and strawberries are my fave!! We love to get out berry picking throughout the summer but some of the strawberry varieties are the first to be ripe here.

Hood strawberries are famous in Oregon for being super sweet and juicy, with no white part--delicious all the way up to the stem! But there are actually several other strawberry varietals that grow well around here, some of which are even more delicious than Hoods and have longer growing seasons!

The Oregon Strawberry Commission asked me to check out several varietals available at local farmers' markets this time of year and come up with a recipe using them. Now, my favorite way to eat fresh Oregon strawberries is PLAIN!! they are so good!!, but if they're good with nothing on them, they must also be amazing in desserts (they are).

(Wherever you live, it is great if you can support your local farmers and shop for berries at your farmers' market or grocery store that buys from local growers, or direct from the farm. Find farms near you at LocalHarvest.org.)

I'm a mom now, so I figured I should make fun-sounding treats rather than go for fancy all the time. So enter my first ever "dessert pizza." Basically a tarte with shortbread crust and cream layer, but I thought it was fun to call it a pizza, too!

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Blackberry coconut lime protein smoothie recipe!

6.05.2017

Blackberry coconut lime protein smoothie recipe!

It's almost berry-picking season here in Oregon and I'm pumped!! But we still have some frozen berries in the freezer from last year and the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission asked me if I had any ideas for a blackberry smoothie with some new flavors. Well, I do!

I make a lot of ice cream-ey natural protein smoothies/protein shakes and I love to play with add-ins and base flavor variations. Frozen bananas make this one extra creamy, but the dominant flavors are fresh-tasting blackberries. Using canned coconut milk gives it extra coconut taste, and the lime juice makes it tangy and SO summery!

This smoothie has me excited to get out picking again this summer and freeze more berries for the year! If you don't have access to a u-pick farm, check out the freezer section of your grocery store and you may find Oregon berries there any time of year. Berries freeze super well and don't lose any flavor, and are great in smoothies and other uses right out of the freezer.

The Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission supports hundreds of Oregon growers of raspberries, blackberries, Marionberries, and other caneberries and wants to spread the word that we can eat Oregon berries all year long!

I use unflavored protein powder so there are no mystery ingredients, and you can make it dairy-free and legume-free for strict Paleo or nut-free!

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Summer weekend bliss: Beach and berry-picking

6.30.2015

Summer weekend bliss: Beach and berry-picking

We did last weekend right. I'm still on a bit of a high after two days of balanced fun and relaxing! With days like that, every weekend would feel like a holiday weekend.

The forecast was for the 100's in the Portland area for Saturday, so we did what a lot of other folks did and went to the coast. We left around 8:00 AM (we were already sweating in the house) and didn't get back till bedtime. The weather was absolutely perfect at the coast, and we went hiking, played on the beach (literally), visited our favorite places, and even went to a movie.

We hiked at Oswald West State Park, just north of Manzanita, and we did a beautiful and comfortable hike out to a point where we looked out over the ocean and saw a whale jump! Then we laid on the beach in Cannon Beach and husband built a moat system while I read a book. Then we made it up to Seaside for the evening. The whole day was just pure fun, and without the stress of packing for an overnight or camping trip for just one night.

Then, on Sunday morning we went to our fave berry farm and picked raspberries, blackberries, marionberries, and a few blueberries--although the blueberries aren't quite ready yet so we'll have to go back!

I know the 4th of July holiday is coming up, but this past weekend is hard to top!

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Weekend Inspiration, and some goals for a balanced holiday

7.03.2014

Weekend Inspiration, and some goals for a balanced holiday

I love some good Weekend Inspiration!

And this round of Weekend Inspiration comes a day early, because, well, I don't know about you, but I'm super excited for this upcoming summery 3-day weekend!

I have a lot of things to look forward to this weekend (starting early with casual Thursday at work; husband's birthday on the 4th and hanging with the family and going to the university gym when it's closed; then having two whole days with nothing planned - first 4th of July weekend that's been the case ever since I was a kid, since we usually do a big camping trip but are not this year!; maybe throw in some berry picking)... BUT, I have some goals and ideas to share, too!

My goals this weekend are simple. May they inspire you if you're looking for something to celebrate with this weekend! Hoping to:

1. Wear the perfect festive outfit that's not too American flag-ey, but still get some great white and blue action.

Some ideas.

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2. Eat delicious, fresh, summery, 4th of July food (but not sacrifice how I feel by eating processed or overly sweetened junk!)

(I'm not alone - here's a roundup of 50 awesome real food 4th of July recipes. Wow! Also love this list of 30 great real food potluck recipes, by category!)

Anything grilled is festive, right?

Chunky Pineapple Guacamole with Grilled Sweet Potato Chips - Source

3. Maybe - and only if I really feel like it - get crafty around the house and do something new.

Maybe even a trip to Home Depot or Lowe's! If we get brave.

Husband casually mentioned the other day that he thought it would be cool to incoroprate some cinderblock furniture into our house.

Um.

I was appalled until I saw some ideas on Apartment Therapy that actually looked okay!

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(Don't think I'm brave enough for that one yet, although I have been wishing for new night stands! ;))

Also totally impressed by this versatile sit/stand office.

Source

Whew! Now I'm feeling tired!

What do you do with a 3-day weekend with not too much planned?

Happy holiday, if you have it off!

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How much should you share in a holiday card?? Here's ours!

12.20.2016

How much should you share in a holiday card?? Here's ours!

Every year I wonder about this. We're two adults, no kids, no big family dog or dramatic changes in appearance most years, and other than our wedding 5.5 years ago, my book being published, and buying our townhouse and our current fixer upper house, nothing super duper huge has happened.

At the end of 2015 I was feeling pretty discouraged, especially thinking about what to share in our holiday cards. We had tried to buy a house that summer and it didn't work out. Husband applied to physical therapy school but didn't get in. I honestly felt like my most interesting accomplishment that year was learning about 80% of Taylor Swift's catalog. So I was a little stumped on what to share in our holiday cards!

This year we had a few more positive things to say. We are very proud to be fixing up our house, and husband and I are both doing great at our jobs, and we did celebrate our 5-year anniversary! But we've been struggling a little, too, and I don't want to be complaining about being busy or overwhelmed to our family and friends, even though sometimes we feel that way.

Last year our card was just a photo of us and "happy holidays," I think, in script. I forget what was on the back. It was very pretty but didn't show a whole lot about us.

So this year I was really excited that Minted has some new backing options including this cute infographic template of big things to share throughout the year and seasons.  Front...

And back!

I really get writer's block trying to summarize what's happened to us in the year, but with this template it was super fast to write some highlights and check back in my calendar to what we were doing each season! Laid out like this, even simple things like berry picking and trips to the coast make our year look pretty well-rounded and fun!

We used this photo my friend took of us the other weekend when we went up to the mountain to play in the snow. (My hands were cold so I hid them under husband's vest and didn't realize it would look like I didn't have a hand. Is that weird?) We traded off and I took some photos of my friend's family, too!

I had a hard time choosing the card as usual, since there are so many cute ones, but I loooove how Minted lets you plug the photo into all the designs at once.

I was originally thinking something plainer, but I really love the white text, which doesn't work well on the pretty snow background. Husband chose this "merry" wintery look one.

I'm so glad we have the happy news of our house purchase to share this year, but even if not, I feel really good about sharing some more personal details than we did last year. I hope our family and friends enjoy reading our little recap!

How much detail and good and bad do you share in your cards??

You can get an extra 15% off and free upgraded shipping through today, 12.20 at Minted!

Thanks to Minted for providing me these holiday cards!

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