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Americana Journal Joy Notes Who Am I Wisdom

Using the berries God provides

When we moved here 2 years ago, I soon noticed a group of elderberry bushes in bloom just over a stone wall.   It was being attacked by marauding vines and overshadowed by maple saplings.   But I was determined to pick some elderberries.   I remembered picking them as a young man and eating elderberry pie that my mother made.

But I soon discovered that elderberry season is short and there are competitors.  The first year when I went to find berries there were none.  I had been away on vacation on the key week and either the birds or the bears had finished them off.    Same story the second year.    So I made a more deliberate attempt to persecute the wild grape vines and clear out some overhanging maple.

This year, I found berries, lots of berries.  Our vacation was earlier in the summer or I would not have because the catbirds which are very abundant here were upset when I started picking the crop they had already started to claim.   Never fear, there will be plenty left for them.  I volunteered to pick the berries off the stems and JoAnne made me a pie.   Pictures of the process are below.   What a pleasure to finally harvest what God had provided.

 

 

 

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Journal Who Am I

Some Favorite Snacks

I have a reputation as one who likes to eat.   So one might expect an occasional post about good food.   Here’s a fun one about my favorite snacks.   What are yours?

Favorite crackers – Ritz Whole Wheat

Top 10 Favorite things to put on Ritz whole wheat crackers

  1. Judy and Louise Holcomb’s blueberry jam
  1. Carol Griffin’s sweet pepper relish
  1. cheddar cheese – tonight’s Cracker  Barrel Vermont sharp white was excellent
  1. JoAnne Jones’  bread and butter pickles– her Grandma Wilcox’s recipe I believe
  1. Jiff low fat creamy peanut butter — actually most any peanut butter will do
  1. JoAnne Jones’ strawberry jam
  1. Wensleydale Cranberry cheese
  1. My mother’s icicle pickles which I make
  1. My mother’s grape leaf dill pickles which my wife makes
  1. pepper jack cheese

Top 10 (11) Favorite fruit snacks (after pies and jam)

  1. bananas
  1. raisins
  1. dried fruit trail mix
  1. peaches   (Peaches and vanilla ice cream are really good together.)
  1. blueberries
  1. mangoes   (Mango salsa is a treat.)
  1. strawberries
  1. fig bars
  1. pears
  1. raspberries
  2. I can’t believe I forgot apples.  I love apples.  Apple pie, Applesauce, Baked apples, Apple grunt, Apple muffins, Apple coffee cake (JoAnne has a great recipe).  Okay, I don’t count too well.
Categories
Americana Journal Joy Notes

Best NYS Fair Food

I’m known as a decent judge of food.  So I have to weigh in (pun not intended) on this one.  Two of my favorite fair foods this year are not on the poll list.   So I will make my own list.  My wife and I eat at the fair every year.  The last couple years we have gone twice so that has increased the chances of a good meal at the fair.   Here’s my 1,2,3 list of great foods.

1.  Jerk Hut – Curry chicken on rice and red beans with cabbage and plantain.   — Great tasting meal, just enough spice, lots of food too, with Jamacian flair at a great price.   Relish the taste, spit out the bones, go away satisfied.

2. Gianelli Sausage with peppers –  always a favorite – Gianelli is tops

3.  Apple dumpling with vanilla caramel sauce, ice cream and whipped cream — Good apple, cooked just right.

You can check out the poll that Syracuse. com is taking at:  http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2011/08/best_of_central_new_york_vote_for_your_favorite_nys_fair_food_poll.html