A Little Last Minute Blueberry Picking

All ready for vacation. Camper packed, food packed, clothes packed, everything packed. Major husband disaster. He”s fine and working it all out – but there I was, suddenly stuck with a free Saturday! Last week, when we decided to go on this trip (that we have not left for yet), I was being a food nerd as usual and thinking – oh no, if I don”t get my blueberries on the long weekend, I do not think I will have a chance to get them before they are gone. I had horrible thoughts of mid-February, hurting for a serious blueberry fix for muffins or even on top of granola. Well, I guess I do not have to worry my blue-smurf-head about that anymore, because I called my mom up and we drove out to Kusterman”s Blueberry Farm for a little U-pick this afternoon. Last year I visited Arrowwood and you can read about that beautiful place here. This year we tried Kusterman”s and it is much bigger! Bigger is not always better,but speaking of big – the blueberries are HUGE this year,it must be all the rain. If you have kids, nephews nieces that are into farm animals this place would be a great place to take them, they have a goat, some rabbits and a few baby chickens to look at up close – oh, and what kid does not like blueberry picking? The blueberries are all covered in nets to keep the birds away, it is quite the operation. Oh and getting back to the “bigness factor”- there will be no shortage of berries if you visit this farm, there are acres and acres of them. 23216 Springwell Road Mount Brydges, ON NOL 1WO 519-264-9199 http://www.berryblue.org/index.html  Read More

Its a Blueberry Revival!

Sunday morning. Sun is shining…everything is covered in a blanket of snow, it is beautiful, it really is, but that was this morning and now, as I am winding down at the end of another freezing cold winter day, I am praying that the little rodent we all affectionately know as Wiarton Willie, really does not see his shadow tomorrow. So, everybody together now, lets all wish hard on this one at the same time… NO SHADOW WILLIE! NO SHADOW WILLIE! You hear me William? No freakin” shadow.. stay out of the hole, give us a little sign of an early spring, we all really need it. Remember when I went blueberry picking at that awesome place – Arrow Wood Farms? Well, I picked so many blueberries that day that I could not possibly eat them all while they were fresh. I did what any locavore would do,I gave them a little rinse off and then popped them into the freezer for later blueberry indulgences – like today! These muffins are a stand-by favourite of mine. They are really easy to make and super tasty! You could really use any local fruit that you have frozen in the freezer – like cranberries,strawberries or even peaches. My favourite is blueberry and here it is for you: Blueberry Yogurt Muffins 2 cups all-purpose arva flour3/4 cups rolled oats1 cup white sugar1/2 teaspoon baking soda3/4 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon ground ginger powder2 eggs3/4 cup yogurt1/4 cup veggie oil1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 1/2 cups frozen local blueberries1 ontario apple, grated Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.Combine all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.In a seperate bowl or in a stand up mixer combine the eggs, yogurt, vegetable oil and vanilla.Mix the wet ingredients into the dry, then add the frozen blueberries and the greated apple.Spoon mixture into greased muffin pan, bake for 30 minutes or until they are golden. Makes 1 dozen.  Read More

Be A Local Tourist – Go Blueberry Picking!

Blueberries | Photo: Kelly Hunt Right now and for the next few days is when you need to get your blueberry on. This year is the first year I picked my own. I had expectations. I wrongly thought that blueberry picking might be messy, insect-o-ville and generally difficult – alas, blueberry picking is none of these things! It is such a leisurely activity, they even give you a little wooden stool to perch your back end on as the berries just basically fall into your hand and bucket! Arrow Wood Farm Gardens | Photo: Kelly Hunt For my local tourist adventure, I journeyed to Arrow Wood Farm, which is located just outside Melbourne. Arrow Wood is beautiful – there is a large pond filled with lily pads and a gorgeous garden that looks as if it is was pulled from the pages of Canadian Gardener. There is a stall where you can buy the blueberries pre-picked or if you are looking for a little jaunt, you can pick up your bucket at the same place. There is also a little cafe in a timber framed building called the Harvest Table, that does catering, sandwiches and very tasty baked goods.. they even can handle weddings on the property, if that is what you are after, it is very picturesque! After my picking, some of the gals I was with decided on salads but I went with the turkey panini which was delicious,with homemade ice tea. For dessert I went with the blueberry biscuit/scone with raspberry preserves on top. Delicious! My friends who had the raspberry tarts said they were to die for! Like I said,you need to get there soon, there are only a few more days left of picking because the season was especially bad.. they had a mini tornado, a late frost and even hail to contend with this year. Call before you go to see when the picking is open to avoid disappointment! Arrow Wood Farm 6460 Riverside Drive Melbourne Ontario N0L 1T0 519-289-2403  Read More