Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries are the berries we commonly think of. Yet there is a wide choice of berries that are overlooked. Whether you are foraging for berries or have planted a berry patch, berries are nutritious and very versatile.
Here are helpful hints for planting and eating (my favorite part) and recipes to explore new flavors.
Boysenberries
[tasty-recipe id="37668"]
Cranberries
The cranberry is not only for your Thanksgiving feasts. Cranberries don’t have to grow in bogs as they are commercially. There are varieties that grow happily from Canada to the Appalachian Mountains in the south of the United States. I personally have never grown them but love using them in cooking. There are many online companies to help you choose which kind of cranberry bush is the variety that is right for your area. Fresh cranberries may be available in your local grocery seasonally – they freeze wonderfully too. Dehydrated cranberries can be used in any recipe calling for raisins. I especially like them in snack and baking recipes. [tasty-recipe id="37670"]Gooseberries
Gooseberries are attractive plants that prosper in cool areas and under partial shade. Since they thrive under conditions that are marginal for many plants, they could be an important part of a home landscape or garden. But there is a major downside: It is illegal to grow gooseberries in many states. Be sure to check with your state agricultural department prior to purchasing plants in your location.
(Lehman's Jams, Jellies and Fruit Butters offer a wonderful collection of flavors including gooseberry jam.)
Mulberries
We have wild mulberry trees growing on our property. They provide a wealth of delicious berries each year. Freeze them for a fresh berry taste in the middle of the winter. They are also ideal to use in wide range of blackberry recipes. [tasty-recipe id="37671"] This is only the tip of the berry iceberg. Whether as jams on your morning toast or that delicious dessert, berries add flavor and fun.*****
Dori Fritzinger has been a freelance writer since the days of typewriters and snail-mail. Her home life centers around a large multi-generational family and a small family farm. In her free time, she loves to read, quilt, and do embroidery. She also enjoys collecting vintage cookbooks and bringing the recipes to life so the cooks of the 21st century can enjoy them.
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