新手上路
庶人 三级
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- 30 金币
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- 2007-6-5
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Strawberry season is sweet for many delicious reasons, and it heralds the beginning of summer.+ w7 F `% p' p4 A) N2 Q$ M& p
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For homegrown treats, it\'s hard to beat the strawberry, the first sweet fruit of summer. ! c: D2 n- l' G7 Y( t4 f3 K3 ?
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For the next few weeks Southwestern Ontario residents can buy strawberries at a local farm, or be farmers for a day and pick the strawberries themselves.
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# m' ?# O" `( M4 U" X& nMike O\'Shea of the O\'Shea\'s Farm Fresh, a family operation near Granton, said this year\'s crop is much better than last season because the weather has been much more co-operative. / _# f( d7 L0 q) ?+ y' o
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\"It\'s not as cold and wet as it was last season, so it looks a lot more promising,\" he said. y* T, n, M; Y! m. D; ?2 ~
" [& H" M+ q) A- K\"If the weather continues this way and maybe gets a little cooler, it will be just perfect, and we\'ll have a great turnout,\" he said. 1 |6 t. a$ J8 e( _# i) a4 V9 H
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0 b' G( L! {( ]3 O& CO\'Shea is encouraging residents to phone in before coming out to pick. 3 d3 X+ @6 C, S2 v3 ]' y. b: M
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Over at Red Barn Berries, near Woodstock, Sue Hilborn is expecting big things. $ {+ l F# o0 x, F
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\"It\'s going to be huge,\" said Hilborn of this year\'s strawberry crop. \"We avoided any frost.\" % Q" _, W& J+ P1 k
# Y2 x' P' ?" I: a# F4 P) }* ^Their pick-your-own operation opens today, said Hilborn, who urges residents to stock up on the summer treat. ' g5 ], F/ Y0 P8 v; m8 u0 U
( K+ c; H0 D }4 r8 e' \. Y+ i7 O\"It\'s going to be easy picking,\" she said. ) s' \+ U$ O+ ~
6 O6 S; o6 z. B2 |$ R- g9 RSTRAWBERRY PAIRINGS
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- Serve fresh strawberries with a cheese platter for an appetizer or after-dinner treat.
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w2 {1 l6 r* z2 [( S$ Y8 [) B- Slice fresh strawberries into a salad of arugula and pecorino cheese.
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& |8 _, l3 e3 P5 [8 H0 X' o- Another option is a salad of greens, sliced yellow pepper, strawberries and cooked pancetta or bacon. 1 c* n$ b. N* S8 Y1 M/ j! f
3 l9 b7 v! m- {& S' |7 \. k- Try sliced strawberries in an omelette. 7 K( L; C# `, a# U* G* \
- T, Y# B5 K3 X2 B- Marinate a pint of strawberries with 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) sugar and 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) balsamic vinegar and serve chilled garnished with freshly ground black pepper.
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STRAWBERRY TIPS
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- When buying fresh strawberries, look for bright red berries with a sweet smell and no white or green spots.
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- Size doesn\'t matter -- large or small, all strawberries are equally sweet and juicy.
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( o0 m; H9 [7 j- U+ S- Avoid crushed berries or those packed in juice-stained containers. Remove any damaged berries before they spoil the rest.
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* a) c# h3 ]( _# P! _- Refrigerate in a single layer with hulls intact. Just before using, gently rinse under cold running water and pat dry.
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4 U1 L4 m6 [: L' ~4 c7 t! u- If freezing, place a single layer on a tray and freeze until firm. Pack into freezer bags and seal. & g" I; Z7 p/ I' H. `6 Y
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FOR THE HEALTH OF IT
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Strawberries literally burst with healthy compounds, including anthocyanins -- natural plant pigments in berries that function as powerful antioxidants, sweeping out harmful free-radical molecules.
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; a, V! ~& `$ a8 zThey contain ellagic acid, which is effective in neutralizing carcinogenic agents. As well, they are rich in kaempferol, which may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. - z& {6 ^3 a, t. [
; y) z5 m7 B0 u: P$ z4 _) wHOW SWEET ' p9 p: i3 c4 Y
3 ~1 W, |: E. F* t' O" u1 h4 ?A sampling of area farmers offering strawberries. 1 @' ~' |7 \0 E7 O( ~0 `
! Y, X8 H/ C( V6 ~' J& W4 B- Foley Farms & Carolinian Winery, 4823 Dundas St., London, 519-268-2000
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4 { X/ m* R- g- Ferguson\'s Produce, Wellington Road South, RR 6, St. Thomas, 519- 631-6589
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- G & M Howe and Sons, RR 5, Aylmer, 519-773-3837 7 P c2 A0 o0 M9 Q! j- U! H) F, y
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- Heeman Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, 20422 Nissouri Rd., Thorndale, 519-461-0555 or 519-461-1416
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- J.M.D. Vandepoele Farms, RR 1, Drumbo, 519-463-5796
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- Kerr Farm Market Inc., RR 6, Chatham, 519-352-4164
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6 c) F- Z) P: D( @" s+ y: Q6 I- Listowel Greenhouses, RR 2, Listowel, 519-291-2434 |
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