The Strawberry Post

I actually (by "actually", I mean, I took them ALONE) took the girls strawberry picking on Thursday. We went to Legare Farm in Calais, which was a lot of fun. I'm pretty sure they aren't organic because I didn't see any signs saying it was organic, but I could be wrong. At least they are local, and they are definitely delicious. Not only was the farm very kid friendly, my kids actually did very well! Strawberries were not stepped on! Strawberries were not eaten until washed at home (however, fingers were licked)! They both took to the task like naturals. I guess they knew it was a good cause. Fiona did not find it "boring" or "too hard" nor got "too tired" and Sophia got her little concentrated look on her face and picked, picked, picked. On the way out, Sophia accused some kids of slurping on the strawberries while their mom picked away. Mom looked a little guilty. Sophia was confused. I felt like Overprotective Mom. Ah, the baggage we carry as parents. Anyway, I just distracted Sophia and it was all good. So, I don't think the farm really cares if the kids eat the berries.

We picked about 11 pounds? of strawberries I think. So far, I have made jam, a crostada, ice cream, strawberry shortcake and syrup. I'll make floats with the ice cream and the syrup. If we don't eat all the ice cream.





Legare also has excellent creemies. Fiona had a fresh strawberry one and Sophia had maple. Sophia seems to be insulted by the idea of using strawberries in anything. Fiona and I were talking about all the things we would do with the berries and Sophia wailed "No, NO, NO!!!". Sophia didn't eat the crostada (just a free form tart, like a galette), didn't eat the strawberry shortcake, and didn't eat the ice cream (much). However, every time I go to take berries from the sheet pan in the fridge, some of the berries have huge bites out of them. I am pretty sure this is Sophia. I really hope it is. Sophia loves strawberries to pieces (unadorned, as I said). She really prefers to just take one big bite and move on. I imagine this huge tray of strawberries in the fridge is just too tempting. It must seem enormous to her (it is to me, so how does it look to a three year old who adores them?). The only way around this is to cut the leaves off and give them to her. She will eat bowls of them plain.

The only exception to this is jam. Jam is okay. Even homemade jam. Fiona declared the homemade jam the best ever and said she now hated the store bought jam. I don't believe that for a second, but I did let her have more.