Monday, May 12, 2008

My Town Monday: Strawberry Season

Spring in California means strawberry season and the local product is delicious, which makes many of us rather particular about which berries we buy. I've mentioned before that there used to be a lot of strawberry fields in Orange County. There aren't as many now and it's harder to find a "direct from the fields" fruit stand any more, but the berries in the supermarkets are getting better. I've been able to find good, mostly ripe strawberries for the last couple of weeks. I had some on my Kashi this morning and they were delicious.

The city of Garden Grove still celebrates it's annual Strawberry Festival on Memorial Day weekend. This year the dates are MAY 23-26, 2008. Events include carnival rides, a parade, a "giant strawberry shortcake cutting", karaoke contests, a baby pageant, and live music. I've never been to the festival, but maybe I'll make it this year.

Since I developed an allergy to apples, berries are now my favorite fruit. What's your favorite?

Linda

My Town Monday comes to us via Travis Erwin, http://traviserwin.blogspot.com/. Thanks, Travis! Click on his site to read his latest post and find links to the other participants.

23 comments:

Travis Erwin said...

My doc says no more strawberries for me, since the seeds would be bad for my diverticulitis.

Clair D. said...

I like apples. Especially with peanut butter.

I used to love peanut butter bannana sandwhiches, but now I can't eat bread.

Good strawberries are always good, though.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Apricots, for me. A very short season too. Clair-I love peanut butter and banana sandwiches on a toasty waffle. They have waffles without gluten now too.

WordVixen said...

Assuming perfect ripeness? It's a toss up between strawberries and yellow flesh peaches. Love Bosc pears too- but again, assuming perfect ripeness.

I'm scared though. I haven't had strawberries in a while, but recently added frozen strawberries to my bran muffins. Now my tongue itches when I eat them! Hope I'm not developing an allergy... :-(

Lyzzydee said...

I love strawberries warm from the fields and perfectly ripe, I hate them when they are yellowy green and tart tasting.
My second fave fruit is Mango, something I discovered later in life, but they are juicy and delish!!

Beth said...

I love bananas, berries (other than strawberries), peaches and apricots (good ones are hard to find). I've been to the strawberry festival in GG it's fun and very crowded but will worth it!

Linda McLaughlin said...

Travis, oh, that's right, strawberries would be bad for diverticulitis. Hope they're not a fave for you.

Clair, I used to like apples with PB and PB and banana sandwiches, too, but no more apples or bananas for me. Darn allergies.

Linda

Linda McLaughlin said...

Patti, apricot jam is my fave.

Wordvixen, oh, oh, sounds like you may have an allergy to strawberries. An itchy tongue doesn't sound good.

When I was growing up, we had a peach tree in the backyard and it produced big, sweet, juicy peaches every summer, unlike the hockey pucks that pass for peaches in the markets today. I haven't had a decent peach in years.

Linda

Linda McLaughlin said...

Lyzzy, my pet peeve is strawberries that look red and ripe on the outside but are all white and woody inside.

Gosh, I have a lot of fruit allergies. Forgot about the one to mangoes. (That one was bad.)

Linda

Linda McLaughlin said...

Beth, glad to hear the strawberry festival is worth a visit. Maybe this year.

Linda

Terrie Farley Moran said...

Apples, berries and the occasional orange. Terrie

Anonymous said...

I have so many food allergies and strawberries is among them. Hubby LOVES them, though, so I buy them often. My favorite? I have two - raspberries and blackberries. OMG. LOVE them. Wash them, sprinkle on some plain cinnamon (no sugar) and yum-ar-oonie! Delish. :-)
~Debbie

Linda McLaughlin said...

I have a lot of food allergies and intolerances, too, Debbie, and it's a pain. Raspberries and blackberries together - yummy.

Linda

David Kriegh said...

I found apriums yesterday at Henry's which means that pluots are just around the corner. They are both crosses between plums and apricots and very tasty.

Anonymous said...

Strawberries! How I love them, and you are right, Linda. They are of fine quality in the supermarkets here in So-Cal. I can't get enough of them. Kathleen

Anonymous said...

Clair, I love apples and peanut butter as well. Kathleen

Linda McLaughlin said...

Boy, am I behind the times. When I saw the word "apriums" I thought it was a typo! Thanks for explaining what apriums and pluots are. :)

Linda

debra said...

I like most fruit in season: apples, blueberries (from my bushes), oranges, melons, strawberries. I don't like pears too much, and bananas only when they are firm. I love to make a papaya salsa, but the texture and sweetness og mangos makes me crazy.

Debbielou said...

Strawberries with grapes are scrumptious!!

Anonymous said...

The Strawberry Festival sounds like so much fun, Linda. They have karaoke, did you say?! And, I can't get enough of strawberries. -Kathleen

Linda McLaughlin said...

Kathleen, better you than me when it comes to Karaoke. I can't sing worth a darn, darn it.

Debbie Lou, grapes with strawberries sound good. Two fruits I can actually eat!

Linda

Unknown said...

Blackberries. I like to buy those bulk cartons like you get at Costco and eat them like popcorn.

But I wash 'em first. Sometimes. I try to be good and careful.

Anonymous said...

Travis, sorry about the diverticulitis. Too many seeds in strawberries, I know. Wordvixen, pears are my absolute favorite fruit. I don't know why it works to let fruit ripen in a brown paper bag.
Kathleen