Warm, sunny weather has been a bit spotty this summer in parts of the Pacific Northwest. Everything in the garden is harvesting about a month later than normal. A case in point–we have some very old blueberry bushes in our yard in Seaview. Normally, we would have harvested buckets and buckets by now, but just yesterday I was scrambling to pick enough for my “Mixed Berry Pie” for the Shelburne Restaurant. Here are some photos that chronicle the journey from bush to pie…
Wannabe Blueberries
Fresh PNW Berries
Mixed Berry Pie in progress
The finished pie didn’t last long. That’s always the amazing part of baking. When you think how long it took to ripen those berries, then to pick them, clean them, make the crust and assemble the pie and bake it. And then, to watch it disappear in a matter of minutes. The reward is most certainly the smiles on the faces of the satisfied eaters. After all, nothing lasts forever.
Mixed PNW Berry Pie
The recipe I used was one I found at Chow.com, a very fun website. Be sure to check out their “Chow Tips”, which showcase short instructional video clips on everything from food preparation to making cocktails.
Here on the Long Beach Peninsula, it’s impossible to ponder the Fall season without thinking of the bounty of wild edible mushrooms that pop up at this time of year. Our 8th Annual Wild Mushroom Celebration brought out crowds of mushroom lovers to sample our Chefs’ creations as well as those of Guest Chef, Larry Piaskowy, formerly of the Port Bistro, in Ilwaco. Larry and his lovely wife, Jennifer Williams promise to return next year for another Guest Chef Dinner during the Wild Mushroom Celebration 2010.
