Pappy's Patch

What a beautiful day to go to pick fresh strawberries! The weather was perfect and there was a slight breeze blowing as Rennie and I headed to Oviedo to Pappy's Patch U-Pick Strawberries.  Cars lined the fence that seemed to stretch out a mile or so (but really did not), and families were happily searching rows and rows of strawberries hoping to find the perfect one to pick.  Everyone, including myself, were carrying their cameras or cell phones to capture the memorable event.  You could see smiling faces all around - I love that!

There is nothing better than fresh picked fruit! I have fond memories of my grandmother's back yard and garden that was abundant with everything fresh.  She had a huge Granny Smith apple tree (that I was always shimmimg up and sit in the branches when I was in trouble and running from her), four other red apple trees, several peach trees, wild plum trees, a pecan tree, and each summer a strawberry patch that was next to her garden.  I would take a small bowl of water to the patch, plop myself down on the ground, pick strawberries off the plants, wash them off in the bowl, and eat them immediately.  Oh so delicious!


With our box in hand, Rennie and I were searching for our finds.  Of course Rennie had to taste a few just to make sure they were worthy of picking, and of course, they were.  We had a blast!  Of course my mind was running through numerous recipes that would be the perfect way to enjoy them.  Strawberry cobbler was my first choice and strawberry muffins or bread came in a close second.  

As we stood in the long line to pay for them, we conversed with people around us.  Some drove from miles and miles away, another lady in front of us was talking about growing up in England and going to a strawberry patch when she was young, a cute couple in back of us were newly married and had never picked a strawberry from a patch until today, and actually it was our first time going to a patch together.  Ahhhh, new adventures together even after 32 years of marriage - what could be better??

 

Once home, I searched my "pins" on Pinterest and found the cobbler recipe that I had pinned earlier in the day.  Rennie ground fresh wheat for me and after dinner, I made the cobbler and topped the bubbly goodness with whipped cream.  I have to say...it was delicious!  Today...strawberry bread or muffins.  


I have included the recipe for the cobbler and hope you enjoy it even if you have to purchase your fresh strawberries from a market or grocery store!

Mama's Strawberry Cobbler (from southernplate.com)


Ingredients

• 1 cup self rising flour (I used my freshly ground wheat flour and added 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt to make the "self rising" part)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• ½ t. cinnamon
• 2 cups sweetened strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 stick margarine or butter (I used butter)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt stick of margarine or butter in a 2 to 2.5 quart oven proof casserole dish while you mix up the batter.
2. Mix all dry ingredients together. Stir in milk until smooth. Pour over melted margarine.
3. Pour batter over margarine/butter. Do not stir!
4. Pour strawberries into center of batter. Do not stir!
5. Note: This is a little something that I do extra. You can do it or not. I always sprinkle about a tablespoon of sugar over the batter and strawberries before I put it in the oven. It just makes it look like my grandmothers cobbler because that was her finishing touch.
6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until you can insert a knife into the center and peep into the cobbler. The batter should be cakey and not soupy. How is that for technical terms?

Until next time... ~Pamela