WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011
Free Blueberries!
Yesterday the kids and I ended our week long quarantine with a trip to ......................
Charlotte's Blue Berry Park
I am ashamed to say that after living in Tacoma for 5 years, this is our first visit to this beautiful 20 acre park in East Tacoma. Located at 7402 East D St., Charlotte's Park offers FREE U-Pick blueberries. With five varieties of blueberries, picking season runs from June to October. Luckily, I was tipped by local berry scopers (my Mom and Stepdad) that the bushes were loaded and ready harvest. I was also lucky enough to have them take me there, so I couldn't exactly tell you where it is outside of the above address. So, if you venture out (and you should!), visit the Tacoma Parks Website here: www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=649 for directions.
My Strawberry Ready to Pick Blueberries
If you haven't been to Blueberry Park yet as a family outing, this is a great week to give it a try. The bushes along the outer edges have mostly green berries. As you get just a little deeper into the park, especially along the backsides of the bushes, there are many more "blue" berries.
One of over 3300 blueberry bushes
Things to know for a successful picking experience:
As with all berry picking, sunscreen is a must.
There is no restroom, only a "stinky potty" (as my kids call it) on site.
There are some thorny blackberries growing in some of the bushes. Pants are a good idea.
The bushes can be a bit of a maze, come with a plan to keep kids close (my plan: 3 adults for my 3 kids)
A Beautiful Summer's Day
I hope you can make a trip there this week, it is worth the short drive! You can expect a blueberry recipe to dress these pages soon.
Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich
Ice cream Sandwiches are one of those childhood treats that I have never thought to make before. Maybe, that is because I never really ate them as a child. Maybe, that is because the store bought version just don’t seem appealing. It turns out that when then are fresh, they are really yummy! It is simple, to come up with your own signature recipe. Yesterday, I tried Mint chocolate cookies with vanilla filling. My one mistake: I made them too big. I am not sure how I forgot that cookies spread when they bake, but I did. As you may have guessed, no one else seemed to see this as a mistake.
For the Cookies:
3/4 C butter
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 1/2 C white flour + plenty extra for rolling
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pint vanilla ice cream
Baking Directions:
- Preheat over to 350.
- Cream butter and sugars using an electric mixer.
- Add the vanilla and pepperment.
- Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture.
- On heavily floured surface, roll out the dough.
- Cut dough with rounded biscuit cutter or favorite cookie cutter.
- Place on buttered cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes.
Once the cookies have baked and cooled, spread with softened ice cream (but not too soft!), assemble, and store in airtight containers in the freezer.
What luck! Last night the weather was beautiful and we could enjoy these summer sweets outdoors. Although, they were gobbled so quickly, it turned out that messy, drippiness wasn't a worry after all. And, and extra bonus, no dishes to clean with this totally consumable ice cream treat. I hope that you will have a chance to enjoy these this summer too!
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