Product Review: Preserves, Butter, and Jelly (aka The Importance of Reading Food Labels)
16 Apr 2010 4 Comments
Disclaimer: The title might sway you to believe this post seriously discusses ingredients in foods. However, it does not. No attempts at anything serious are made or intended by the author.
I recently posted about visiting Burris Farm Market in southern Alabama. While there, I bought several jars of what I expected would be yummy goodness. Last night, so that we could test all this spreadable loot, I made breakfast for dinner. Breakfast for dinner is an easy fix for what-to-cook dilemmas. Plus, everyone in my family likes some part of it.
I fried some bacon, scrambled some eggs, and threw together some quick biscuits. These biscuits would be the major component for our new preserves-, butter-, and jelly-tasting session. Speaking of those canned wonders, I bought Apple Butter, Strawberry Preserves, and Muscadine Grape Jelly. We lined them up on the table with a stack of spoons.
Strawberry Preserves
Very sweet and very strawberry. The only problem is that I couldn’t spread the preserves onto the biscuits fast enough to keep up with the kids. Next time, I’ll make full-sized biscuits when we’re planning to sample new spreads to keep the kids busy for a little longer.
Apple Butter
We didn’t get around to testing it last night, but I had some this morning on a leftover biscuit. (By some miracle, we did have a leftover biscuit or two!) It tastes like apple cider, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I just had another biscuit spread with it for a post-lunch snack. Yummmm…
Muscadine Grape Jelly
As soon as I opened the jar, I thought, “Wow, this smells like wine!” Then, I spread a touch on a biscuit and said, “Wow, this tastes like wine!” Paul said, “Maybe it is made from wine…?” I gave him a spread, and he said, “Wow, it does taste like wine!” Then, I picked up the jar and looked at the label. First ingredient: muscadine wine. Ahhh, so that’s why it smells and tastes like wine!
And, folks, that’s why it’s more important than ever to read food labels.
Dogwood Trees
12 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
I’m glad I moved to Texas. Austin, in particular, suits me well. But, sometimes I do miss the glorious natural beauty of where I lived for the first 20 years of my life. And while the saying “Everything’s bigger in Texas” might hold water in some parts of life, there’s not one drop of truth to it when it comes to trees. The trees in northwestern Alabama are so big and thick they almost engulf you. For some, it can be a suffocating or claustrophobic feeling–especially in spring and early summer when the trees grow so thick and dark green that they create tunnels around the road, even dropping the temperature.
We used to drive to the river near our house to swim and every time we turned down on road that was surround on both sides with trees, my brother, sister, and I (in the back of the truck) would reach for a blanket to cover up because the tree cover made the air cool enough to chill us–even in muggy July.
I recently drove from the coast of Alabama to the northwestern corner, and as I drove I noticed how the trees were so thick and consistent that they became more and more monotonous the further north I drove. But every mile or so, I’d see a Dogwood tree, peeking out of the thick green. The Dogwood tree might be the most beautiful part of the south where I grew up. Their delicate white and/or pink blossoms punctuate the otherwise lush, green landscape in the spring, leaving a trail of color.
Photo by Amanda
I was so excited to see them and even more excited to let Dalton and Lily experience them for the first time.
Photo by Amanda
My in-laws planted this little fellow in their backyard. He seems to like his home. I’m not sure he appreciated the blossom removal my kids gave him.
Photo by Amanda
Photo by Amanda
Review: Burris Farm Market
08 Apr 2010 3 Comments
3100 Hickory Street, Loxley AL
burrisfarmmarket.com
If you’re driving along Hoghway 59 in southern Alabama (or anywhere near there), be sure to stop by Burris Farm Market–if only to inhale the goodness of the aroma outside. Chances are that you’ll get one whiff and mosey on inside to sample a fresh-baked cobbler, apple dumpling, strawberry shortcake, or peach turnover for yourself.
This covered, open-air produce market/sweet shop is a great place to load up the car with fresh fruits and veggies. They also stock an assortment of jams, preserves, jellies, and spreads as well as other unique canned items. Two that caught my eye: “Mad Mango” salsa and pickled quail eggs. If you’re lucky enough to visit during strawberry season, buy a flat and sink your teeth right into ruby red sweet heaven. Berries not your thing? Maybe a homemade chocolate ice cream cone is. Or, maybe you should do what I did and try both.
But, don’t just believe what I say. Ask these kids, too:
Photo by Amanda
Photo by Amanda
Photo by Amanda
