Tuesday, August 30, 2011

California Huckleberries are ripe and ready to pick on the Mendonoma Coast

If you love wild blueberries, California Huckleberry bushes - Vaccinium ovatum - are loaded with berries and they are ready to pick. I call the berries "Mother Nature's antioxidant pills."

Rick came up with the ideal container for picking huckleberries. It's a box with a belt looped through it. I hook it around my waist and then I have both hands for some serious picking!

To forage for one's own food is a joy. We particularly enjoy these berries in sourdough pancakes. Brunch, anyone?

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6 comments:

  1. Frank DrouillardAugust 31, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    They make a great crisp along with fresh pears!
    4 to 5 pear halves
    1/5 to 2 cups of huckleberries
    Spread pears and huckleberries in a baking dish.
    1 cup of flour
    1 cup of brown sugar
    1 cup of oatmeal
    1/2 stick of butter, melted.
    Blend the above 4 ingredients, then spread on top of pears and huckleberries.
    Add a dash of cinnamon to taste. Bake at 350 until everything start bubbling and the crisp starts to brown (30 to 40 minutes).
    Great with ice cream. Dogs love it, too.

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  2. Jeanne JacksonAugust 31, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Sounds great! But you better keep your golden away from it. I've heard goldens have a sweet tooth! There will be none leftover for you.

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  3. Frank DrouillardSeptember 1, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    Have you noticed that Goldens can take a severe berating without breaking a smile?

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  4. Jeanne JacksonSeptember 1, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Yessss! Now that you mention it!

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  5. AnonymousAugust 12, 2014 at 5:19 PM

    Wow! I remember these berries as a kid. Where can one pick them here?

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  6. Jeanne JacksonAugust 13, 2014 at 8:15 AM

    2014 isn't a very good year for huckleberries but there are some areas that are bearing fruit. The further north you go, apparently, there are more berries. You will just have to look for bushes, perhaps in state or regional parks. Good luck!

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