Monday, February 22, 2010

Oregon Grape and Other Thoughts

Well it is another beautiful day, almost a week now of this. Forecast for Tuesday is cloudy and maybe rain so I have as many wash loads on the line as I could get. On our morning walk the dogs and I noticed all of the flowers on the Oregon Grape (not related to a real grape). The fruit looks like a blueberry and the leaves like holly. It can grow like a tree or a creeping, low ground cover. It is not sweet at all but my grandmother used to make jelly with it and other fruits mixed with, I'm sure, loads of sugar. And another bit of info....it is the Sate flower of Oregon...but is common all over the NW.
I am thinking of doing some sort of baking challenge for myself and sharing it here on the blog...I am scarred at the thought but feel I need to push myself as I am a fearless cook but have always kept my baking pretty safe. I did go out on a limb and bake cupcakes for Mr. B. to take to work for a pre Valentines Day treat. They turned out pretty good so that has given me the courage to even think about this..If you want to try the recipe it's on the Hershey's Cocoa , Special Dark, tin. It is the cake recipe but it worked for cupcakes too, and the frosting was great! I think I baked them for about 25 min. remember to test with a toothpick or other tester of choice. Anyway I will be thinking about it and if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

















2 comments:

Lola Nova said...

How interesting, I have never tried Oregon grape jelly. I have harvested the roots and used them as medicinals. Good for the immune system a good tonic for liver, stomach, blood and skin.

Ooh, I see your pretties on the line again, so lovely!

Sherri B. said...

Lola Nova, I read about some of the medicinal uses but wouldn't begin to know how to use it. And Grandma past on several years ago at the age of 101 and I didn't think of ever having her write the jelly recipe down. So many things you think of after someone is gone and it is too late.