| Welcome
Hey All
Welcome to my Portage Newsletter.
Well, I finally did it. I got
the Jeep's transmission problem solved, paid for, and created the freedom
to spend 12 days of July at one of my favorite fish camps in N. Ontario.
Whew. I'm feeling oh so much better.
I'm a wandering soul with little
attachment to planned destinations. For me, it's the discovery and insight
along the way that is so much more important. So take what suits you from
this newsletter and discard what does not. I won't mind a bit. As I've
said before, my intent for this newsletter, if anything, is just to present
the musings of a wandering woman. And I do appreciate your feedback. Keep
it coming!
"My aim is not to teach the
method that everyone ought to follow in order to conduct his reason well,
but solely to reveal how I have tried to conduct my own." ~~René
Descartes
A special thanks to those of
you who have passed this newsletter on to others.
I'd love to hear your thoughts,
insights and understandings. deb@portagecoach.com
If you're anticipating a transition,
personal or business, just give me a call at 231-879-4178 or 877-762-4178.
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It's
The Berries, Continued
Suddenly the days are much
cooler. How did that happen? One minute we were sweltering in record heat
and then the next thing I know, the nights have become wonderfully crisp.
The air is dry. Plants in the garden are starting to brown. The summer
daisies that lined the country roads near my home are being replaced by
the more autumnal Black-eyed Susan. I can hear the occasional chain saw,
the first sign that some of us are preparing for fall and winter. Families
are scrambling for one more holiday before school begins. The county fair
is in full swing. And I'm enjoying evening campfires in the backyard without
mosquitoes!
As you may recall from my June
newsletter, It's the Berries, I’d ended June here in Northern Michigan
with a bumper crop of blueberries picked and frozen. At the end of July
I headed for Northern Ontario where I traveled just far enough north that
I was back into prime blueberry season. Oh my, I hadn't planned on picking
more blueberries. I went to fish after all. But I'm a harvester at heart.
And whether it's fish or berries, when the opportunity presents itself
I can't help but act. This time, I didn't freeze berries. It was nice not
feeling the responsibility to “put up” my harvest but, instead, without
the kitchen facilities of home, allow myself to indulge and fill my belly
with berries every day. And thanks to all of your responses to my June
newsletter, I had plenty of recipes to choose from.
So here's a sampling of my
fish camp berry fare. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy them as
much as I have.
From Patt Osborne...
BLUEBERRY DAIQUIRI
1 cup frozen blues
1/2 cup light rum (or more…depending
on the mood and circumstances)
1/2 lime-juiced
1/2 cup crushed ice
1/4 cup superfine sugar
In a blender, combine all ingredients
for about 30 seconds. Pour into a chilled glass.
My Comment: There was no blender
at camp but I did just fine by shaking vigorously.
From Shelly K...
BLUEBERRY BUCKLE
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter
1 egg
3/4 c. milk
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. blueberries
Topping:
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. soft butter
Mix topping ingredients in
a small bowl. Set aside.
Beat together sugar and butter.
When mixture becomes light, add egg and beat.
Sift together dry ingredients
on a piece of waxed paper. Pour half of dry ingredients into bowl, add
milk and remaining dry ingredients.
Stir together until combined,
do not over mix. Sprinkle berries on top and stir in.
Sprinkle on topping and bake
at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
From My Mom...
BLUEBERRY SLUMP
1 qt. blueberries
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. sugar
Dumplings:
1 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tbs. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. milk
2 tbs. oil
In a 2-quart saucepan, bring
the blueberries, water and sugar to a boil. Lightly mix together all dumpling
ingredients. Drop dumpling dough by spoonfuls into the boiling berries.
Cover and cook for 20 minutes over moderate heat. Serves 4.
From Denise M...
BLUEBERRY COBBLER
1 stick butter
3 to 4 c. fresh blueberries
1 c. water
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. self-rising flour
3/4 c. milk
1 c. sugar
Melt the butter in an 8 or
9 inch square pan. Put blueberries in pan with water and 1 cup sugar. Leave
on burner. Simmer while making crust. Mix the flour, milk and 1 cup sugar
together. Mix well. Pour over blueberries. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.
Check all along to see if juice is cooking out. If so, add a little water
to keep cobbler juicy. Serve with ice cream.
From Me...
BLUEBERRY PANCAKES
1 c. blueberries
1 egg
1 c. milk
1/2 c. melted butter
1 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tbs. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
Combine egg, milk and butter.
Sift dry ingredients and add to egg mixture. Beat. Drop on lightly greased
griddle, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons berries over each cake. Turn when
bubbly and browned.
BLUEBERRY PANCAKE SYRUP:
2 cups blueberries
1 cup light corn syrup or
maple syrup
dash of salt
Mash blueberries until somewhat
smooth. In saucepan, combine berries, syrup and salt. Bring to boil and
cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring gently, or until thickened.
And finally, suggestions from
Karla K., who seems to have a bit of a blueberry fetish...
"Blueberry yogurt, blueberry
custard, blueberry scones, blueberry waffles, blueberry smoothies, blueberry
ice cream, blueberry sauce, blueberry jam/jelly, blueberry juice, blueberry
crepes, blueberry syrup, blueberry/pecan french toast, blueberry cheesecake,
blueberry blintzes, blueberry tarts, blueberry & honey pecan salad,
blueberry coffee cake, blueberry daiquiri, blueberry fruit ice, ... and
my all time favorite, plain ol' blueberries with milk/cream and sugar (in
a bowl) -- that's all from me!"
"Better than any argument is
to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet red berries in a cup."
"I am not bound for any public
place, but for ground of my own where I have planted vines and orchard
trees, and in the heat of the day climbed up into the healing shadow of
the woods."
"I come into the peace of wild
things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief... For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free."
"We learn from our gardens
to deal with the most urgent question of the time: How much is enough?"
~~Wendell Berry
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Peace and much love
Deb
The Fine Print
A Note About My Recommendations
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