Country Kitchen:
Strawberry Festival Season
By Mary Emma Allen
As my husband and I drove along a country road, I spied a sign before a
church announcing "Strawberry
Festival".
"They still have strawberry festivals!" I exclaimed and recalled those of
my childhood.
When I was growing up, oh, so many years ago, the Strawberry Festival,
sponsored by the ladies of the one church in our small village was a
highlight of summer.
This event usually was held on a Saturday, late afternoon and into the
evening. Strawberry dishes of all kinds were served, but the most
delicious was strawberry shortcake.
Festivals at Miss Nellie's
The most memorable, to me, were the festivals at Miss Nellie's country
home. Reached by driving down a long dirt laneway lined with tall maple
trees, this colonial home was a show place in town.
Nellie and her husband, Jack, enjoyed entertaining and opened up their
home for the festival. She set up tables in every room. Women from the
Ladies Aide Society bustled around her large kitchen baking shortcake
biscuits and hulling berries. Other ladies brought in strawberry pies,
puddings, and gelatin.
From about 4 PM until 8 PM, there was a continual round of people sitting
down for a strawberry meal. They gave a donation for this was a fund
raiser for the church, as well as a social get-together. After folks
finished eating, they sat on Nellie's long porches (front and back) and
visited. The children played tag and croquet in her front lawn.
Festivals at the Town Hall
As Miss Nellie grew older and couldn't entertain so well, the festival
took place at the Town Hall near the church. Here long tables were set
up, strawberry shortcake prepared in the kitchen, and we still enjoyed a
delicious meal.
In later years, an addition was built onto the church, complete with
dining area and kitchen. Then festivals and church suppers were held
here.
However, those strawberry festival memories of my childhood center around
the enjoyable times we had at Miss Nellie's.
Numerous Strawberry Dishes
Strawberry season seems to last much longer these days when these berries
can be transported from distant states before they begin ripening in New
England. We've been enjoying these berries in various forms....fruit
salads, strawberry pie, strawberry shortcake, and on ice cream...for at
least a month.
Soon though, berries will begin ripening in gardens around the state, and
we'll find native ones in the stores, roadside stands, or pick-your-own.
In our house, we have strawberries on pancakes or waffles as a breakfast
or supper meal. This makes a shortcake variation that is delicious.
PANCAKE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE - Prepare your favorite pancake or waffle
recipe. Hull, mash, and sweeten strawberries. Alternate layers of
waffle/pancake and strawberries. Serve with whipped topping, whipped
cream, or ice cream.
You can use crepes for this, too. Or make waffles with finely chopped
walnuts in them for a festive dish. This dish also is good when you use
blueberry pancakes with the strawberries. You also can add blueberries to
the mashed strawberries for a tasty fruit mixture.
(C) 2003 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing her "Cooking Column" for newspapers
and online publications for 30 years and
has compiled a family cookbook. She’s currently compiling a
cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
