Congratulations are in order for our good friends, Roger and Kristin Oakes of Whiskey Hill, Oregon. Kellan Lee Oakes, an 8 lb 15 oz boy, was born at approx. 11:30 am, Tuesday June 8th. He joins brothers Ian (6) and Tristan (3). Kellan is expected to be riding wheelies on his motorcycle by the end of next week.
Wow, another family of three boys; are you really ready for this, Roger and Kristin? I don’t know if I have any words of wisdom for anyone other than Tristan. T, it can be rough being the middle boy; but in the end, it will only make you stronger. It’s time for the middle children of the world to stand up and be heard! Oh, sorry. I got a little carried away there…
So, what do Oregon Strawberries have to do with all this?
Well, Stephanie came home with a big crate of fresh Oregon Strawberries on Wednesday, with the intention of working them into a dessert for the meal she was making for the Oakes family. She found a recipe for Gala Strawberry Pie in the From Portland’s Palate cookbook, but it used up less than half of the berries. What ever would we do with the rest of the berries?
That’s right, I got a Gala Strawberry Pie of my own (along with two and a half jars of freezer jam). I got home from work yesterday to find a gorgeous, bright red, overflowing Strawberry pie perched on the top shelf of the refrigerator. It had to be one of the best strawberry pies I have ever tasted. The piled-high strawberries rested on top of a light layer of cream cheese and whipped cream. Every bite was sweet and fresh, with a flavor that only Oregon strawberries can provide. Those bitter, white-centered California strawberries just don’t cut it.
I love strawberry season in Oregon! But, the strawberries won’t be in season much longer, so you’d better get baking and canning while they last!
Gala Strawberry PiePosted by jethro at June 11, 2004 08:06 AM | TrackBack1 10-inch baked pie crust
1 cup whipping cream
1 8-oz pkg cream cheese, room temperature
1 ½ cups granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cornstarch
½ cup water
1 cup fresh strawberries, mashed
4 cups whole strawberries for garnishIn a small mixing bowl, whip cream. Set aside. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, ½ cup sugar, and vanilla. Fold in whipped cream and beat lightly by hand. Spoon into baked pie shell.
In a medium saucepan, combine remaining 1 cup sugar and cornstarch. Mix in water and mashed berries. Over high heat, bring to a boil, stirring constantly until mixture begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Let cool.
Arrange whole berries on top of cheese mixture, then spoon on berry topping.
Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours. Garnish with additional strawberries.
I haven't gotten my berries yet.I go tmy notice from the field but no berries! I must do that!
I succesfully added you tomy links. My hands were literally sweating as I worked in the inner bowels of my blogs indexes. Jd has me sufficiently in awe of the inner workings of that thing!
Posted by: tammy at June 11, 2004 09:56 AMJeff, thanks so much for the "ode." I'm giving Roger a bad time that everyone else is having to do the announcing for us. Unfortunately, we had a major computer crash in the process of trying to post pics of Kellan on our web site--hopefully Roger can get it up and running again some time this weekend. We're trying to be sensitive to the middle child thing :). Yes, Jeff that strawberry pie was HEAVEN. The three biggest Oakes boys loved it, too.
Posted by: Kristin at June 11, 2004 10:10 AMWhat a nice announcement and picture. Tristan is especially cute in it. The pie looks great! Funny, Kristin didn't mention a pie when I dropped the boys off yesterday....
Karen
So Jeff since Jd is so busy,wanna tell me how you put that pic of straw berries in there. I have all these coll pics in my picture folder but don't know how to get them to my weblog.
Posted by: tammy at June 11, 2004 03:56 PMThat's okay be a snob, Jeffy. Your brother answered me about the pics on the Roth site. So there!
Posted by: tammy at June 11, 2004 07:02 PMJethro,
My wife points out that I posted my comments in the wrong place this morning. I guess maybe she should fix the computer ;) Either way the pie was great but sadly it is now gone. Ken help me and the boys polish it off this evening.
Rog
Posted by: RaginRog at June 11, 2004 09:46 PMNot to mention the California strawberries are tasteless. They look like a strawberry, feel like a strawberry, smell like a strawberry, they just forgot the flavor.
Posted by: ron at June 11, 2004 10:48 PM