Thursday 3 August 2023

SASKATOONS!


During the last two weeks of July, I positively FEASTED on saskatoon berries purchased at the farmers market. That's when saskatoons are in season and available. Saskatoons grow on bushes and are similar to blueberries, but have their own distinctive flavour and texture. They grow wild on the Canadian prairies and are now also commercially cultivated. I have fond memories of going wild saskatoon picking with my parents when I was a small child.

I used some of them to bake lemon saskatoon muffins --


And also a rustic saskatoon pie (crostata) --


But most of them I just ate with a wee bit of cream and sugar. That's how my Mom always ate them. SO DELICIOUS! And given their colour, I'm sure the berries must be stuffed full of anti-oxidants.


In related news, the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan just announced the name and logo of their new semi-pro baseball team in the Western Canadian Baseball League. "Everyone's going to want a slice of us," team management said perceptively --


[Photos #2, #3, and #4 © Debra She Who Seeks, 2023;
Photos #1 and #5 from the internet]

40 comments:

  1. Ohhh
    Do they have the same benefits as blueberries? I'm running to google to learn more about these delicious looking berries. My dermatologist told me eating blueberries is fab so I'm trying to include them more in my diet.

    XOXO

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  2. Wow - what a delectable sweet treat.

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  3. These look marvelous. Especially your baking. I imagine they're all sorts of healthy too, as a bonus. I never heard of them before.

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  4. I'm like you currently on blueberries...I eat them every day and could easily eat a pint a day. I would probably love these berries. The muffins looks delish!!!

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  5. There's nothing so good as juicy, wild Saskatoons, wild blueberries and high bush cranberries! They freeze well and can be used throughout the winter. Your muffins and crostata look YUMMY too!

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  6. I'm wondering how their taste compares to blueberries. Those muffins look so good! I've been baking zucchini muffins and freezing them. -Jenn

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  7. Look wonderful, Nice looking pie.

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  8. I have never heard of saskatoon berries! The photos of your treats sure make them look delicious!

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  9. I’ve never heard of these. My mouth is watering.

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  10. Hello Debra, You are lucky to get these berries without the work of having to pick them yourself. Picking wild berries is fun, but there is no guarantee of getting so many. They also grow in Ohio, and often are called serviceberries or Juneberries. In the rose family, they are more similar in structure to small apples or rose hips. --Jim

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  11. Nothing so delicious as native summer fruits! Your muffins and crostata look so tempting, as does the bowl of berries and cream. (I really, really want one of those muffins!) I have been enjoying huckleberries sprinkled liberally over vanilla ice cream. Also delicious. You've got to celebrate the brief season by eating as many as possible.

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  12. Hi Debra! The Saskatoons look fantastic! I love them every way you can eat them.I used to get pails and pails from a friend who sadly moved several hours away. It’s been very hot on the berries this year around here so pickings are slim. On a good note I found a wild bush in my yard! It had 3 berries! Maybe next year I’ll get a handful!

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  13. they sure do look good and the pie and muffins look divine! i love blueberries and am actually freezing a batch at this moment for use over winter.
    love & magicks
    ~*~

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  14. I've never heard of them but your cooking looks delicious!

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  15. I had to look those berries up to see difference between blueberries I've been eating so much of that expect to turn blue any day now. Seems the taste is closer to a sweet apple. Must find. Must try.

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  16. I wondered where to get Saskatoon berries in St. Louis. Why at the local grocery store in the frozen foods section. I may have to try some.
    It seems that in Missouri we have something similar called Serviceberry. It sounds just like Saskatoon berries (same family of trees).

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  17. I’ve never heard of them. They do look very yummy
    One day. When I visit Canada maybe I’ll get to try some.
    I can dream

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  18. i have never tasted these and probably never will since they grow nowhere around here. what do they taste like? we too have been eating berries like crazy. and cherries, i love cherries.

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  19. Never had any. I would love to try them.

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  20. @ jaz@octoberfarm -- It's hard to describe their flavour to someone who has never had them. It's a "distinctive flavour," that's all I can think to say, lol. A little sweet, a little tart, cannot be confused with blueberries even if they sort of look similar. Nothing else tastes like saskatoons. They are delicious to those of us who grew up eating them.

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  21. Those muffins look delicious! While I don't have access to Saskatoons, sadly, I imagine other berries could be mixed in.

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  22. They look so packed with antioxidants!

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  23. Salivation and jelly - er, jealousy - happening here. Those look divine.
    Enjoy more sweet fruits.

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  24. @jaz@octoberfarm - Try the frozen food section of your local grocery store. 😄

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  25. I missed the season this year. *sob*

    I have never ever seen Saskatoon berries sold commercially. Mostly I steal them off of street trees. But maybe we are not even talking about the same thing, since Saskatoons grow on trees around here.

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  26. @ Old Lurker -- Saskatoon bushes can grow really big over the years (at least in the wild) but they are still bushes, not trees per se.

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  27. I never knew that berry existed. And to think it's now a sports team!

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  28. What a fun name for a provincial sports team, Debra! I've eaten the berries a fe times in my life and enjoyed them in a pie. They're delicious. I spotted your Nova Scotia tartan, a favorite of mine. Hopefully you can feast for another week or so!

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  29. @ Fundy Blue -- Yes, I bought a set of Nova Scotia tartan placemats the last time I was in Halifax! Such a beautiful tartan -- one of my faves! Not surprised you spotted it, Louise!

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  30. Oooooooh, us poor folk down south have no idea what I saskatoon is, but we sure would like to! YUM!

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  31. Oh, they look delicious! I've never even heard of Saskatoons. I wonder if they're offered anywhere around here. I'll have to check. I really like blueberries, so I'd enjoy these, as well!

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  32. Blueberries are my favorite, but this write up on saskatoons intrigues me. I wanna try one!

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  33. I have never heard of it. Thanks for sharing us.

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  34. I have heard of those berries though not tried one yet.

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  35. I don't believe I've ever had one but they sound pretty good in the muffin

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  36. If they are anything like blueberries, they're delicious and full of antioxidants! Your muffins and pie look absolutely amazing---had my mouth watering.
    Why did I think a Saskatoon was a musical instrument? What am I thinking of??

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  37. I never heard of or saw Saskatoon berries..I guess we don't have them here in the mid-Atlantic states..Sounds like we are missing something..

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