When I was little my dad used to make "smurfberry muffins." I don't really remember exactly, but he even had a story each time about how smurfs (the only cartoon I remember liking as a child) had come while we were asleep and made them for us. Anyway, they were REALLY good.
Also, my grandma used to make a pie that I loved a LOT.
Both of these things were made with the same berry- Huckleberries. They were home grown and bottled then made into yummy things.
So fast-forward about 10-15 years and I get a major craving for something huckleberry. I look everywhere but find you cannot buy them at all. I was living in Logan at the time and they were obsolete. We went to Boise to visit and found some wild huckleberries for sale at Reggie's Veggies- a corner stand place many of you will be familiar with. Anyway, they were a whopping $12/lb. but DH being who he is insists we get a pound. (He was probably tired of me whining about how I was craving them) I made a few pies and it was gone. Haven't had any since.
I asked around and was told they pretty much only grow in Montana nowadays and you can go there and buy jam and sundry Huckleberry things. Not so practical to drive to Montana every time I get a hankering.
So now, we're to about a month ago in this story. I find that a local nursery (J&J) sells Huckleberry bushes. This is different than what my mom remembered planting, but I decide to go for it and she got me the soil acidifier they recommended. (and I paid for a 1 yr. warranty) It is now in my backyard and has been "acidified" twice and looks at least like it's not dying (yet).
I get home and research about Huckleberries (why I had not done this prior is a mystery) I find that the bush I bought is in the same family as blueberries. I do not like blueberries much so I hope I like these. I find out that the Huckleberries my mom and grandma planted back in the day are a different kind, in the nightshade family (same as tomatoes) They can be ordered in seed form on the internet from far away, not as convenient as the pony packs they were able to purchase back in the 80's.
So I ordered some. They have to be started indoors 4 weeks before the last frost, so for now they are in a cool dark place awaiting next year's planting.
I am hoping that someday I will be able to make some magical smurfberry muffins for my little ragamuffins.
6 comments:
Your Dad never baked any muffins. That is one thing I actually baked. He made the "Smurf mush". He did tell the story, but I did the actual baking of the muffins. I am glad it is a good memory for you.
I hope they work and that you like them! I was the same way about blackberries this year. I'm crossing my fingers the bushes at least do well enough to bear some berries next year.
And then I'm definitely going to introduce my kids to Smurfs and Smurf berries. That's so cute!
you can still get huckleberries in south eastern Idaho. MY mom and sister go picking every year. My mom would flash freeze them, and then freeze them in large zip-loc baggies. I would put the in apple pie. YUM YUM YUM!
I hope your huckleberries work out!
You can pick huckleberries around the McCall area. The Baumhoffs (Dorothy's Jams, etc.) got them by the bucketfull to make syrups and jams. I'll call and see if frozen ones are available. They are tiny and picking takes a long time.
As your friend, I hereby pledge to help get those huckleberries up and running next year if it is the last thing I do.....they sound scrumptious!!
I will be in Montana twice this summer and would be happy to bring back any huckleberry item that you are craving. Just let me know!
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