One of the bonuses of hiking through the woods and meadows is the natural
bounty you often come across. On walks through the meadows, my family
and I have
often come across patches of wild strawberries.
Along with swatting mosquitoes and black flies, we find it worthwhile to
pick
these gems. Sometimes there are only a few to eat on the spot. Other
times you may find
a patch that yields enough for a strawberry shortcake.
Wild strawberries are popular berries growing wild in temperate
climates.
Medieval records mention that these berries were used for food and
medicine.
As long ago as the 1400s, wild strawberries were planted in English herb
gardens.
Berries in the New World
These berries were growing in the New World when the colonists settled
here.
They found that the natives collected large quantities of these berries,
eating them fresh
and drying some for winter use.
The colonists soon were cultivating these American varieties in their
gardens.
They even sent species of these plants back to England.
Many of the commercial cultivated strawberries today are hybrids from
plants
developed from wild North American varieties.
Many Uses
Wild strawberries have been used for many purposes over the years -
strawberry
wines, strawberries and cream, strawberry jams and jellies, strawberry
shortcake, etc.
Strawberries are high in vitamin C. The leaves, nutritious, too, have
been used
for strawberry tea, a drink rich in this vitamin.
Strawberry juice was used in years past as a wash for oneÂ’s complexion.
The
roots and leaves have been utilized as an astringent.
Fragile Berries
Wild strawberries are very fragile berries. They get mushy very quickly.
So these
berries should be handled carefully when picked and transported.
They also should be used, either eaten or preserved as soon as possible.
Making Strawberry Leather
An old-time way to preserve wild strawberries is by making STRAWBERRY
LEATHER. This method was used in Europe and by the Indians. The
colonists soon
were preserving berries this way, too.
The berries were dried into thin cakes the size of pancakes. Then they
were eaten
that way or made into sauces, pies, and puddings.
Mash the hulled wild strawberries. Then shape into thin cakes.
(Sometimes these
mashed berries are spread out in thin strips instead of cakes.) Place
cakes on platters.
(The Indians often used leaves.) Dry in the sun, using screens to keep
insects away.
Or you can dry the leather in a 200 degree F. oven. Store in covered
containers
after the cakes or strips are dried.
A slightly different recipe for WILD STRAWBERRY LEATHER - In a pan,
simmer 2 pounds hulled strawberries with 1 cup sugar over low heat. Stir
and mash fruit
as it cooks and gets as thick as possible.
Then spread the mixture on a flat dish and place in the sun, a food
dryer, or low
200 degree oven. When dried, sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into
squares. Store
in covered container to keep out moisture.
(c)2001 Mary Emma Allen
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