Every year in June we take a drive to berry country in Santa
Cruz County to pick ollalieberries at Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville, CA.
Ollalies are a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry and are very
similar to a blackberry but with a tendency to be larger and less
seedy, plus they are my husband's favorite berry. The drive takes less
than an hour and has been a tradition for at least 30 years and we
always make a fun day of it. After we picked our fill, 28 pounds worth,
we headed to a farm stand for a bag of the artichokes that also grow in
the area, then made our way to Capitola Beach for a late lunch at a
waterside cafe before heading home. The day was perfectly gorgeous!
When we get home the berries go right into the refrigerator and we deal with them the next day, too tired! However, we did make an easy sorbet last night. It is as beautiful as any jewel and tastes like nothing else under the stars!
This morning we work up early and made 22 jars of jam, some half pints and some full pint jars. So many, but they will be gone in a year! My son loves this jam and he will take home a jar each time he visits. Throughout the year I'll make some jam tarts and use jam for a few other recipes, but mostly it will be on toast. I'll give away a few jars as gifts and by next year, we'll be out and ready to do it all over again.
We save some berries for fresh eating and for giving away. They only last a few days even under refrigeration. The rest of the berries go into the freezer for smoothies and pies, I make one every Father's Day so that will be in a few days. The Ollalieberry special below is heaven! Here are the links!
When we get home the berries go right into the refrigerator and we deal with them the next day, too tired! However, we did make an easy sorbet last night. It is as beautiful as any jewel and tastes like nothing else under the stars!
This morning we work up early and made 22 jars of jam, some half pints and some full pint jars. So many, but they will be gone in a year! My son loves this jam and he will take home a jar each time he visits. Throughout the year I'll make some jam tarts and use jam for a few other recipes, but mostly it will be on toast. I'll give away a few jars as gifts and by next year, we'll be out and ready to do it all over again.
We save some berries for fresh eating and for giving away. They only last a few days even under refrigeration. The rest of the berries go into the freezer for smoothies and pies, I make one every Father's Day so that will be in a few days. The Ollalieberry special below is heaven! Here are the links!
Gizdich Ranch for directions and picking schedule
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| Most gorgeous color, don't you think? |
Ollalie Sorbet
In saucepan, heat to boiling 1 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cups water. Boil one minute.
Put 4 cups washed fresh ollalieberries in blender. Add hot sugar and water mixture,
plus the juice of 1 small lemon and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Puree in food processor.
Strain through a fine strainer and discard pulp and seeds. Refrigerate for 3 or more hours.
Process cold liquid in an ice cream maker until frozen.
Makes one pint and lasts a few days in the freezer.
It is so good!
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