Ahhh the joy of summer. As anyone who lives in Oregon knows nothing compares to the elusive joy of finding Hoods at you local farmer's market. Hoods are summer. They are what summer tastes like: delicate, sweet and juicy. They melt on your tongue. If summer has a smell it is the sweet smell of these berries. Their red color is as bright as the summer sun. And they are gone in the blink of an eye, just like summer herself. Perfection in one small berry. Their short season, the fact that they don't keep well enough for stores to carry them and their popularity among Oregonians all contribute to the Hoods elusive nature which is much like a glittering garden fairy. Finding them elicits the same delight. I was lucky enough to find some last week at the farmer’s market. Hoods, not garden fairies. The kids ate about a third of the flat in one evening. The next morning I was able to cut the rest of them up for home made ice cream. YUMM!
If you are ever so lucky as to find Hoods at your farmer's market be sure to follow the rules of Hoods as they are a delicate treat to be treasured.
The Rules of Hoods
1. Make sure they were picked the morning of purchase.
2. Get them home A.S.A.P.
3. Never put them in a trunk or let them get hot in a car.
4. Use them as soon as you get home.
5. Let everyone eat as many as they want because they won't be fresh and yummy for more than a day.
6. Remember how sweet they are and adjust the sugar in your recipe to accommodate them.
