Today's finds

[herveus]

Thanks to events elsewhere, about which I will not bore my readers, I was not tied up with Highland River Melees and was thus able to offer the use of our pavilions to the Strawberry Festival at Adelphi Friends Meeting.

The person in charge of setup said that he'd be there at 0700. I arrived at 0705 to find no one yet present. On the other hand, I knew where to put the tents so setup commenced. Constructive help showed up and was put to work helping with the stake driving. The public erections having completed, I helped with other setup and setting out of stuff to sell. The Strawberry Festival sells fresh strawberries plus used books, clothing, and White Elephant goods.

Once things got under way, I got some lunch and strawberries and crashed. I managed most of three hours of nap.

Once I got moving again, I found sister_devora and pedro_padrao about. I expected that they would show up at some point. It turns out that one of their astronomy friends is also a member of the meeting.

Among the used books was one whose spine said "Medieval Combat'. Naturally, I investigated and picked up a copy of Mark Rectors translation of Talhoffer. I could not let that go, even if I'm not actively into historical combat.

Twelve quarts of berries made their way home as well. I have six quart bags of washed and hulled berries in the freezer, two more quarts sliced and sugared, and four pounds in the pot turning into secanjabin. The rest got eaten straight, or turned into puree or smoothee. Nom. Oh, and a pan of gingerbread from the bake sale.

I'm pleasantly worn out from the days exertion. The Nats putting a beating on the Mets (and John Lannan pitching a complete game) doesn't hurt.

Comments

[ubiq31.livejournal.com]

I love reading about your sekanjabin exploits...that sounds like it'll be quite nice :)

I have some mint I need to use up and should have some chocolate mint and lemon balm coming along soon...

[herveus.livejournal.com]

I'll be updating the secanjabin post (and bubbling it to the top) once I bottle the five liters of syrup or so. It's simply more of the strawberry with balsamic vinegar stuff. Given that the berries remain in the syrup, it may be closer to six liters.

[ubiq31.livejournal.com]

...I haven't seen that, yet...I mean, I've seen cinnamon sticks left in the syrup, but come to think of it, I haven't seen anyone even leave their mint leaves in. Leaving the strawberry pieces in...do they just keep fine? I hadn't even thought of that...

If you'll be at Pennsic, I'll have to visit...and if not, I'll have to visit some event sometime anyway, to try this ;)

[herveus.livejournal.com]

After I put the strawberries in, I bring it back to a boil for a few minutes. Then I just let it cool down. It's really runny preserves without any pectin.

When you drain the syrup off the berries, you have little sugar bombs. Yummy on yogurt or ice cream. Or just eaten straight. They keep fine in the jug.

We'll be at Pennsic, at 133 Plunder Lane. I'll have syrup of this, that, and the other thing with me.

[suba-al-hadid.livejournal.com]

Nom! Am I going to be a pest if I show up at your merchant booth sometime just to see what you have to eat that I might taste?

[bronx-baroness.livejournal.com]

Oh you just know I'll be visiting you at Pennsic! The strawberry sekanjiban sounds oh so yummy!