Smoke-Chem BBQ
Smoking Fanatic
It's Huckleberry season in the northwest! Much like the great morel mushroom rush that occurs every spring, the hills are now alive with huckleberry pickers, humans and bears alike.
There are a few huckleberry species that grow in North America, but the northwest huckleberry seems to be the most sought-after--purple gold! Range is limited to elevations between about 4,000 and 10,000 feet, in the far northern part of Idaho, northwest Montana, and northeast Washington, plus British Columbia. The berry has never been successfully cultivated.
Last year I finally found some good terrain for the berries, about 90 minutes from home (half driving, half hiking). It's not a secret patch known only to me, but there does seem to be a limited number of people who know about it. Picking is slow going, as the terrain is usually challenging, and the berries grow as singletons well spread over the bush. I'm doing well if I can get a pint an hour.
But the search does take one to some beautiful country! The moose was a surprise, as I was several thousand feet above the nearest stream. I did NOT intend to get that close, but fortunately she wasn't in a stomping mood, so I was able to get a couple of pictures while respectfully backing away. I completely forgot to take pictures while making the jam, but it's basically a recipe for blueberry jam; 4 cups lightly mashed berries, sugar, a bit of lemon juice, and pectin. I use the jam setting in a bread maker to handle the mixing and cooking. I did remember to get a plated shot, before this morning's English muffin was completely gone.
There are a few huckleberry species that grow in North America, but the northwest huckleberry seems to be the most sought-after--purple gold! Range is limited to elevations between about 4,000 and 10,000 feet, in the far northern part of Idaho, northwest Montana, and northeast Washington, plus British Columbia. The berry has never been successfully cultivated.
Last year I finally found some good terrain for the berries, about 90 minutes from home (half driving, half hiking). It's not a secret patch known only to me, but there does seem to be a limited number of people who know about it. Picking is slow going, as the terrain is usually challenging, and the berries grow as singletons well spread over the bush. I'm doing well if I can get a pint an hour.
But the search does take one to some beautiful country! The moose was a surprise, as I was several thousand feet above the nearest stream. I did NOT intend to get that close, but fortunately she wasn't in a stomping mood, so I was able to get a couple of pictures while respectfully backing away. I completely forgot to take pictures while making the jam, but it's basically a recipe for blueberry jam; 4 cups lightly mashed berries, sugar, a bit of lemon juice, and pectin. I use the jam setting in a bread maker to handle the mixing and cooking. I did remember to get a plated shot, before this morning's English muffin was completely gone.
