All Around the Mulberry Bush...

Genetics have blessed me with an inability to allow things to go to waste. It's only getting worse. Its quite concerning honestly. I once saved grapefruit peels because I knew you could candy them. Why would anyone want a candied grapefruit peel, you ask? They wouldn't. Literally no one would want them, but I held onto those peels (from grapefruits I got for free mind you) because I just couldn't let them go to waste! What does that have to do with Mulberries? Not much, other than the fact that when passing by a tree laden with juicy purple berries, I couldn't help but wonder why everyone always lets those things go to the birds! After a simple google search, I realized there was no rhyme or reason for it, other than mulberries being difficult to store. Otherwise, they're delightful little berries!

Mulberry trees are so common in my hometown. My grandma has a huge one in her own backyard! But she's 2 1/2 hours away, so I resorted to picking with my fiance, Frankie, at the Ohio State Waterman Farm (where he works). So here's what you need to know before you go picking:

1. Mulberry-Morus rubra. (I had to include this. The plant people I work with are getting to me haha)

2. Mulberries are the picture of health in a berry- They're a good source of minerals like potassium, manganese, and magnesium, and an excellent source of iron. They're rich in B-complex group of vitamins and vitamin K. The list goes on. Check it out --> http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/mulberries.html

3. Peak season is May through August.

4. Mulberries spoil rather quickly. They will get moldy quickly & nobody likes moldy berries. Store them in a sealed container in the fridge for ~ 3 days. P.S. This is why you rarely find them in stores.

So what the heck do I do with these berries? Eat them! In cakes, cookies and muffins. On ice cream, oatmeal, or cereal. Make jams, smoothies, or sprinkle in yogurt. OR make Almond Lemon Cheesecake with Mulberry Sauce. Do it. I dare you.

I don't have a lot of pictures to go along with mine because I got in a fight with Frankie's camera.. and well, you can guess who won. I took a few after pictures once he got home and put that thing in its place.




 (Insert Jeopardy Music Here)






You're probably wondering where the recipe is, huh? Well I'm not telling! This recipe will stay in my vault til I can perfect it.. and then I'll share it with you, at a cost of $3 per cheesecake bite, or something like that. Sorry guys, but if I shared every kitchen break through I had, ya'll would own the bakery, and I would be fat and broke, and that's not okay. But I encourage you to branch out and try your own recipe! Don't let the fruitfulness of summer go to waste.. It's far too tasty. Happy baking!