Huckleberries

Have you ever eaten huckleberries? Have you ever seen them? For years, I thought they were a type of blueberry since they look and taste so much alike. But, they’re not.

When I was beginning my teen years, my friend and I would go into the wooded area behind her house and pick them just to eat. I though it was so cool that these berries were just sitting there, no one wanting them, and we could have as many as we desired. Those days are gone since the area behind her house has since become a township park and the wooded area cut back dramatically to accommodate it. Plus, we’ve both since moved away (I returned), married, divorced (in my case), had children, grandchildren and lost access to both of the homes of our childhoods. Things just aren’t the same.

Part of the confusion lies in the fact that huckleberries are called blueberries in some parts of North America. The blue varieties’ look and taste is similar to that of blueberries. Huckleberries also have a red variety, which makes confusing them a bit more difficult. Another difference is that blueberries have many tiny seeds while huckleberries 10 larger seeds that are very noticeable when eating them. I imagine that the red berries resemble cranberries since all three berries belong to the same plant family, Ericaceae.

Whatever you can do with blueberries, you can do with huckleberries, be it jams, syrups, jellies, pies or cobblers. So, don’t hesitate if someone offers to give you some fresh picked huckleberries.These berries are harder to come by in the marketplace since they are not cultivated like blueberries and cranberries. Their rarity makes them a very special treat indeed. (link to HuckleBuckle in the image)

Zucchini, the Wonder Veggie!

We have all heard stories about people's gardens being overrun by proliferate zucchini, not being able even to give it away because everyone else already has an abundance from other family and friends.


We've all either had or made zucchini bread, zucchini fritters, fried zucchini (my favorite), and more recently, grilled zucchini sandwiches or atop pizza. My goal here is to offer some less commonly seen zucchini recipes to help you find new ways to incorporate this healthy veggie into your and your family's diet.

Cheese and Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini Relish

Mock Apple Pie

Mock "Crab" Cakes

Mock "Apple" Cobbler

For other ideas, look back at my eggplant blog. Whatever you can do with eggplant you can do with zucchini.  You will just have slightly different taste and coloring. Try shredding it and adding it to your spaghetti sauce for added thickness and fiber. Slice it and make pickles the same way you would with cucumbers. As you can see, it's one of the most versatile vegetables on the planet!