"Fresh" Raspberries

This morning the kids and I walked to the bank to pick up our passports for our trip to Canada this weekend.

Next door to the bank is a Save-A-Lot grocery store. As it was beastly hot outside I thought we'd step inside there on the way home to see if there were any cold sodas.

While walking past the produce aisle I spotted some red jewels! Fresh raspberries! Well as fresh as they can be having been picked some time ago and then delivered to the store - but at least they were not frozen. The best part was the price - two little containers for $3.00. Cheapest price for raspberries I've probably ever seen around here.

The girl and I each bought a package. The first package was eaten "raw". The second package was sprinkled on tapioca pudding (we love it on tapioca but have always just used frozen ones before).

Biting into my first raspberry transported me back to Nixon Lake, Ontario... Picking your own berries straight off the bush is best of course, but beggars can't be choosers - so Save-A-Lot berries will have to suffice.

I remember picking raspberries and having to look closely inside each hollow center to make sure there wasn't a little wiggly worm tucked inside...

Porridge and Raspberries

I actually stole this idea from someone else. It was a tip I came across one time and if I knew who posted it, I would give proper credit - b/c I think it's a great idea.

To cool off hot porridge / hot oatmeal for children - throw in some frozen fruit. Blueberries and raspberries work best. It adds some fruity flavor while making it cool enough for a little one to eat it.

Now all that being said - my kids don't do that. Dd loves raspberries, but hates porridge, ds loves porridge but I doubt he'd want any fruit in his at all. So really I am the one that does it all the time. Not because I'm a sissy and can't eat hot porridge - but b/c I think it tastes WONDERFUL! I love raspberries any way, any time - but this makes some boring hot cereal taste better, more colorful, and if you add enough of it - you can get in some extra serving of fruit for the day.