The Lazy Hazy Days of Summer

Our strawberry patch did not produce very well this year (old plants and lots of weeds) so we went to nearby farm to pick these.

It's best to pick your berries in the morning...

...because you still have to clean them when you get home.

This is best done outdoors in the shade.  You should set up your work area so that you have to move your hands very little, ideally in a line parallel to your shoulders.  Marja has set up her work area in a suboptimal orientation which requires her to reach for a berry.

The old pro, on the other hand, has set his containers in a line so that the hands  simply pivot outward from the elbow.  The right hand picks up the strawberry , the left hand snips off cap with a knife, both hands move outward - the left dropping the snipped cap into the bowl while the right drops the clean berry into the pail.  The hands move in a balanced motion out and back like clapping in slow motion minimizing stress on the upper back and neck.  Granted, if you are only cleaning 8 or 9 quarts of berries like we are doing here, you could do it standing on your head, but if you have to process a large amount by yourself you need to analyze every motion so that it flows like a well-choreographed dance.   It's all about applying the Lean principles used in manufacturing.

Here's the way to make the best cake in the world.  First make a regular cake in a pan.  Cut it in half when it has cooled.  Pour orange juice over one layer to moisten it.  Lay a thick layer of sliced strawberries over it. 

 Lay a heavy layer of whipped cream (very lightly sweetened with powdered sugar) over the strawberries.  Use real whipping cream.  Don't use any phony substitutes.  If you don't know how to whip cream, look on Youtube or just figure it out.  It ain't rocket science.

Place the other half of the cake on top of the first.  Moisten it with orange juice also.  (Don't be stringy with the juice, the cake will soak it up like a sponge.)  Cover the top layer and the sides of the cake with whipping cream.  Cover the top of the cake with strawberries.  Once you've made a few of these cakes you can add other fruits, but stick with strawberries for starters.  You don't want to mix up too many tastes.  Keep it simple.  Your tastebuds will thank you.

Lastly, put the cake in the refrigerator for a few hours until it is well-chilled through and through.  Then take it out, cut yourself a man-sized piece and enjoy it with strong black coffee.

Now that you know how to make the best cake in the world, there is no reason for you to ever make any other kind.  Frankly, I can't imagine you would ever want to eat any other kind.

Our pond was made for hot days.