We are excited to be a part of an Amazing event this October celebrating women from our community from all different cultures. Come and be a part of “Virtues of a Woman”. At this event we will be the Women’s International Chai (Tea) Social Event on Saturday, October 6th, 2012. It will be hosted by Odyssey World International Education Services This event will be held at the Center Pointe Building located at 1408 North Washington, Spokane, WA from 11 am-1 pm. The purpose of this event is to enjoy meeting and spending time with Women in our community that are originally from other parts of the world and learn about culture through food, song, poetry, and sharing a cup of tea in order to build understanding and an appreciation for the rich diversity that exists in the Spokane Community.

This event will be exiting for sure for every one that can come and take part. We would like to invite you to come and be a part of this Free event for women. There will be opportunities for getting to meet woman who live in our area from all over the world. There will also be diverse booths to explore and maybe take home something to enjoy later. This is going to be a fun filled event that you will be sure to enjoy and talk about to all your friends. Be sure to come and bring a friend to share this experience.

Most people are aware that strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and many more fruit have been in season or will be shortly, but I know of one fruit that is often overlooked. The mulberry.

In the Inland Northwest mulberries grow very commonly as trees all over neighborhood streets, city parks, and local backyards. They come in a number of varieties, but the most common around here are Asian white mulberries and the native red mulberry. They can sometimes be considered a weed because they grow freely, are disease resistant, and can make quite a mess wherever they grow. However, I think those characteristics are more a benefit to the fruit.

Growing up I have fond memories of playing on our mulberry trees and harvesting the red mulberries in our back yard. Their limbs grow very strong so they make for good climbing trees until the fruit grows. When it was time to harvest (late spring and most of the summer) we would get a couple of old sheets we didn’t need any more. This was a necessity because when squeezed their juice makes a wonderful red/purple dye that is nearly impossible to remove. We would put a sheet under each side of the tree and then gently (or not so gently) shake the tree until the sheets were covered. We could then gather them up and carry them in the house to mom. We inevitably got dyed feet from the fruit already on the ground and had to remember to wipe our feet really good before entering the house so we didn’t ruin the carpets.

Our mom would make wonderful desserts with the mulberries. Mulberries, depending on type, range in how sweet or tart they are (California Rare Fruit Growers). Black mulberries are more tart and better for making pies, but most types are really good for mixing with other fruit in season. Apples and pears are good for mixing with mulberries. More commonly around here I’ve heard a lot of people say they mix them in pies and desserts with rhubarb. They are good in tarts, puddings, pureed as a sauce, or eaten off the tree. Mulberries are high in vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and antioxidants so they offer great nutritional value, too.

Some tips for those interested in mulberries:

• Harvest before any chance of rain or sprinklers going off or they will all be off the tree
• Use sheets that can risk getting dyed by the berry juice
• Wipe your feet before entering a house or apartment after being around a tree. Berry juice will stain carpets and many other surfaces.

Enjoy all summer long!

Try this recipe for a flavorful, healthy way to use some of your mulberries!

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Mulberry-Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

2    bananas
1    c. chilled juice (apple or mango are good)
1    c. yogurt any flavor (strawberry is really tasty)
1½ c. mulberries

Directions:

1.      Rinse mulberries.

2.      Place mulberries, bananas, yogurt, and juice in blender.

3.      Blend on high until well mixed.

4.      Serve immediately and enjoy!