Growing up we spent many a Summer day picking strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Aside from berry picking making me nostalgic for my childhood, I love to have access to loads of fresh fruit on a daily basis. I think if I could only eat one food the rest of my life, it just might be some type of berry.

One sunny morning this week, I made the hour long drive out to Carnation to Harvold's. The sky was blue, the air was fragrant with the sweet smell of berries and the sun was shining. One thing I particularly like about Harvold's is how they are a no frills berry picking farm, meaning they don't try to be a tourist destination and don't offer anything other than u-pick berries.

After I had picked twenty one pounds of delicious red berries I piled them into my car and happily drove home scheming up what I was going to make with them. On the drive home, I decided a strawberry cream pie was in order and later that evening I created this simple pie.

Another one of my favorite things to make with fresh berries is an Old Fashion Berry Cake.

Ingredients:

1 graham cracker crust

8 ounces of cream cheese

2 cups of heavy whipping cream

1 cup confectioner's sugar

4 cups of fresh strawberries

1 cup water

3 tablespoons cornstartch

For the filling:

With a hand mixer combine 8 ounces of cream cheese with 1 cup of confectioner's sugar. Once this has thoroughly mixed, whip two cups of heavy whipping cream and then fold into cream cheese mixture.

For topping:

Slice two cups of fresh berries and arrange them on top of cream cheese filling. On the stove boil one cup water with three tablespoons of cornstarch. Mash two cups of fresh berries, add to boiling water and cook for five minutes. Let cool and then drizzle over the top of the fresh berries.

A simple, easy dessert to make when you have an abundance of fresh berries.

A look back at Strawberry and blueberry picking last year, a visit to the Strawberry Festival on Vashon Island and comprehensive list of where to pick blueberries later this Summer in WA state.