Monday, July 18, 2011

Olallieberry Semifreddo



On July fourth weekend, some of my friends and I piled into our cars and sat through stop-and-go traffic on a windy and woodsy, two-lane road over the Santa Cruz Mountains and out to the coast.  It was traffic on this stretch of highway as I've never seen it before--bumper to bumper-- everyone in a rush to the ocean and the beach.  But we had slightly different plans.  We were in a rush, too, but we were in a rush to get to the coastal olallieberry fields, which sit on the cliffs that run right alongside the Pacific Ocean.  Tis the season of the olallieberry harvest!


Long time readers of this blog will already know that I am a self-proclaimed (and proud) olallieberry addict.  (Olallieberries are a cross between raspberries and blackberries several generations down.)  I hoard olallieberries.  Come season, I stuff pounds upon pounds of fresh olallieberries into the freezer (much to the dismay of my former roommate--but no, that is not the reason she's now a former roommate), just so that I can have olallieberries all year 'round, whenever I very well please.  Trust me, if you ever get your hands on these sweet, not-so-seedy berries, you should hoard some in your freezer, too.

[click on photo for larger image]

So here I am now, with a fresh new batch of frozen olallieberries, and it's time to use up and clean out what's left of last year's stash in the form of an olallieberry semifreddo.  This semifreddo is so creamy and rich, so packed with crushed olallieberries that it turns wonderfully bright pink, and oh so cold--perfect for the warm summer afternoons when the beach is just a little too far away.  It's also quick to whip up (hehe--literally!), since no ice cream machine churning is necessary--just make and freeze and wait.  The waiting is the hardest part.  I think I ate a good portion of the cream before it even made it into the freezer.


I have so many more plans for my little olallieberries, sleeping in the freezer.  Like the almond cakes that are baking in the oven right now, with olallieberries nestled inside.  But if you can't find olallieberries, blackberries could do just as nicely.  Or loganberries (a predecessor to olallies), or marionberries (I hear those are fantastic).  Heck, any berries, really.  Bonus points if you pick them yourself!



Read on for recipe....




Olallieberry Semifreddo
adapted from Donna Hay Magazine
makes enough for 6+, depending on portion size

3 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/2 tspn vanilla extract
1 cup (200 gr) sugar
500 gr frozen olallieberries, slightly thawed with juices
1 3/4 cups heavy cream

1. In a double boiler over a pan of simmering water, whisk together the eggs, additional egg yolks, vanilla extract, and sugar. Continue to whisk for 5-7 minutes until heated, pale, and very thick. Remove from heat and whisk briefly to cool.
2. Lightly crush the olallieberries with a whisk. Fold the crushed berries and their juices into the egg mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks. Be careful not to overwhip. Fold the olallieberry and egg mixture into the cream just until combined. Spoon into individual serving dishes and freeze until solid.

Note: I highly recommended using frozen berries because the freezing and thawing process causes them to release their juices.

Note: If you can't find olallieberries, blackberries, raspberries, marionberries, etc. would all work very well in this recipe.




Enjoy!

20 comments:

  1. this is the first i've ever heard of olallieberries!  what a fun treat though...and i'm going to keep my eyes out for some that are grown locally ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never heard of olallieberries either.  But, this photos and article here were both beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your other olallieberry recipes are still pretty vivid in my mind. This is another winner!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This looks so good! I love Donna Hay magazine, too. Great pics! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aha! I've always wondered what your olallieberries would taste like and now you've cleared it up for me - my grandma used to grow loganberries! Life makes sense. 

    (The semifreddo looks delicious too.)

    ReplyDelete
  6. i've never heard of olallieberries until now, but they sound delicious! i live right next door to santa cruz, so i think i may need to take a trip over there to find these berries!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your photos make me want to go outside!  They're beautiful!  I also love the color of this semifreddo, I've got to try this! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Olallieberries are my FAVORITE!!! Where in the Santa Cruz mountains is this wonderful farm?? I'd love to go there!!! 

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have never tried an olallieberry! I wish we had some near us as that color pink is just dazzling! Your photos are so beautiful. I want to step into that field and eat some of those berries!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful glasses. I want some. Where did you get them?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you so much, everyone!

    For those asking, the farm is Swanton Berry Farms, along Highway 1: http://www.swantonberryfarm.com/pages/u_picks.html

    @ Charles Johnston: I got these glasses at anthropologie.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would like to subscribe to the magazine this is in. Thanks. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are the most gorgeous photos! Wonderful post.

    ReplyDelete
  14. what a wonderful day out! I got so jealous since we are deep in winter here in Melbourne! Love the post!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wooww!! Just came across your blog! fantastic food photography :)

    Check out my blog at la-roquette.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'd never heard of olallieberries before reading this post but I want some - they sound delicious! Gorgeous photos too - loving this blog :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. People are always intrigued when I post a recipe aboutt olallieberries on my blog.  Fortunately, we have grow our on in our Salinas Valley backyard.  Still, I drive to Gizdich Ranch and stock  up on more to freeze, so we can eat them year round. I make jam, pancakes, crisps, pies and ice cream...but semi-freddo!  That's a brilliant recipe! I'm so making this. My husband will love it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. @Foodiewife: I'm so happy to find someone who loves olallieberries as much as I do--you don't know how jealous I am that you have some growing in your own back yard.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Where do you go to pick them? I live in the Monterey area and I absolutely love olallieberries, I'd love a pick your own farm!

    ReplyDelete
  20. My Mom grew up near Santa Cruz and is OBSESSED with olallieberries. I've never actually had a fresh olallieberrie....but we have enough olallieberry wine to last a decade!

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from you and reading your comments! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. Happy feasting!