Fresh-picked strawberries!

My friend A. asked if we'd like to go to a nearby farm for strawberry picking Monday. So we loaded up Chickie, Zoodle, and her two kids, and took a drive. First we went to a renowned cafe for some delicious home-style cookin'. (Chicken fried steak, anyone?)

Chickie is two days older than E., and they have become good friends. In fact, apparently one of them proposed to the other one. (Who did the asking isn't clear, but they have both told us they plan to get married to each other. Chickie is happy with this arrangement, as the other boys she's wanted to marry haven't been too interested.)



By the way, Chickie and E. first met each other when they were five months old. Here they are, at Starbucks together.



I don't have any pictures of the strawberry picking since I accidentally left my camera in the car, but I was able to grab it afterward. Zoodle enjoyed a strawberry frozen pop made with strawberries picked right there (mmm!)...



...while Chickie preferred a mass-produced lollipop.



Between the strawberry picking (more like strawberry squishing for Zoodle) and the frozen treat, my little guy was red, sticky, and happy.



Next the kids got to feed some goats.





How could you say no to this face?



After that, we met the miniature donkeys at the farm, including a 2-week-old baby donkey! (What's the correct term for a baby donkey? Foal? Donklet?)



And we said hello to some beautiful horses.



Chickie and Zoodle got friendly with a ladybug...



...and then Chickie continued her friendliness, with a caterpillar.





At home, we ate strawberries. Lots of strawberries--by themselves, and in salad. For dessert, I wanted to make some strawberry shortcake. I remembered bookmarking this recipe for Hot Milk Cake from the blog Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. It's a recipe with deliciously simple ingredients, and it looked like it would be great for strawberry shortcake.

Unfortunately, I didn't grease the pan very well.



Oops.

But remember when Mama always said that even broken cookies still taste just as good? (Well, at least my mama said that.) She was right, and it applies to hot milk cake too. In fact, smother it with fresh-picked strawberries and whipped cream, and it even looks good.



My husband, who isn't a huge fan of most cakes, ate two servings of strawberry shortcake and one additional serving of hot milk cake by itself. It was that good. (You should make it; you probably already have all the ingredients.)

Silly me, though, I forgot to read my Saturday blog post to Zoodle, so he didn't know I'd requested a boring, fever-free week. He ended up with hives and a low fever. I think the poor kiddo probably has a mild strawberry allergy. Or it could be the antibiotic he was on. We'll stay away from both potential culprits for now!

Zoodle was fine yesterday. Instead of strawberry shortcake last night, he had a modified version with frozen mixed berries.

Strawberry pickin' made for a long day, but a fun one!