Tag Archive for Mary Lou McNabb Alabama Master Gardener of the Year Award

Blueberry Picking with Alabama’s First Master Gardener – Mary Lou McNabb

What a perfect day to pick blueberries!  Normally, the temperatures are in the mid 90’s (or higher!) during July in Alabama.  The outside temperature today was in the blissful mid 80’s.  Hallelujah, we got a repreive from the summer heat!  I celebrated by blueberry picking at MaryMac Farm. This farm is located in a beautiful valley in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, just outside of the Huntsville, Alabama city limits.

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MARYMAC FARM

Robert and Mary Lou McNabb are the owners.  What kind and hard-working people!  Mary Lou has the distinction of being the very first Master Gardener in the State of Alabama.  She brought her Master Gardener knowledge from New York State to Alabama in 1981.  Due to her deep devotion to this program, an award in her name is given out each year in Alabama.  A deserving candidate wins the Mary Lou McNabb Alabama Master Gardener of the Year Award.  I asked Robert McNabb if he too was a Master Gardener.  He smiled and chuckled, “Well, technically no, but I help my wife a lot with her Master Gardner duties.”

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MARY LOU AND ROBERT MCNABB

For those of you who are not familiar with the Master Gardener Program, it is a program of trained volunteers who share the love and knowledge of gardening.  It is in all 50 states and most counties.  My sister-in-law, Ann Drzewiecki is a Master Gardener in New London, Wisconsin.  Some of the programs staffed by Master Gardeners are school/youth garden activities, plant demonstration gardens, writing gardening articles, horticulture therapy, assisting at garden shows and more.

Here is a delicious recipe for blueberries from the GEORGIA BLUEBERRY COMMISSION.  Their website is www.GeorgiaBlueberry.com

(Shhh, don’t tell anyone but I substituted Alabama blueberries…I did not have time to drive to Georgia to pick berries today.  I also subbed Bibb lettuce from my container garden for the Romaine lettuce because it was ripe for the picking.)

Georgia Blueberry and Mandarin Orange Salad with Toasted Pecans

Ingredients:

1 head romaine lettuce

1 cup blueberries

1/2 cup mandarin orange segments

1 cup pecans*

1 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted*

Red onion cut into rings

Blueberry vinaigrette (Recipe follows)

Pinch of salt

Directions:

Chop lettuce.  Mix with Georgia blueberries, orange segments, onion, and toasted pecans.  Pour vinaigrette over salad and toss.

GEORGIA BLUEBERRY VINAIGRETTE

1 cup Georgia blueberries

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/8 cup sugar

2 Tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice

Place Georgia blueberries, balsamic vinegar, sugar, and orange juice into blender.  Blend until smooth, streaming in the olive oil while the blender is running.  Continue blending until emulsified.

*Tip on how to toast the pecans:  Put the butter and pecans in a micrwaveable dish.  Microwave on High for about two minutes:  Start for thirty seconds, stop, stir.  Repeat about four times.  I knew my pecans were toasted to perfection when my hubby stepped in the kitchen, inhaled deeply and said, “What is that great aroma wafting around the kitchen!”

Tip from the McNabbs:  Blueberries can keep in the freezer for two years

Here is a picture of Georgia Blueberry and Mandarin Orange Salad with Toasted Pecans!

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