Brandon Farms (www.brandonfarmsmarket.com) on Hwy 60 in Valrico, FL, has been a favorite destination of my family since we moved to Valrico in 1985.
When our parents visited during strawberry season, we would treat them to strawberry shortcake at Brandon Farms. Our children always looked forward to our Brandon Farms ritual. Their produce market sells the strawberries that are fresh picked from the fields in back. Enjoying their strawberry shortcake while sitting outside and overlooking the strawberry field is a pure delight. Simple pleasures. That’s what makes life special and meaningful.
Mr. Eddie Jones had a dream. He wanted to grow strawberries, the best strawberries. He wanted to make those best strawberries available to the public. In 1978, Brandon Farms was born. The meager beginnings included two saw horses and a piece of plywood which he sat up on Hwy 60 in Valrico. Mr. Jones was committed to doing nice things for people. In addition to providing strawberries and the perfect venue to enjoy strawberry shortcake, he would sometimes plant sunflowers in the fields during off-season. Just because he thought it was a nice thing to do. That’s the kind of goodness that warms my heart. That’s what “Syrup and Biscuits” is all about. Finding goodness in people, memories and food.
I never got to meet Mr. Jones before he passed away August 11, 2009 just one day after his 62nd birthday. But, thanks to Mr. Jones and his commitment to doing good, he will forever be a part of one of our family traditions. Today, the tradition continues. Today, I had my first shortcake of the season at Brandon Farms. But, today the tradition has extra meaning. This is the first time I’ve shared the tradition with the fourth generation. Because of Mr. Eddie Jones and his dream, the strawberries never tasted sweeter than they did today.
Jackson and Ella anxiously awaiting the commencement of Strawberry Shortcake eating.
We need more!
Thank you, Eddie Jones! (August 10, 1947 – August 11, 2009)
Y’all come see us.
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Strawberry Shortcake
There’s a variety of options for the shortcake part of Strawberry Shortcake. Some people prefer pound cakes or sponge cake over traditional shortcakes. I love this recipe that I adapted from Bisquick.
Mix all ingredients for shortcake. Place on a baking sheet. I used a standard size ice cream scoop to have uniform sizes for the shortcakes. This recipe make 14 shortcakes for me.
Bake at 424 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool. You will probably only need about 6 shortcakes for the amount of strawberries and whipped cream in this recipe. These shortcakes freeze well.
Start with Brandon Farms “Treasure” Strawberries. Aren’t these just gorgeous?
Wash, hull and slice. Add 1/2 cup sugar.
Mash up a few of the berries so they will make more of a sauce. I use a potato masher and smoosh them three or four times.
Pour whipping cream in a bowl and whip.
Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Don’t over beat or you will wind up with sweetened, vanilla flavored butter.
Split cooled shortcakes.
Top with strawberries and syrup.
Add whipped cream, drizzle on some syrup. Enjoy!
For shortcakes:
4 2/3 cup baking mix ( I use Bisquick)
1 1/3 cup buttermilk
4 tbsp. sugar
6 tbsp melted butter
Bake at 425 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to cooling rack.
For strawberries:
1 quart washed, hulled and sliced strawberries.
1/2 cup sugar.
Mix together and mash up some of the berries. Let sit for at least 30 minutes
For whipped topping:
1/2 pint whipping cream
1 tbsp. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Whip cream. Add sugar and vanilla. Don’t overbeat.
To assemble:
Split shortcakes. Add strawberries and syrup. Top with whipped cream. Drizzle on some syrup.
Yumm Yumm! The strawberry shortcake doesn’t look bad either. I could just eat them both up. Papa
Dear Papa,
You already ate up the strawberry shortcake. I have first dibs on eating up Jackson and Ella.
Love,
Nana
Sweet story! And now, my mouth is watering! 🙂
Gail,
So glad you liked the post. You should give the shortcake recipe a try. It’s really good!
Ha Ha! You two are funny! I like Jackson’s litle face in the first picture!
We enjoyed our shortcakes a lot!! We are plum out of strawberries and sauce. I may have to take a trip back out to the farm this week for more berries to go with my frozen shortcakes….darn it!
I only have one pint left myself so I will need some more soon, too.
Thank you for the wonderful story. Jackson and Ella are the perfect shortcake models and I’m sure will continue to be so for many years to come. Could go for some of that shortcake right now matter of fact!!!
Danny,
So glad you like the story. Yes, Jackson and Ella make good models for any situation! Wish you had some of this shortcake. It’s sho ’nuff good!
So happy to meet another Florida Food Blogger!! I live over on the southeast coast. 🙂
Hi Denise! Thank you so much for reading my post. I’m in the Tampa area. I will look up your blog and leave you a comment.
Lovely post and story. Congratulations!
Thanks so much, Chris. I hope you come back to visit often!
Jackie
Eddie Jones was my uncle. He loved the land and loved his berry fields. His daughter, Trenda, passed away on my birthday last year. This March 4th, will be one year ago.
I remember avoiding going there when some family members were there…they’d put me to work! ROFL!!!
We just love Brandon Farms and I love your uncle without ever meeting him. I know the story of his daughter dying at such a young age shortly after him.
what a great story – (I am just now finding your website) – I made Mama’s pound cake this weekend and had fresh strawberries and whipped cream – heavenly!! P.S. – my grandaddy had a cane press and when I was a kid we used to go over there and squeeze cane juice (my dad had planted sugarcane) but we didn’t make the syrup – but my daddy did when he was a boy – good stuff – grandma’s biscuits and cane syrup1!!
Dear Nana Ann,
It seems we have a lot in common! Please come back and visit us again. I have lots more stories in my back pocket!
The trip looks so fun, and the berries amazing! I love it that he wanted to be the best and made his dream a reality! This is a beautiful recipe. Nothing more wonderful than perfectly sweet summer berries!
SweetSugarBelle,
Brandon Farms will always have a special place in my heart. And, yes, nothing compares to sweet berries!
What a wonderful story, Jackie! Heartwarming as usual 🙂 And I love the beautiful simplicity of the Strawberry Shortcake, too! To me real shortcakes taste at least a hundred times better than those ole spongecake thingies in a package! Thank you! 🙂
Michele,
I”m with you on the shortcakes. Mine are really easy to make and really taste better than the grocery store shells. 🙂