A Taste of Oregon’s Fruit Loop

Some recipes begin in the kitchen.

This one began with a friendship.

My dear friend Christine Cameron recently asked if I would create a Shetland Sheepdog illustration to donate to a specialty show she’ll soon be judging. I’d never illustrated a Sheltie before, but one happy “yes” led to another. Christine shared the finished artwork with a friend Denese, on the show committee, who was delighted that the sable dog looked just like one of her own beloved Shelties.

Funny how inspiration works.

One conversation leads to another, one new friend introduces another story, and before long those two little Shelties had wandered from my drawing board into an Oregon meadow beneath the snow-capped slopes of Mt. Hood.

It reminded me so much of one of our favorite late-summer traditions.

Whenever we can, Steve and I head east through the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge toward Hood River. Waterfalls tumble from the cliffs, sailboats dance across the Columbia, and every bend in the road seems to reveal another postcard view. After lunch in Hood River, we continue on to one of Oregon’s best-loved scenic drives—the Fruit Loop.

The 35-mile route circles Mt. Hood through orchards, vineyards, lavender fields, and family farms. We rarely make it around the mountain without stopping more times than we planned. One stand has the sweetest pears, another the juiciest cherries, another the freshest eggs, and somehow there’s always room in the car for one more bag of Oregon hazelnuts.

That beautiful drive inspired this Oregon Harvest Charcuterie Bowl.

Every bite celebrates some of our favorite Pacific Northwest flavors—crisp Hood River pears, toasted Oregon hazelnuts, rich Tillamook® Extra Sharp Cheddar, artisan Olympia Provisions® salami, sweet Oregon blueberries, tart cranberries, and a silky marionberry vinaigrette finished with a pinch of Jacobsen Sea Salt from the Oregon Coast.

Marionberries are one of Oregon’s sweetest treasures and give the dressing its signature flavor. If you don’t have marionberry preserves, seedless blackberry preserves make a wonderful substitute while keeping the spirit of the recipe beautifully intact.

I never imagined that one simple request to paint a Sheltie would become a celebration of Oregon, new friendships, and one of our favorite road trips. Looking back, it seems perfectly fitting.

After all, the Fruit Loop isn’t just about the destination……It’s about discovering the little treasures waiting around every bend.

WHAT’S LOCAL IN THIS RECIPE?

Hood River Pears – Grown along Oregon’s famous Fruit Loop.

Oregon Hazelnuts – Nearly all U.S. hazelnuts are grown right here in Oregon.

Tillamook Cheese – Crafted on the Oregon Coast for over a century.

Olympia Provisions – Artisan European-style cured meats made in Portland.

Marionberries – Oregon’s signature blackberry, prized for its rich sweet-tart flavor.

Jacobsen Sea Salt – Hand-harvested from the cold waters of the Oregon Coast.

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – One of the world’s premier Pinot Noir regions.

Craft Beer Galore! – One of the country’s top craft beer destinations

---