Blackberries

recovering_spendaholic

I just love blackberries, they are my favourite berry fruit. You could make blackberry and apple crumble, blackberry clafouti (basically a sweet yorkshire pudding mixture poured over blackberries), blackberry gin or vodka, blackberry summer pudding, blackberry sponge pudding, blackberry streusel cake. Blackberries also freeze okay - you need to lay them in a single layer on a flat sheet and open freeze them until solid, before you bag them up. Lucky you - every year I go looking for brambles but never seem to find any.

Pink.

Hi jbbonce,

Like you I still have a lot of jams and jellies left over from last year so I had a quick look on google and found lots of links for recipes using blackberries.

I might even get around to using up the ones in the freezer now before I begin picking them again!

Pink

lynzpower

Why not make some jams and give them to people for Xmas- thats what we are doing with some fancy jars and nice labels etc. I know my gran is going to love it! you might be sick of the sight of them by Xmas lol but others might not!

IM also quite keen on doing strudels with them

You can also make a coulis type thing and freeze it , good hot on top of ice cream, pancakes etc

HappyIdiotTalk

According to a certain River Cottage chap, you can freeze them quite successfully by putting them onto a baking sheet and allowing them to freeze. Then when frozen, transferring to plastic tubs (not to crowded though). Apparently they will be almost, but not quite as good as fresh when defrosted.

Kantankrus_Mare

Freeze some and when and if you also have elderberries...make bramble and elderberry wine..its delicious

[Deleted User]

Right 1 demi john, 1 litre cheap crapo vodka, 2lb blackberries, 1 lb caster sugar and 4 months.

Oh my god. The nicest fruit vodka ever. Strong as anything but smooth enough to sip like a liqueur. Proper nice. If you get it on soon you can leave it and bottle in in Oct/Nov then leave it to mature in the bottle till Christmas. Perfect

(also works with raspberrys and whisky and it is very very nice - and sloes and gin or even dansons and gin next month. I currently have some cherry brandy on now as cherrys are on way out!)

Jacksmummy

I am going blackberry picking shortly not too sure what to do with them when I get them:o

Where I am going picking I have been told there is also Elderberries and I have not a clue what to use these for

I used to go with my mum when I was young she used to make a blackberry pies/crumbles so I know they can be used for that but just wondering if I could use them for anything else so if anyone as any ideas/recipes I would be really greatful

Thanks
Emma

Debt_Free_Chick

Jacksmummy wrote: »

I am going blackberry picking shortly not too sure what to do with them when I get them:o

Pick all the stalky bits, look out for mushy ones and maggots and chuck both away.

Wash them gently. You can leave them to soak in a bowl of cold water - my mum always dissolved a little salt in as it's supposed to encourage any remaining grubs to emerge.

All the bits/detritus will float to the top - skim this off or carefully pour away the water. Drain in a colander.

Where I am going picking I have been told there is also Elderberries and I have not a clue what to use these for

You can make a Hedgerow jelly, which is great for stirring into sauces, casseroles & gravies.

Jams, jellies, crumbles, alcoholic liqueurs ... I'll find a link

vfairbrass

There are some lovely recipes here :

http://shirleygoode.blogspot.com/2007/07/start-day-well.html

and it's worth searching the whole blog for blackberry and elderberry recipes.
Valerie

Debt_Free_Chick

For jam & jelly - pick some of the red under-ripe blackberries as they have a higher pectin level and will help with the setting.