Foraging - Natures Food

Jasper27_2

Any ideas on what to do with blackberries other than jam and crumble? The have grown over from my elderly neighbours garden and he's fine with me having them I just can't think what to do with them

thriftlady_2

Stew them with a bit of sugar and aerve with plain yogurt.

Do the same as above but add apples.

Make apple and blackberry pie/pasties

Make blackberry ice cream, blackberry fool, blackberry trifle, blackberry muffins, blackberry cordial, blackberry cheesecake....

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Jasper27 wrote: »

Any ideas on what to do with blackberries other than jam and crumble? The have grown over from my elderly neighbours garden and he's fine with me having them I just can't think what to do with them

Blackberry gin or vodka is delicous and easy to make and is good for Christmas gifts if decanted into pretty bottles.

1 x 75 cl bottle gin or vodka (tesco value)
450g raspberries
350g sugar

Add all ingredients to a bottle...I used a large kilner jar. Give it a good stir and then stir daily until all the sugar is dissolved. Leave as long as you like to let the taste mature (I usually leave it for at least three months) then strain through muslin and bottle. You can play about with the sugar quantity if you prefer a sweeter or more tart version.

Blackberry jelly is a great base for a sauce to go with duck or freeze the berries until you want to use them in pies, crumbles or for topping deserts and the frozen berries are great to add (straight from the freezer) to smoothies.

There's an earlier thread with more ideas that may help too:

Blackberries

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Money_maker

sweetserendipity wrote: »

I discovered a wild greengage tree along a nearby dog-walking path when I was brambling the other day. I was sooooo excited, never seen one before!! :j But, I'm almost embarrassed to say, I then discovered that a tree just a few metres across from my house is also a wild plum tree!! Been here 3 years & just found that out!! Had noticed it flowered a lot more this year, but never in a million years did I think it was a fruit tree :doh:In my defence, I am new to this foraging business. :rotfl:

Anyway, yesterday we went brambling along the same dog-walking path & I spotted an apple tree (not crab) & some berries that looked like blueberries, but I now believe to be sloes!! :j I don't think the sloes are ripe yet, they looked purple but when I picked them they are hard &, on closer inspection, are green with a purple tinge.

I'm dying to know how your sloe gin works out, ceridwen!! Quite fancy doing the same, or maybe sloe vodka as someone else has mentioned??

Had (the foraged) blackberry crumble for pud tonight, twas delicious!!

Strange, isn't it that its so exciting finding a new fruit bush or tree to forage from. Would love to find a greengage, but think it'll just be cobnuts, blackberries and crab apples I'll find when I go out later this week.

Claire_Bear

sweetserendipity wrote: »

Hello Claire Bear, isn't there a Brambles Farm in Middlesbrough?! You never know, that could be the place to look!! :rotfl:

Hahaha yes, that does sound likely! I've never heard of that before but I'll definately be looking for it now

witchwoopiggy

i have a cob nut tree in my garden can anyone tell me when is it time to pick them and the best way to store them please thank you

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witchwoopiggy wrote: »

i have a cob nut tree in my garden can anyone tell me when is it time to pick them and the best way to store them please thank you

Cobnuts are in season from mid August (now) through to October. You can eat them while they're green or leave them until they turn brown but if you do you risk the squirrels getting to them first. They are best eaten fresh so the best place to keep them is in the fridge in a container without a lid, with absorbent paper such as kitchen roll in the bottom to stop moisture forming and prevent them from going mouldy. If you want to keep them longer they should be removed from the husk and stored in a ventilated container in a cool dark place.

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sweetserendipity

Money_maker wrote: »

Strange, isn't it that its so exciting finding a new fruit bush or tree to forage from. Would love to find a greengage, but think it'll just be cobnuts, blackberries and crab apples I'll find when I go out later this week.

It's amazing what you find when you start looking!! Usually right under your nose, too!!

Have decided that the plum tree at the front of us is actually a greengage as well!! The fruit looked different to the dog-walking path tree (more yellowy) but I think it's just further on in ripeness. Picked a few yesterday & the skin is a bit tart but the flesh is lovely & sweet, just wondering whether I can be bothered to peel them first!!

newleaf

If you are making jam with them, leave the skin on - that's where the pectin hides

buxtonrabbitgreen

I have read the whole thread, and I think what I found today are sloes and crabapples. When Are they ready for picking please. The crabapples are green (unless they are quince)
If it helps all the blackberries are ripe here in the Midlands.