It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

Fairie

Hi all

De-lurking to ask a question with regards to making gin etc from different berries etc.

Does it matter how cheap the bottle of gin/ vodka is to begin with? We drink very rarely and are being careful with money (is'nt everyone!). I'd like to make some blackberry gin and also vodka for christmas presents (and maybe a bottle or two for us) but dont really want to buy bottles more expensive than I need to make it taste nice.

was thinking of supermarket own brands as I'm guessing the berries alter the taste - I would'nt buy these to drink neat as you can tell the diffence.

Any help would be gratefully recieved.

Also I tried sloe gin at a party a couple of years ago and it was lovelly - would love to make some but I have no idea what on earth im looking for or the best place to look for some. Not knowing anybody locally that would be able to help identify - how could i double check that what i'm foraging is edible ? (as I said we're trying to be careful with money)

Hope that all makes sense - I'm in a little bit of a rush before OH gets home.

Thanks

Fairie

ceridwen

elisamoose wrote: »

All this talk of cookers has shamed me in to cleaning it. Only OS in as much as I have in the past paid someone else to do it and this time I am doing myself. I have over the last few years tried all sorts and am using oven pride with the bag as it has worked ok in the past.It is still elbow grease and lashings of hot water that really do it though. I hate it !
May need to reward myself with chocolate later!

I tried the hint on here recently about how to clean the inside of my cooker - as in leaving a container (large casserole dish it was) full of water in the oven whilst it was on for 30 minutes or so and spreading a "paste" of bicarbonate of soda and water on all internal surfaces. Tries to recall the order I did that in now:cool: - but guess it musta been paste first and heating up water to "loosen dirt" second???

Result was = it worked:D

That was a relatively trouble-free way of doing that and no nasty chemicals - so got the details noted in my records for future reference.:T

EDIT: ...and Kittie - my reading to date about fermented foods boils down to A Very Good Idea...just frustrated at not having more time/space personally to put that into practice.

diamond_sky

Fairie wrote: »

Hi all

De-lurking to ask a question with regards to making gin etc from different berries etc.

Does it matter how cheap the bottle of gin/ vodka is to begin with? We drink very rarely and are being careful with money (is'nt everyone!). I'd like to make some blackberry gin and also vodka for christmas presents (and maybe a bottle or two for us) but dont really want to buy bottles more expensive than I need to make it taste nice.

was thinking of supermarket own brands as I'm guessing the berries alter the taste - I would'nt buy these to drink neat as you can tell the diffence.

Use the cheapest! as you say you're adding fruit & sugar so using expensive booze would be a waste. I made cranberry vodka & blackberry whisky using Sainsburys Basics....well lets just say they didn't last long :beer:

Mrs_Chip

Hi Fairie

I often make these whilst away on holiday in Cornwall - where we go the fields are full of sloes and blackberries.

Sloes look like blueberries (more round though) and the bushes have vicious long thorns (it is aka the Blackthorn ). If you nibble one it will make your mouth pucker up, they are so full of tanin.

I get a 5ltr water bottle , pr!ck the berries and bung them in. You add sugar to taste, the more you as the more liqueur like the result will be - anything from 50% - 100% sugar to berries. I add any old cheap gin, I have never noticed the difference. Again, how much you add is up to you, I try to cover to the same depth again. Shake every day for a couple of months, keep in the dark.

I do similar with blackberries, but usually use vodka for that.

Fairie

Thanks for the info.... will now be off to
A - pick more blackberries as they are at various stages of ripeness here, and B - find some cheap booze.

While its 'pickling' does it need to be a glass container or could i use an old plastic pop bottle do you think as i know i have a couple of those hanging around for cold drinks?

Shall have a look for sloe's - where would they be likely to be hiding? I know that various plants like to hide in certain areas/ heights/ plant types.

Am also going back to lurking.... I may pop back up but the thread moves so quick i can never keep up and it takes all my time to read it. Appreciate all the tips and stories though...:D

Fairie

ginnyknit

Took Dgs for a drive in the country today to take his mind off his nasty teeth. We fell upon a little play ground and spent half an hour with him trying to run round, he hasn't quite got running sorted yet. On the way out I saw ...an apple tree! only tiny apples but lovely and ripe. A lady who was passing told me there were plums in the driveway (we didnt notice due to sharp turn in) so I went and picked about 2 lb of sweet yellow plums. there were tons on the grass wasted Thats the first time I have ever found anything except sloes last year which are no use to us as we are not drinkers. Came home quite elated.

Nipped in Mr S and got some whoopsied chicken - free range too- so a good day all in all

Hippeechiq

ceridwen wrote: »

I tried the hint on here recently about how to clean the inside of my cooker - as in leaving a container (large casserole dish it was) full of water in the oven whilst it was on for 30 minutes or so and spreading a "paste" of bicarbonate of soda and water on all internal surfaces. Tries to recall the order I did that in now:cool: - but guess it musta been paste first and heating up water to "loosen dirt" second???

Thanks for sharing that Ceridwen

Mrs_Veg_Plot

I use the cheapest gin I can find for my fruit gins and they always turn out great.

I have made 7lb of blackberry and apple jam today and 3lb of beetroot chutney with the recipe from Greyqueen. Thanks Greyqueen it tastes delish even before the recommended month storage before use.

Have processed and blanched all of the parsnips. I know we have pulled them a bit soon but I am on leave and can get them all sorted at once. In the process of freezing them now. Have also blanched some more broccoli, French and runner beans, these also need portioning and freezing tonight

Have made a very tasty spicy parsnip soup from the parsnip peelings. Not sure if I can get away with feeding the family soup for tea three nights in a row though.

Have dried three loads of washing on the line and cleaned downstairs so a very productive day all in all. And even better it is a no spend day :T.

elisamoose

Just to say tried chocclares Chinese chicken tonight . Was delicious and went down well with DH and DS. must say I was not convinced when preparing it! Looked too simple! we had it with rice and stir fried veg.Lovely!

Mrs_Chip

Blacktorn is very much a hedgerow shrub - often planted around fields to keep livestock in. In the countryside you should find them anywhere where there a shrubby area. I have never worked out how they crop, some bushes have loads of berries, others none!

And yes, plastic is fine, I make all mine in plastic water or pop bottles.