Foraging Challenge

jumblejack

Goin collect my black currants in a mo as they are heaving.:j

I am going to freeze them and then make a cordial for a nature's bounty home ed class in October. I know cordial can last months but I would consume it before then :rotfl:
I want to make elderberry cordial too so can't wait for those as there are loads of trees around here.

Wild Blackberry jam is on my to make list too as that will be great on home made bread for the class.

Happy foraging folks :T

[Deleted User]

You can freeze the cordial too in plastic bottles, I do it with the elderflower I make to stop it fermenting. Make sure and leave room for the liquid to expand as it freezes, or the bottles split. It's one way of having cordials all year round. Lyn x.

jumblejack

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

You can freeze the cordial too in plastic bottles, I do it with the elderflower I make to stop it fermenting. Make sure and leave room for the liquid to expand as it freezes, or the bottles split. It's one way of having cordials all year round. Lyn x.

Inspired idea!!! I prefer to do that:T

I'm chuffed. I've just harvested nearly 3lbs if fruit, mainly blackcurrants from the bushes in the garden. The gooseberries are nearly ready too but they've not done so well.

Will upload picture later as I'm thrilled with the blackcurrants. I forgot they were even in the garden as I planted loads of cheapo reduced plants a few years ago that looked like they were dead from wilkos.

I've never had blackcurrants other than a sample of ribena :rotfl: Can't wait to try it!

I might make a couple of jams too. I have a bag of bramleys at the bottom of the fridge. Anyone got a good recipe?

jumblejack

Just found this neat idea now my blackcurrant bush is harvested of currants......


Blackcurrant Leaf Sorbet

We also use this recipe to make an elderflower sorbet - substitute 4 or 5 elderflower heads in full bloom.

2 large handfuls of young blackcurrant leaves
8 ozs (225g /1 cup) sugar
1 pint (600ml /2½ cups) cold water
Juice of 3 lemons
1 egg white (optional)

Crush the blackcurrant (or the elder flower heads) leaves tightly in your hand, put into a stainless steel saucepan with the cold water and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar, bring slowly to the boil. Simmer for 2 or 3 minutes. Allow to cool completely. Add the juice of 3 freshly squeezed lemons. Strain.

Make the sorbet in one of the following ways.

Pour the juice into a stainless steel or plastic container and freeze for about 4-5 hours or until semi-frozen. Remove from the freezer and whisk until smooth, then return to the freezer. Whisk again when almost frozen and fold in one stiffly beaten egg white. Keep in the freezer until needed.

If you have a food processor simply freeze the sorbet completely in a stainless steel or plastic bowl, then break into large pieces and whizz up in the food processor for a few seconds. Add one slightly beaten egg white, whizz again for another few seconds, then return to the bowl and freeze again until needed.

Serve in chilled glasses or chilled white china bowls or on pretty plates lined with fresh blackcurrant leaves.

This sorbet is naturally very pale but you could introduce some colour with a few crushed blackberries if you like.

Elder flowers also make a delicious flavouring for gooseberries a bit like adding some Frontignan wine. Try it next time you make a gooseberry fool.

kerrypn

Think I found some St Johns Wort on my walk today

Any ideas on what I can do with it?

Jumblejack, I normally just add loads of sugar and a bit of cinnamon to bramley apples, dont know if cinnamon would go with blackcurrants though? Will be watching for blackcurrant recipes with interest as we have a bush in our garden too :cool:

rubytuesday

Thought you might be interested in these Books really cheap with the Book people at the moment - plus free delivery and 10 per cent discount in codes and vouchers thread.

I got them out of the library and they are really good.

You can make tea with St Johns Wort.

http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=184753

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jumblejack

Thanks rubytuesday. The second link has self sufficiency volume sets for a tenner that should be £100. I'm sooooooo tempted....

Edit:
I'm reading one of my favourite blogs and just discovered that wisteria flowers are very delicious and perfectly edible BUT NOT THE SEEDS!!!!!

Wow! The stuff you can eat is virtually unlimited!!

http://terrallectualism.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/wild-in-the-city-foraging-fridays-10/

jumblejack

I picked up my icecream maker from a freecycler this afternoon and mentioned how lucky she was to have so much self heal in her lawn and she gave me some!!!! Whoop whoop:j:j

splodger_seedswapper

kerrypn wrote: »

Think I found some St Johns Wort on my walk today

Any ideas on what I can do with it?

i can post pics of defo id if you want to make sure you have the right plant - you really need the perforated variety - so will need a mag glass or very good eyesight to make sure you have the right one

but - please be careful with st john's wort - it's not recommended for long term "internal use" it's a great medicinal plant however - but best used for external uses only (unless you are very familar / knowledgeable about long term internal consumption techniques/ habits etc) - i only say this because long term use is not good for you at all and as it is primarily used to treat depression, dependencey becomes a big problem

it is very good as an external treatment for sprains and to a lesser extent bruises

talking of external uses - i had to forage burdock the other day - when i got a really bad insect bite / sting (burdock is by far the best natural solution to swelling and pain from stings / bites) - just apply some crushed up leaves to the area infected (i over wrap with a teatowel to keep the leaves in place) burdock is one of the best healiong plants out there - (as long as it doesn't grow on your allotment - then you (i) start to really detest it - badly) :mad:;):D

kerrypn

Ooh yes please splodger that would be very helpful it had yellow flowers and little berries in the centre of them, I think it was st johns wort but your pics would be very helpful

Thanks for the advice on it, I will see if about maybe making some kind of ointment then(with 3 children anything taht treats bruises and sprains is a good thing lol)