lots of blackberries, raspberries ideas >?

hobbitfancier

Corona wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]Last year we made Blackberry Vodka. I used the method from Phil Brown's "Badger Bushcraft" Blog:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]You need a 70cl bottle of vodka (a cheap supermarket brand is fine), 100g of caster sugar and lots of fresh blackberries.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Remove one third of the vodka, and store for later use (I used it to make a small bottle of this) [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Add the 100g caster sugar (dissolves quicker than granulated). Fill the bottle with the washed and dried fresh blackberries. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Replace the cap and give it a good shake. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Place in a cool dark cupboard occasionally shaking it to agitate the fruit and make sure all the sugar has dissolved (I did this every few days).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After a couple of months, have a taste; add sugar if you want it a bit sweeter (how much depends on how sweet the blackberries were). Leave to mature a bit more. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]When ready to drink – strain through muslin and the decant it back into a clean bottle. (The soaked berries make a great topping to ice cream).[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The colour turns into a beautiful cranberry colour (perfect for Christmas). If you make this in September, it’s ready for giving as Chrissie presents (that was our original plan but it was so delicious we drank the lot !)[/FONT]

I've been looking in vain for a definitive answer on how to wash the blackberries - soak overnight in salty water to get the grubs out? (Surely this will sour the taste?) Or wash gently under the tap and allow to dry?

I have the berries waiting in the pantry and I want to make gin!

meritaten

I leave them in salty water for a couple of hours - then rinse them thoroughly and do some 'spot' checks - if I find any grubs then they get another salty bath for an hour. usually they are fine. you can leave them overnight if you want just make sure they are well rinsed!

hobbitfancier

meritaten wrote: »

I leave them in salty water for a couple of hours - then rinse them thoroughly and do some 'spot' checks - if I find any grubs then they get another salty bath for an hour. usually they are fine. you can leave them overnight if you want just make sure they are well rinsed!

I soaked them overnight just in case, picked through them again and gave them a good rinse this morning, before freezing some and adding some to a kilner for blackberry gin! Going to go out another dry evening this week and scout out the hedgerows!

indierocker85

Jam is easy to make.

You just need butter and around 1kg of Caster Sugar, or Silver Spoon Jam Sugar

Take around 800g of the fruit, crush it was a potato masher, put them into a saucepan, add 1kg of Sugar and heat gently while stirring until the sugar dissolves, Whatever you do don't boil them yet.

Add a generous knob of butter to the pan. Keep stirring the mixture continuosly while increasing the heat bringing the pan to a full boil. One that bubbles vigorously and rises in the pan and cannot be stirred down. Start timing and boil for exactly four minutes only. Remove from the heat and pour into warm, sterilised jars and cover immediately and do not remove the lid until the jam is fully cooled and set! It is important that you sterilise the jars properly otherwise you may find bits of mould within your jam very quickly. Have fun.