Blackberries

LameWolf

silver-oldie wrote: »

Wondered if you have bought LW, and if so what are your thoughts?

I know nothing about dehydrators and don't want to buy cheap and have something that doesn't do a good job or won't last.

Not yet; I'm £8 short of having enough in Amzn vouchers to buy it without shelling out any actual money, and I have a £10 voucher in the pipeline, so waiting for that to materialise. :money:
I certainly wouldn't even consider the ones that were £30 and £40 in price; they look as if they'd fall to pieces after a very few uses. The one I am considering has stainless steel trays as opposed to plastic, and I think that's the game-changer.

[Deleted User]

Yes, they should be, allspice normally comes ground but that would do if you can't find the berries just add in a teaspoonful of ground allspice to the pan with the whole spices, the jelly won't be clear but that doesn't matter and it doesn't alter the keeping or setting qualities either.

Greenqueen_2

Our thornless brambles have been fruiting for over two weeks, in Lancashire. The better ones are eaten fresh and any that are less than perfect get frozen to be made into pies (with Apple). However, this year we have a pair of blackbirds which are sharing them with us!

caronc

Bramble vodka or gin is fab and makes a great gift. I just use whatever cheap spirit I can get. Use 500g fruit (or more) to 1L of spirit. Steep for a couple of months shaking when you remember. Filter through a fine cloth. Dissolve around 3/4 cup of sugar in 250-300 mls of water. Once cool add to filtered liquid. Stash for as long as you like but at least a month shaking from time to time, it might need filtered again before bottling. I find 250ml bottles make a great gift size. It is ready after bottling but better left to mature for a few months.

chirpychick

We got our first haul today LO loved picking them though doesn't like eating them LOL! I made a blackberry sponge cake tray bake thing (just made it up as i went along) which hubby and i like but LO wont touch - i guess the Blackberries are a bit too tart at the moment?
I also made a frozen blackberry yoghurt (about a litre) to pass off as ice cream.

There are tons and tons of green and red ones around, give it a few weeks and I think there will be an abundance of them.

saverlou

I do what trailingspouse does, cook with sugar and use to top ice cream. We passed blackberries by the roadside this evening, but had no bag makes me feel Autumn is just round the corner, I love Autumn!

chirpychick

Is there anything other than jam that can be made now for gifting at christmas?

timehastoldme

We made curd, don't think it'll keep till Christmas though unless you freeze the berries and make later, this recipe was very easy and incredibly tasty.

http://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/easy-blackberry-curd/

zippychick

this older thread may provide some ideas

you could make flavoured vodka for christmas gifts, plenty of time people love homemade booze as gifts. You could forage bottles between now and then (balsamic bottle as example) and decorate the bottles with craft bits. Oh, that's what I would do!

Zip

elf06

chirpychick wrote: »

Is there anything other than jam that can be made now for gifting at christmas?

I'm doing BlackBerry vodka