Blackberries So what else can I do with them?

[tarantula]

Its the free food season again Been out and picked loads of blackberries this weekend and have made jam and jelly and got lots in the freezer for crumbles and stuff. But what else can I do with them. Id like to make a fruit spread that has less sugar than jam. Anyone got any recipies? Or other ideas of things to do.

Am now waiting for the apples and damsons to ripen as have found trees tucked away in a park near us so will be off to collect later in the year.

I do so love FREE FOOD.

[socks3]

My kids love these and they are so easy to do and very healthy.

Whizz up blackberries and any other fruit with some milk until runny. Freeze in lolly moulds and there you have home made lollies without any of the bad stuff.

Whizz blackberries with a banana, some milk and a natural or fruit flavoured yogurt until thick. Drink immediately for a yummy milkshake.

Enjoy!!

[anorak]

Yes yes so do I love free food tarantula.

I always gather tons of blackberries and make homemade wine and blackberry gin. These make great Christmas presents. I have friends and family members who don't think it's really Christmas unless they get their bottle of blackberry or sloe gin off me!

[tarantula]

wow making wine thats impressive Aloha Is it a lot of work? cos anytime I read the recipies it sounds like it is. Cant belive the blackberries this year tho they are everywhere and I think we may be getting a bumper crop of elderberries too. Dont think my freezer is going to be able to cope with all the stuff I intend to put into it. Might have to invest in another one

[MrsDoolittle]

Damson gin - oooh lovely, sometimes I find it smoother that sloe gin.

I like socks idea

[WigWamBam]

250g double cream
250g mascarpone cheese
Juice and grated rind of one lemon
yolks of 2 eggs
75g caster sugar

Put the egg yolks in a bowl with the sugar. Put the bowl over a saucepan of boiling water and whisk until pale and creamy. In another bowl combine the cream and mascarpone with the lemon, then beat in the egg yolks. Mix in the blackberries. Spoon into bowls and put in the fridge to set for at least 3 hours.

[tarantula]

mmm that sounds really nice wwb. I like the milk lolly idea too. Ive started making my smoothies with frozen fruit so they come out a bit like a milk slush puppies IYSWIM and the kids love them.

[anorak]

The blackberry gin is quicker and easier to make than the wine.

Take 1lb of blackberries and place them in a plastic demijohn or wide-mouthed bottle or any large container with a wide mouth that you can stopper.

Add 2 pints gin and 4oz sugar. Gently shake to dissolve the sugar. Leave in a cool dark place for 3 months, agitating gently once a in a while.

Strain off the pulp and bottle your blackberry gin. Just in time for Christmas.

The great thing with this is that you can use really cheap gin to make it.

If you make sloe gin you should rough the sloes up a bit in a blender before use.

[tarantula]

guess that would work with vodka too wouldnt it Im not hugely keen on gin tbh though blackberry vodka might be quite dangerous

(says she remembering back to trying licquorice vodka which was very yummy and very morish and very very potant and ......cant remember much more about it tbh )

[eefs]

check your emails, be constantly contactable by work, surf (slowly), phone, ..........

bl00dy yoke

[anorak]

eefs?????

No I don't like gin either but the end result doesn't really taste like gin. Much nicer. A bit like alcoholic ribena.

Don't know about vodka but might be a bit rough?

[bossykate]

haha, eefs, i thought this thread referred to those blackberries too!

[anorak]

bossykate and eefs I'd love to know what you're talking about?

[bossykate]

Blackberry

[ilovehorses]

blackberry and apple crumble?

[anorak]

Ah, now it all becomes clear. I thought eefs had posted on the wrong thread. Or was maybe under the influence

[eefs]

sorry, had to go do actual work for a while yesterday - still recovering from that.
don't like blackberries (the fruit) so had nothing really valid to add.
Will try the milkshake though, lots of blackberries here too.

[PeachyClair]

Dip them in dark chocolate and give them to kids to dip in fruit fool or fromage frais... yum!

Serve them with cheese

Mix puree with custard and whipped cream to make a fool

Make a chutney for serving with hams and cold meats (fruits are great in chutneys)

Make a cake, ice with white royal icing (or buy), crush beries then give kids a clean paintbrush to paint their fruity purply design with the juice.

[bambi06]

yippee im going blackberry picking at the weekend then..i thought i needed to wait a few more weeks but it seems everyone is ahead of me so id better get picking..

[tarantula]

Oh wow just come back to this thread and there are loads of really good suggestions here. Ill ahve to print it off. We made frozen banana and blackberry milkshake last night and the kids both loved it. Dss didnt even ask for sugar in his . Chutney sounds fab never thought of that. Hopefully Ill get out and get somemore thsi weekend

eefs I should have known what you were on about as Im in IT but was at a total loss. Think Im the only person who worksin IT who doesnt do technology outside work. I dont even have a mobile phone!!!!!! (got better things to spend my money on)

[SoupDragon]

Is it blackberry season already??

[jabberwocky]

Is a crumble the same thinkg as a blackberry cobbler ?

[tarantula]

Tis down London way soupy They are falling off the bushs round here atm. Bumper crop this season.

[tarantula]

oooo that cobbler sounds nice Jabberwocky.

[SoupDragon]

Better traipse off to the woods with a basket then!!

[jabberwocky]

Another Southern delicacy