We've just picked a load of blackberries ........

[xmummy]

Does anyone have any suggestions apart from the usual pies or deserts

Jam? Don't ask me how though.
Blackberries make me think of Autumn....

wine.

can't wait to go picking am getting paranoid that there will be none left!

apple and blackberry cake - I have a BBC good food recipe for it if you want it.

I noticed some blackberries in our hedge earlier and thought it was a bit early for them -is it early?

seems very early to me too! but my raspberries were early this year

It is early, I think the hot spring gave them a good start and then of course theres been plenty of rain to bring them on.

(rubs hands with glee at jam making and wine making prospects)

Our raspberries are over already

god there are loads out at the minute - i thought it earlier too - but lots of smaller ones still - so I think there will be lots more - we will in london, has been very hot here lately - would love to hear the recipes - I wondered about making smoothie lollipops - not sure how?

I have just read that message and it makes no sense at all - only one glass of wine too!

loads here and lots of small one still!

they stay in the fridge for about 10 mins before the DC eat them, so haven't had a chance to make anything yet

Freeze them for future inspiration.

We just picked about 20 'wild' ones, but most were either mildewed or not yet ripe. So we went to the pick your own place and now have loads. I'm planning to just stew them with apples, then use some to make the obvious blackberry and apple crumble, and freeze the rest, I think.

I'm having similar problems since we went to a PYO farm - what can you do with blueberries apart from muffins?
Love crumble, made raspberry jam in my bread maker and it set!

Yorky - jam in a breadmaker - do tell!

Not very clever or impressive I'm afraid - breadmaker has a jam setting. You basically put the fruit and sugar in, turn it on and it heats and stirs, then you pour it in the jars!

I'm going to try the fruit vinegar and apple & blackberry leather recipes here