Any foragers around?

[Dilbertian]

Not strictly a prepper issue, but I tried asking this in Food, and, apart from one disgusted poster...tumbleweed. So I thought maybe there might be foragers among the peppers, who would not be appalled at the notion that there are bugs on flowers

I made elderflower cordial last week, and in a flash of demented inspiration decided to try steeping the flowers in cream to flavour a dessert. Why didn't I just use the cordial? Now, of course, the cream is full of tiny bugs. Normally that's not an issue - I just filter the water through a paper towel. But will single cream filter through a paper towel?

Foraging opportunities are a bit thin on the ground in the inner city.

My favourite new foraging finds this year have been flowering blackcurrant for cordial and ground elder.

We still have elderflowers here. I often make fritters with the flowers.

Has anyone done much foraging lately? I picked some blackberries and some hazelnuts today. Not 100% sure what to do with the hazelnuts - any ideas?

Found a good guide here www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2017/08/foraging-in-august/

We’ve done a lot of blackberry picking lately.
I’ve made a couple of jars of jam (plan to make a lot more) some blackberry crumble and am going to give blackberry and lemon muffins a go tomorrow. We’ve also frozen quite a few to see us through winter.

We found a crab apple too today although it was the last one left lol and we gave shrimping a go yesterday (not sure this classes as foraging) but they’re still to small so will wait until September to try again :)

I'm going to make blackberry wine

I fancy having a go at Blackberry Spoom which is a kind of ice cream www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/b/blackberry-spoom.html

I’ve worked out where all the best hazel nut trees are, ready for next month

If I can get to them before the squirrels, I toast them and pack them in sterilised jars of honey. They are great on porridge through the winter, or with ice cream or yoghurt.
Last year I sold 20 jars at the school fayre.

Another question. What can I do with Bramley apples. Our tree is so loaded it’s close to snapping.

I usually slice and freeze enough for winter pies & crumbles, make a few jars of apple & herb jellies and some apple sauce, but what else? I’m not keen on chutney.

I think we have about 80kilos of fruit. I had thought of cider but apparently bramleys don’t work. Any suggestions?

Could you dry them ?

Ooh, I don’t know. I’ll have the oven on later so will stick a tray of apple slices in the bottom and see what happens. . Thx

Mintjulia I think they would store okay for a while in a shed or garage if put in a box wrapped in paper. They would need to be the better quality ones. Can’t remember when I last did it though so unsure how long they store for.

Thanks

I’ve picked about 40kg so far. Lots more to do but they can wait. I don’t fancy standing on a metal ladder in a thunderstorm.

I’ll pack them in newspaper in the garage until I can process them. My list is

• Apple & herb jellies
• Apple Sauce
• blackberry & Apple jelly
• dried Apple
• sliced & frozen

How about few batches of homemade apple juice? (With or without other fruits eg apple & carrot, apple & blackberry, pure apple etc)

You can freeze the apple juice into lolly moulds during this hot weather as well 😃

Can you swap them with someone who has a glut of something else?

Or send them to me...

I have made elderberry and blackberry jam this week (bit hit for jam making!) and these muffins. They were absolutely delicious and the kids loved them.

Single cream question - doubt very much it will filter, although a coffee filter might just do it. Muslin would be better though.

Hazelnuts, and cob nuts (I like those even more) are lovely chopped in fudge if you ever make it.

I would not be without lemon balm in the garden, although too late to use it as a base for drinks now. Can also make a good lemony herb in savoury dishes too.