Blackberries

[whiffey]

Has anybody noticed that there is a complete glut of huge blackberries everywhere this year, yet nobody is out with bowls picking them, and I don't see birds and animals eating them.

Which animals or birds eat blackberries ? And do you have any recipe ideas apart from blackberry and apple pie. Thank you.

[johnlambert]

blackberry jam

[johnlambert]

blackberry and apple jam

[B00]

How weird whiffey that you posted in B&S asking us to reply to this post a whole hour before it was actually posted.

[whiffey]

B00, that is because I am a considerate AB user and posted them in the wrong order. I hadn't really worded the blackberry question at the time of the B&S question, it was still in the proof-reading stage. It's a cracker, I hope you agree.

[Shadow Man]

Blackberry and Apple crumble.

Blackberry wine

[hippyhoppy]

I agree with BOO. How mysterious. By the way Boo, my daughter and I think you must be a 'woman' (her words) or 'foxy chick' (my words)...confirmation?

[Jugglering]

I have no idea why nobody is out there collecting them - it's certainly early for blackberries though, I used to go hunting for them along the disused railway lines in September, so maybe nobody (including the birds) is expecting them !

Best recipe - blackberry wine !

[hippyhoppy]

Do you have a recipie for that wine juggle? t sounds mighty fine!

[boobesque]

Cant pick them here, they taste of lead!

[Jules001]

I've seen lots of people picking them around here, also the birds are definitely eating the ones in my garden. (Pigeons, blackbirds and sparrows). I have had one bowl so far although more need picking :) With that bowl I just popped them into individual meringue cases and topped them with some whipping cream. They taste too good to mask the taste too much.

[B00]

hippyhoppy- I am indeed of the female gender, though the "foxy chick" bit is highly debatable, think more like a bulldog chewing a wasp ;-)

[Jugglering]

Blackberry Wine

4 lb blackberries
3 lb granulated sugar
1 gallon water
wine yeast and nutrient
pectic enzyme

[ermintrude35]

this is a russian traditional method, but for the life of me I can't remember what it's called


Although this recipe calls for blackcurrant the same proportions and methods can be used with many other soft fruit. I make raspberry liqueur based on vodka instead of brandy and strawberry liqueur with vanilla that is based on Eau de Vie.

1kg blackberries/blackcurrants etc
500 ml brandy/vodka
350 - 500 g sugar
(makes about 1l)

Place the fruit in a sterilized jar and mash them well with a potato masher.

Pour over the brandy, than cover the jar tightly. Leave in a cool dark place for about 1 month, shaking the jar from time to time. Line a sieve with a double layer of sterilized muslin or cheesecloth and place over a large bowl. Pour in the fruit and the liquid and leave for a few hours or until it stopped dripping. Filter the juice again through a double layer of muslin and return to the jar.

Add the sugar to taste (I prefer the smaller amount), then seal. Leave in a cool dark place for about 3 weeks, shaking the jar every few days, until the sugar has dissolved and the liquid is clear.

Filter the liquid again if necessary. Pour into sterilized bottles and seal. The liqueur can be used immediately but improves with keeping.

[hippyhoppy]

Boo - eughh... are you sure? you sound foxy.

Juggle - where do I but all this malarkey - I remember my sister making home made wine in the old airing cupboard and spent weeks going to school in uniform smelling of fumes and, ultimately, the whole thing exploded and it stunck on the landing for yonks!!

[B00]

bet you can buy the ingedients in Asda, hardly exotic are they? lol

And yup hippyhoppy, i'm truly gruesome, why do you think i'm on 'ere alot? i'm not allowed out in daylight hours, I scare the local children.

[Jugglering]

Oh, wow Ermintrude.... that seems absolutely gorgeous..... Jugglering was last seen on her way to the offie to get some vodka........

Sorry Hippyhoppy, I have no idea where YOU can put all the gear lol.... I just make it in my kitchen....

[tiggerblue10]

Can I just say that you can get all these blackberries for free from the garden or wherever, but when you go to buy them they cost so much. You would have thought that they would be cheaper to buy. They cost around �3 - 4 in Tesco! Whats that all about.

[Solarjunkie]

My dog used to love them, he'd rummage through the bushes to eat them. Foxes eat them too.
If you put a thin layer of blackberry juice on a plate overnight it will set and you can spread it on crackers.

[heliganmarie]

Hello! The blackberries are big because it's been raining (a lot!). They are a bit bitter because ther has been little sun to make them sweet - this is changing with the better weather (at least where i am in Cornwall). The less sweet ones are perfect for jam and crumble.
Enjoy!

[Gilly]

blackberry and pear crumble or pie