Wild blackberries?

[Lozzie]

I've got a lot of brambles growing wild in my area. Every August-September we get loads of fruit from them. However, apart from blackberry and apple pies, I don't know what to do with them. Every year I harvest kilos of the berries only to have them going mouldy in the fridge. Anybody got any recipies for blackberries (apart from pie, of course)?

[Alice]

Hello Lozzie, what about bramble jam or jelly. There's lots of links to good recipe sites on the forum.

[Birdie Wife]

Blackberry wine... mmm! Blackberries also combine well with other red/blue fruits to make a mixed fruit wine, or even have a go at port!

[Shortie]

As above, jam, wine, schnapps.... also you could freeze them to save for later in the year if you wanted? There was another thread on here about IceCream recipies that may be an idea. I've never made it myself but it might be another good way?

How about crumble?

[Lozzie]

Hmmm... I like those ideas! Thanks! My grandmother is always looking for bramble jelly, but can almost never find it in shops. The blackberry wine or port sounds like a lovely idea too. Bottles of homemade wine would make lovely presents.

Shortie, your suggestion for crumble just gave me an idea :mixed berry crumble! I guess I could use a mixture of blackberries, strawberries, blueberries... kinda like a fruits of the forest crumble.

[Alice]

Now you're getting it Lozzie

[pigletwillie]

you must have heard of raspberry vinegar, well think blackberry vinegar!

[Shortie]

Raspberry vinegar...? Hear dof cider vinegar and that's as exotic as I've seen. Is it easy to make and does it actually have a fruity tang, or just a different one?

[Birdie Wife]

Summer pudding! Why didn't I think of it before?! One of my favourite puddings, juice oozing out of the bottom, big dollop of clotted cream...

[Lozzie]

Thanks for all the ideas! They sound wonderful. I guess the blackberry vinegar sounds good. I guess if you can make balsamic vinegar out of grape must, surely it's possible to make blackberry vinegar.

By the way, I've just made strawberry and apple crumble out of the strawberries I've been harvesting. My family loved it, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! I'll post the recipe if anybody wants it.

[Lesley Jay]

Oh yes Lozzie! I wouldn't have thought to use strawberries in a crumble.

[Lozzie]

OK. Here it is:

Strawberry & Apple Crumble

For the topping:
50g (2oz) butter
100g (4oz) plain flour
2 tbsp caster sugar

For the filling:
3 large cooking apples (Note: desert apples can also be used, although you might need more than 3)
500 g (1lb) strawberries
3 tbsp sugar or sugar substitute
1 tsp lemon juice.

1. Preheat oven to 375 F/190 C/ Gas Mark 5. Add sugar to the butter and mix thoroughly. Add the flour and rub it in until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Set aside.
2. Wash, peel and core apples. Cut into thin slices and place in a baking dish. Add the lemon juice to stop discolouration.
3. Wash and hull strawberries. If the strawberries are large, cut them in half. Add to baking dish.
4. Sprinkle sugar over the fruit and mix thoroughly. Note: You can probably use less sugar if you use desert apples.
5. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit until it's completely covered. Bake in the oven for 30-40 mins or until topping is golden brown.
6. Serve alone or with ice cream. Enjoy!