Blackberries

[Borlotti]

Anyone else still got blackberries in the freezer.  Had blackberry and apple crumble and cream three nights running.  Still got 3 containers left.  Haven't eaten all the bramble jelly jam yet.  Got some strange looking containers I have cooked, really must label things.  Got a chest freezer in the bedroom all ready for this years produce (I hope).

[Borlotti]

[PurpleHeather]

The flavour is not as sharp but I confess that I have found things over a year old in the freezer which have still made great pies and crumbles.

Jam will last for a couple of years too.

[HappyCatz]

Yep, but old man is allergic to apples[!] so we had blackberry and pear crumble last night and still got enough left in the freezer for another couple of servings :)
Will have to make the most of them cos they are gonna build on the best spot for blackberry picking :(

[Borlotti]

Last year a lot of the allotments were uncultivated so there were plenty of blackberries for everyone. This year most of the plots have been taken so won't be so many to pick.  Still a wild area overgrown with blackberries, went for a walk around to look for pea sticks (ie old twigs) and a fox ran out right in front of me.  I quite liked the site when it was overgrown and the wild life loved it and it seemed very private, still can't be selfish but has got a lot busier than 5 years ago when I first got it.  Be interesting to see how many of the new comers stay, some are really keen and know they will stay, but some only come up about once a month and their allotments have gone back to looking wild.  Doesn't take long.  I think Joe Swift being on our site and given it publicity, his plot doesn't look too good, full of mares/horsetail although I see he has been hoeing it down.  Waiting to see if anyone takes on the allotment next to mine, if not I have promised Margaret (the lady who had to give it up, due to age and bad eyesight) to take some pears (from her lovely old pear tree) and strawberries, blackberries around to her house, and she has promised me tea and cakes.  Obviously cannot do this if someone takes it on, but it is SO SO overgrown will need heavy machinery to cut down the trees and clear the site.  Wish I could have it but it would be too much work for me although it is full of lovely flowers/bushes, trees etc. more like a 'magic secret garden'.

[Columbus]

Hi all,   :)

I made Blackberry vinegar last year which is good hot for man-flu or poured onto pancakes, waffles or Yorkshire puddings. Its just blackberries steeped for a couple of days in cheap vinegar and sugar then filtered.

It uses load of blackberries, mushy frozen ones might be good for this.

Col

[pickleandpreserve]

We've still got some blackberries and raspberries in the freezer, although it's mostly bits now. They get whizzed up with apple juice and a banana for a smoothie at the weekend.

[debster]

blackberry and pear sounds delish, ive got some in the freezer see you in a bit lol

[manicscousers]

just unloaded all our last year's apple, rhubarb and pears in wine to Ray's sister in law who doesn't grow stuff  ;D
need to defrost the big freezer before this year's stuff starts, small one full of other stuff like meat and fish  ;D

[colman]

i made some blackberry chutney last year which was delicious, have just finished it, ready for this years crop....goes lovely with cheese and biscuits and also meats...

[Borlotti]

3 containers of blackberries left, can I please have the recipe.

[shirlton]

What we are trying to do at the moment is eat all the frozen stuff thats about ready to be harvested this year so we are now having broad beans regularly and raspberriesand rhubarb. Have just eaten the last few frozen strawberries. Have quite few blackberries left but still have a while before they are due