Just a few blackcurrants - ideas please.

[tricia]

My blackcurrant bush has yielded a scant 200g of berries - not enough to do much with, but does anyone have any ideas? I love the flavour of blackcurrants but don't have a clue what to mix them with. Would a ratio of 4 to 1 apples to berries make a successful jam?

Tricia

[tricia]

[Yorkshire Lass]

You could mix with apple and make a couple of pies or crumbles.  Or as you suggest make some jam, blackcurrants have a lot of pectin so you shouldn't have any problems with setting.

[Digeroo]

Put in the microwave with a bit of apple juice and jap for a few minutes.  Serve with plain yoghurt.

[tricia]

Thanks for the ideas.  I wanted to have something that lasts so I am making blackcurrant and apple jam. Probably a stupid question, but do I need to try to remove the tiny brown tops or will they cook down? It's a fiddly job and not easy with my poor arthritic hands! The berries are quite small too.

Tricia

[Jayb]

I made a summer berry crumble the other day from saved fruit from the freezer and I didn't bother to top and tail and they were just fine. I'm not sure if being frozen softens them up a little?

What about making an apple and blackcurrant jelly instead?

[tricia]

I made microwave jam in the end, snipping off the largest of the tips with scissors. About 500g fruit made two small jars of jam. Happy with that! I have made strawberry, apricot and now the blackcurrant and apple jam so far this year - enough for the next 12 months, though I might still make more as the Morello cherry tree is laden again this year.

Tricia