blackberries

I picked my first blackberry a couple of days ago. Here it is, moments before being scoffed.

 Much earlier than normal, but most are still just hard and green.

However, it is certainly looking like it will be a bumper year for blackberries this year, there is set fruit everywhere, and more blossom behind that.

It is helped by the fact the bramble in the hedges has got away from us.  So we will have to cut them back – but not until we have harvested.  Which is what I said last year and how they got out of hand..

Anyhow, each year is good for some crops and not so for others, so maybe the blackberries will make up for the lack of apples (even less now its been windy).

The problem is, I realised whilst shuffling things about in anticipation of our new freezer (part of the big freezer plan), we actually still have a fair few blackberries stashed in the freezer from last year. *guilt*

So, either I don’t pick so many.. or learn lots more ways to use them.

I’ve been pondering, and looking over my cook books, and searching for ideas, and it turns out there are hundreds of things to do with blackberries:

1. blackberry and apple crumble*
2. blackberry and apple pie*
3. blackberry fool
4. blackberry clafoutis
5. summer pudding (with other fruits)*
6. blackberry brandy*
7. blackberry liqueur (creme de mure)
8. dyeing with blackberries
9. blackberry pancakes
10. blackberry jam (and combined with other fruits too)*
11. blackberry jelly *
12. blackberry icecream*
13. blackberry sorbet
14. blackberry relish/pickle
15. blackberry chutney
16. blackberry wine
17. blackberry and apple cobbler
18. blackberry and pear crumble
19. blackberry muffins*
20. blackberry ice-lollies
21. blackberry coulis
22. bread and butter pudding, with blackberries
23. blackberry cordial
24. blackberry upsidedown cake
25. blackberry mousse
26. blackberry royale
27. blackberry cheesecake
28. blackberry smoothie
29. blackberry junket
30. blackberry souffle
31. eton mess made with blackberries (bleaton mess?)*
32. blackberry vinegar
33. fresh blackberries with cream and sugar*

We’ve had some of these things (marked with *) but mostly, I make blackberry and apple crumble. As we only tend to have a pudding once a week, and only one kind, no wonder so many lurk frozen still.  It’s clearly my duty to try all the other uses.

 

(edit: I’ll try to remember to link to my future experients as I go along)