Blackberries

[PrincessFiona60]

Originally Posted by forty_caliber

A few years ago I planted 6 Arapaho blackberries on the south side of the house. They kind of fizzled and never did very much. I left them alone to do their thing ( completely ignored them ).

A few weeks ago, I noticed 100s of blooms. DD and I harvested about a quart this morning. Not perfect grocery store specimens but very tasty.

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They look fabulous. I'd think the first couple of gleanings wouldn't make it to any prep stage.

[forty_caliber]

Blackberry compote with cream over pound cake.
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[FrankZ]

Originally Posted by forty_caliber

Blackberry compote with cream over pound cake.
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Yum!

[Hoot]

Originally Posted by medtran49

Blackberry wine anyone? I vaguely remember my grandmother making it from the wild ones that grew on their farm and the kids would get a sip now and again.

I would kill for...(then again, maybe not) but I truly wish I had my great uncle's recipe for blackberry wine. It was far and away the best of his wines. He passed away before I discovered that I enjoyed making wine and beer.
I have tried to duplicate it but it just ain't the same.
Mrs Hoot makes jelly from time to time, mayhap we will go blackberry pickin' this summer.

[Bolas De Fraile]

We have loads growing wild around us, we pick them in aug/sept. I freeze most of them then next year at the start of the summer I put them in screw top jars with sugar and leave in the sun for the length of the summer. I then stain and leave to drip overnight in a cheese cloth, mix the syrup with vodka to taste and bottle.

[Dawgluver]

We used to have tons of wild raspberries growing in our timber. I made raspberry cordial with a friend's recipe. It would work with any fruit.

Fill one gallon glass jar with unwashed berries. I use a sun tea jar. Pour in one pound of superfine sugar and fill with vodka. Cap, and (here's the hard part) leave it alone for 6 to 9 weeks in a cool, dark place. Strain and squeeze thru layers of cheesecloth and pour into jars. I have "first squeezins" and "second squeezins". I have done smaller batches as well. When I couldn't find superfine sugar, I pulsed regular sugar in the blender or food processor.

This tastes like fresh berries, but with a definite kick!

[AnnieDrews]

Wow, around here the blackberries aren't usually ripe until mid-summer at the earliest! My friend's Mom used to make the best blackberry cobbler, I think I need to get the recipe! Honestly, though, I really dislike the seeds in blackberries and raspberries.

I'd love to try blackberry wine!

[web-collage]

Forty-- during the years you ignored the blackberry plants, did they receive any water? Does it freeze there in winter?

[forty_caliber]

Originally Posted by web-collage

Forty-- during the years you ignored the blackberry plants, did they receive any water? Does it freeze there in winter?

It does freeze here on occasion. But a hard freeze under 25 degrees is rare. The only water the blackberries received was rain.

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