Foraging

[Sheaf Saint]

It's that time of year again. After the disappointment of only managing to find enough sloes to make about a litre of sloe gin last year, there's a bumper crop of everything available this year following the hot summer we had...

 

 

Gonna make some hawthorn jelly and some rosehip syrup.

 

Got some apples from my mum's garden so will probably make a crumble with the blackberries.

 

Not decided what to do with the elderberries yet. I've never tried making wine before and a friend of mine has some wine-making kit that he no longer uses, so I might give that a go. Will probably need to pick some more first though.

[Jonnyboy]

*like*

[badgerx16]

Mrs B has spent today making chutney from the figs and plums in our garden, and it looks like there will be a useful crop from the grape vine that has grown up and over the apple tree. ( That latter crop really shows what sort of summer we have had up here ).

[John Boy Saint]

That looks to be a tidy haul.

In the same way you make Sloe Gin you can make Blackberry Brandy, obviously with Brandy rather than Gin .

Daily Mail had a Jam making booklet last weekend there was what looked like a very nice easy Spiced Apple Jelly recipe in there.

And finally....... Although not foraged, apart from within the hordes of rabid French shoppers in Auchan, I got some stunning Black Cherrys (how they made it to their intended destination goodness knows, they were so nice) right now they are infusing merrily a jar filled to the brim with Brandy!! I had a Jar Seal problem after a month and whilst changing it sneaked a Cherry off the top, Wow! By Christmas they will be Superb!! Hic!!!

[Sheaf Saint]

And finally....... Although not foraged, apart from within the hordes of rabid French shoppers in Auchan, I got some stunning Black Cherrys (how they made it to their intended destination goodness knows, they were so nice) right now they are infusing merrily a jar filled to the brim with Brandy!! I had a Jar Seal problem after a month and whilst changing it sneaked a Cherry off the top, Wow! By Christmas they will be Superb!! Hic!!!

 

I'm well ahead of you there. The black cherry tree near me was giving ripe fruit back in july...

 

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

I would put the blackberries in with the sloe gin

[ecuk268]

Our Bramley trees are loaded this year and Southampton Common yielded a good haul of blackberries.

 

What's the best way to freeze cooking apples?

[Whitey Grandad]

Our Bramley trees are loaded this year and Southampton Common yielded a good haul of blackberries.

 

What's the best way to freeze cooking apples?

 

I'm certainly not an expert but don't you cook them first, then freeze?

[bridge too far]

"Bramley apples freeze well. They can be frozen cooked or uncooked. If you wish to freeze cooked apples, cook the Bramleys (sugar can be added to taste) until they are soft and fluffy, then cool and freeze the puree in quantities ready to be used. The puree can be used for up to nine months after freezing. To freeze uncooked apples, peel and slice 500g of Bramley apples and drizzle with the juice of a lemon, mixed with a little water. The apples should be packed into freezer bags, the air removed and tied tightly then labelled and deep frozen. The apples should be thawed thoroughly before use."

[Sheaf Saint]

I would put the blackberries in with the sloe gin

 

That's a very good shout. I've made sloe gin and blackberry vodka before (got some of the latter on the go at the moment from what I found in my garden) but I've never considered combining them before.

[Bearsy]

good thread! Inspired me to go foraging round the estate:

 

 

I'm gonna use the teabag to make tea in the mug. If it is dirt I will strain the tea with the sock. Then I will eat the sweet. Then I will brush my teeth cos I don't want to get tooth cancer.