BLACKBERRIES - uses for them....please help ALSO CRAB APPLES

[tintinthegingertomcat]

Whilst out walking the dog down the common this afternoon I realised that within the next week or so the blackberries will be out in force.

My question is....if I pick some what can I do with them (I am not a jam maker or eater so wont be using them for this).

I only have a small freezer so need to find ways of making things with them that wont take up too much room. If I had a chest freezer then I would freeze them individually but not able to)

I am hoping that yourlovely ladies (and gentlemen) will be able to point me in the direction of how to use them wisely

There are also a few crab apple trees on the walk as well so I am assuming that I can use these as well provided they are cooked and sweetened???

Any help would be greatfully received.

[carolyorkie2010]

Blackberry Crumble is quite nice or a pie.

[ed_blackadder_1]

I usually stew blackberries down with bramley apples and then freeze them in portion sizes, to have with ice cream or defrost several portions and add crumble mix. Apart from Jams and Jellys I dont think there is much else to do with them, I always end up with millions in the freezer as my husband makes it his mission to collect as many as he can.  As for crabapples Jelly or chutney thats about it, not recommended to eat on their own even with sugar. 

[cookiecookuk]

black berry muffins are nice .

[ed_blackadder_1]

mmm yum they sound nice never thought of that, make a big batch and freeze unless hubby and son get to them first.

[ed_blackadder_1]

Hubby has just said what about blackberry vodka,  he would

[*chez*]

No freezer needed for this one..

Blackberry liquer

1 cup water

• 3 cups 80 proof vodka
• 3 cups white sugar
• 3 cups ripe blackberries

Directions:

1. Shake together the water, vodka and sugar to dissolve sugar
2. Gently mix together with the blackberries, taking care not to cut or crush the berries.
3. Leave to infuse about 10-12 days until the berries have lost most of their color.
4. Pour thru a fine strainer and discard the berries.
5. Pour into decorative bottles.

[ed_blackadder_1]

great minds chez. last year did, sloe, blackcurrant and raspberry vodka all with freebies.

[brynteg11]

Was it last year that someone posted the blackberry shortbread recipe?

[chickengrandma-2008]

I usually freeze them on a tray so that I'm able to fill a plastic bag or box, collecting them each day as they ripen.  I end up with a big bag of loose 'marbles'.  You can then take out as many as you need to make a crumble, a pie, I use them in the bottom of the basin when I make a sponge pudding, or whatever you fancy.  I know nothing of crab apples.

[ed_blackadder_1]

I have a very handy ice cube drawer (where you put loose ice cubes when they are done)  that I fill with the blackberries and then put them in bags, Do it with most fruits actually then you can have as many or as little as you want.

[captainbovine]

Blackberry Shortcake

 6oz butter

3oz caster sugar

6oz SR flour

3oz cornflour

10oz blackberries

1oz demerera sugar

1oz chopped walnuts*

Cream butter & sugar together until light & fluffy

Fold in sifted flour and cornflour

Grease a 7" square cake tin (doesn't matter if it's round)

Reserve a third of the mixture and spread the rest

evenly in the tin, squishing it down with the back of

a spoon if necessary

Cover with the blackberries

Add the walnuts and demerera sugar to the remaining

mixture, mix in well then spread over the top of the

blackberries (don't worry if there are little gaps, these

will sort themselves out during cooking)

Bake on Gas 5 for about 45 mins until the top is lightly

browned and fruit is tender

 Blackberry shortbread can be frozen and is lovely hot or cold with cream!  Or it can be eaten like a cake, with fingers (but is rather messy as it falls to bits easily!)

[bitsnknots]

That recipe sounds delish CB.  Sometimes I think that I would like to bake but I'm not overly fond of cooking.  When my mum's been in hospital, I have had to cook all my meals myself which didn't bother me too much.  As things stand at the moment, my mum and I take it in turns cooking our main meals.  It's my turn tomorrow.  I can cook but just don't like doing it for some reason.

[shelly180]

We have a neighbour whose apple tree overhangs our garden and we have his permission to pick what we want (otherwise the birds get them). Combined with the foraged Blacberries/Brambles they make the best Crumble.

My son actually asked yesterday having seen the tree if it was nearly Crumble time.

I felt so sorry for him that I went and bought some bramleys and made him some for tea on Saturday!

[captainbovine]

I have been told I'm a good cook but I hate it! I LOVE to bake though, funny that.

That shortcake recipe is so lovely, it was fishies recipe. You just have to have another piece, it's really nice.

You could make flapjacks with blackberries too..ooooh I love those

[023mjc]

Apart from the usual pies and crumbles, try this. Stew them with a just a tiny bit  more water than you would usually use,and some sugar, strain, thicken the juice slightly with cornflour and bottle. Bramble sauce -mmmm. Pour it over ice cream or rice pud. It's delicious.

[*elphaba*]

How about the ancient practice of pickling them :

http://www.chefrick.com/pickled-blackberries/

[alisonsvintagechicboutique]

CB - mwah big kiss for posting the blackberry shortcake recipe!!!

I saw this thread yesterday but did not get chance to post.  

I cooked that recipe a lot last year but it must have got mislaid in my move to the flat.  

Literally you read my mind and getting that again has truly made my Monday.  

I also made it with raspberries last year when I could get them cheap.  But of course made with freebie blackberries from the hedges its just extra satisfying xx

[brynteg11]

That's the recipe I meant - thanks for posting it:) Some of the blackberries here are already turning black - when I can find enough I'll be cooking!!

[ed_blackadder_1]

Sounds yummy captain another few weeks and I will try it thanks