Blackberry Jelly

Makes: 3-5 jars Prep time: overnight Cooking time: 30 minutes – 1 hour Recipe taken from BBC Food. The apples in this recipe add loads of pectin to set the blackberries in a fairly firm jam. Great with cheese and biscuits. ingredients 3 lbs. fresh blackberries 2 large cooking apples, washed, cored and diced 1 Read More

blackberry_jelly

Makes: 3-5 jars

Prep time: overnight

Cooking time: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Recipe taken from BBC Food.

The apples in this recipe add loads of pectin to set the blackberries in a fairly firm jam. Great with cheese and biscuits.

ingredients

  • 3 lbs. fresh blackberries
  • 2 large cooking apples, washed, cored and diced
  • 1 1/2 cups of water
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • granulated sugar (amount to use determined by amount of juice extracted)
  • sterilized jam jars and jam pot covers

directions

  1. Prepare cheesecloth or tea towel by boiling in water for 2-3 minutes. Wring well and leave to cool. Arrange the cheesecloth with a large bowl beneath, ready for the fruit juice to drip through.
  2. Place the blackberries, apple, water and lemon juice in a preserving or large, heavy based saucepan.
  3. Bring to the boil, then simmer over a low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the fruit is completely soft.
  4. Tip the soft fruit and juice into the cheesecloth and leave to drip for 8 hours or until all the juice has been released.
  5. Prepare the jam jars by washing in hot soapy water and leaving to dry and warm in a cool oven (250F) for 10-15 minutes.
  6. Measure the juice. For every 2 cups of juice, use 2 1/4 cups sugar. Put the juice and sugar back into the clean preserving pan, heat over a low heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until setting point is reached.
  7. Skim away any foam from the top of the jelly and fill the jam jars to the brim. Cover, seal and label. Store in a cool, dark place until required.

Poached Pears in Blackberry Wine

Makes: 6 servings Prep 15 minutes Cook time 20 minutes ingredients 2 cups red wine 3/4 cup water 1/3 cup caster sugar 8 oz. blackberries 6 pears 1 cinnamon stick, halved 6 cloves 1 tablespoon cornflour directions Choose a saucepan that the pears will fit snugly into then add the wine, water and sugar to Read More

Poached-pears-in-blackberry-wine

Makes: 6 servings

Prep 15 minutes

Cook time 20 minutes

ingredients

  • 2 cups red wine
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup caster sugar
  • 8 oz. blackberries
  • 6 pears
  • 1 cinnamon stick, halved
  • 6 cloves
  • 1 tablespoon cornflour

directions

  1. Choose a saucepan that the pears will fit snugly into then add the wine, water and sugar to the pan. Add half the blackberries and heat gently for 5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Crush the blackberries with a potato masher, press the syrup through a sieve and discard the blackberry seeds then return the syrup to the saucepan.
  2. Peel the pears leaving the stalks on then add to the blackberry wine with the cinnamon and cloves. Simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, turning the pears until evenly coloured.
  3. Lift the pears out of the wine and transfer to a bowl. Mix the cornflour with a little water in a cup until a smooth paste. Stir into the blackberry wine then bring to the boil, stirring until thickened and smooth. Pour the syrup over the pears then add the remaining blackberries and leave to cool.
  4. Serve with spoonfuls of amaretti cream, see tip.

Tip

  • Amaretti cream – break crisp amaretti biscuits into small pieces with fingertips then fold into a 250 ml (8 fl oz.) carton of full fat crème fraiche.
  • The pears can be covered and left at room temperature for 2-3 hours or can be made the day before and chilled in the fridge. Take out of the fridge about 30-60 minutes before serving.

Braised Red Cabbage with Blackberries

Makes: 6 servings Prep 15 minutes Cook time 40 minutes ingredients 1 oz. butter 1 onion, finely chopped 1 lb. red cabbage, quartered, woody core cut away, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons light muscovado sugar 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice ¼ pint apple juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper 8 Read More

Braised-Red-Cabbage-with-Blackberries

Makes: 6 servings

Prep 15 minutes

Cook time 40 minutes

ingredients

  • 1 oz. butter
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 lb. red cabbage, quartered, woody core cut away, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons light muscovado sugar
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice ¼ pint apple juice Salt and freshly ground black pepper 8 oz. blackberries

directions

  1. Heat the butter in a saucepan, add the onion and fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring until softened. Stir in the red cabbage then the sugar, vinegar, spice and apple juice. Season well with salt and pepper.
  2. Cover and cook gently for 20-30 minutes, stirring from time to time until the red cabbage is tender. Add the blackberries and cook gently for 10 minutes. Spoon into a serving dish, serve with roast turkey, chicken or casseroled lamb or beef.

Pear & Raspberry Juice

Makes: 2 servings Prep 5 minutes ingredients 2 x 6oz containers fresh raspberries 4 just ripe pears, quartered (no need to peel and core) 4 teaspoons Grenadine syrup Juice of 1 lime Optional chilled sparkling water to finish directions Feed the fruit through an electric juicer and stir the grenadine syrup and lime juice into Read More

Pear-Raspberry-Juice

Makes: 2 servings

Prep 5 minutes

ingredients

  • 2 x 6oz containers fresh raspberries
  • 4 just ripe pears, quartered (no need to peel and core)
  • 4 teaspoons Grenadine syrup
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Optional chilled sparkling water to finish

directions

  1. Feed the fruit through an electric juicer and stir the grenadine syrup and lime juice into the raspberry juice mix.
  2. Pour into two glasses half filled with ice and top up with chilled sparkling water.

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup with Blackberry and Basil Sauce

Makes: 4-6 servings Prep 50 minutes (including sweet potato roast time) ingredients 6 oz of blackberries 3 large sweet potatoes 2 tbsp of coconut oil 1 white onion 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 can coconut milk 2 1/2 cups fresh vegetable or chicken stock 1 tbsp of finely chopped basil 1 tsp of lemon juice Read More

Roasted-Sweet-Potato-Soup-with-Blackberry-and-Basil-Sauce

Makes: 4-6 servings

Prep 50 minutes (including sweet potato roast time)

ingredients

  • 6 oz of blackberries
  • 3 large sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp of coconut oil
  • 1 white onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 2 1/2 cups fresh vegetable or chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp of finely chopped basil
  • 1 tsp of lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp of honey
  • 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp of freshly chopped parsley
  • salt

directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F
  2. Cut the sweet potato into large chunks. Melt 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and rub the sweet potato in the oil, roast in the oven for 40 minutes until golden and cooked through.
  3. Finely chop the onion. Heat the remaining coconut oil and add the chopped onion, a big pinch of salt and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, then add the coconut milk, roasted sweet potato and stock. Simmer for 10 minutes while you make the blackberry sauce.
  4. Place the blackberries, basil, lemon juice, honey, a pinch of salt and balsamic in a pot bring to the boil then turn down to a simmer. Crush the blackberries with the back of a spoon and cook until the sauce reduces by half and thickens.
  5. Blend the soup and top with the blackberry sauce and freshly chopped parsley.