More blackberries

I've just been having a look at the blogs I follow and Kev Alviti has posted on his blog about a blackberry cake:

http://www.englishhomestead.com/2019/09/blackberry-cake.html#more


That looks so tasty. I must give it a go.

Even more preserving

No jams or pickles this time. I've picked more blackberries. It really has been a good year for them. There are now between 7 and 8 lbs of them in small bags in the freezer all ready for the winter. I love them with plain yoghurt and a tiny sprinkle of honey nut cornflakes or granola for a bit of crunch. I reckon I must have picked about 16-17 lbs of them this year and there are still more to ripen on the bush.

Mind you, my hands do look like I've been blackberry picking. My thumb nails and index finger nails are very stained and the stains will have to wear off because they don't scrub off. And there are more than a few scratches on my hands. I did remember to wear an old microfleece jacket to protect my arms this year and that has worked. I've just got to remember that for next year now...

More preserving

I picked another 4lbs of blackberries and made another 10lbs of blackberry and apple jam yesterday. That means that I can pop a jar into each family stocking at Christmas. And with stockings in mind, I made a batch of red pepper and chilli jam today. They all love chilli and they had some lovely big red peppers in Lidl today and it is another thing to fill up those stockings. I got the recipe on another blog here: 

http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/red-pepper-garlic-and-chilli-jam-recipe-8963/

A new thing that I am trying is strawberry soda. It seems to be a bit like elderflower champagne but made with strawberries. It is a sparkling fruit drink but non-alcoholic. It is bubbling away furiously in the kitchen so it is nearly ready to try. I am looking forward to that. I got the recipe from another blog here: 

https://zerowastechef.com/2019/09/02/fermented-strawberry-soda/