Berries are plentiful right now, and the squirrel in me is transforming and tucking away these treasures for the rest of the year.
I went to the berry farm today and what a selection! I was looking for blackberries, but went away with more blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries! They also offered currants and black raspberries, but I didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew and store this week.
My favorite fruit!
My favorite berry of all time is the humble blackberry, so I bought enough to make jam, blackberry syrup, and to tuck in the freezer to make a pie at Christmastime.
These gems grew in profusion in the wild on the dirt road where I lived when I was a child, and they remain one of my strongest summer memories. The best patch was along the rim of a sandbank near our home. I would go out each morning with my brothers and we would pick our fill and tons more for my mom, braving the thorny canes!
For a glorious month in high summer, we had blackberry pie, blackberry muffins, blackberry ice cream, and my mom made batches of blackberry jam to save for the rest of the year. She also froze the berries to use in the winter. If you don’t want to heat up your kitchen right now, you can freeze your local berries and make jam, pies, muffins, and blackberry syrup when the weather is cold!
The process of making the gifts
Although I rarely eat jams or jelly myself, I love the process of making and canning them to give as gifts during the year. I do love a piece of toast now and them with the blackberry jam, and it transports me instantly to my mother’s kitchen. To me, there’s nothing like the flavor of blackberries!
I still make mom’s jam every year and give it away. It is one of my favorite connections to my childhood and to my mother and all she taught me.
Use it as you would any syrup
I also make her blackberry syrup. This is a versatile item that can be used to top pancaked or waffles, cheesecake or other desserts. Drizzle it over a little wheel of brie and sprinkle with toasted pecans! My favorite use is to turn it into blackberry soda with a little club soda. Just a splash of the syrup is all you need. It is also divine using champagne instead of the club soda.
It was hot today, so I made the syrup (a simplified version of mom’s), which is really quick and easy. You could also use raspberries, blueberries, and probably any other favorite berry! You can also adjust the ration of berries to sugar if you like.
Since I bought plenty of berries, tomorrow I’ll tackle the jam!
Blackberry Syrup
Makes three cups of syrup
- 1 ½ lbs. blackberries (about 4 cups)
- 1 ½ lbs. sugar (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup water
- Juice of one lemon
Place everything in a saucepan over medium high heat.
Bring to a boil, reduce to a gentle boil, and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture will thicken more as it sets.
During this time, take out your masher or immersion blender (much quicker) and break up the berries as much as possible.
Pour through a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Don’t press the berries, but every now and then, use a spatula to gently move the berries that have accumulated on the bottom to let the juice flow easier.
Keeping options: Store in the refrigerator for up to a month in a sterilized jar. Or, you can process it in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Or, just freeze it!
Of course, you can also just use the berries in a pie, especially if you have some helping hands!
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Member of Slow Food
a co-worker from my teen years used to have a working blackberry patch. We were teased about the un human servants abiding abounding.
LOL! Yes!
such a clever idea for those beautiful berries!
Thank you! My mom’s the genius!
Thank you Dorothy for sharing these clever ideas! I remember my parents canning using the Kerr jars. God is so good giving us so many tasteful flavors! Loving Hugs and Cheers! Hope too that you’re having a superb week!🍂🎈💗
Thank you so much my friend! I am indeed having a nice week, enjoying the weather and the beautiful berries!
I can just image using the syrup on pancakes and waffles! Your pictures of the berries and syrup are beautiful.
Sweet berries, sweet gifts, and delicious food – a total win.
Everyone is happy when they see berries! And you are so right, they are a gift indeed! I always call them my summer jewels!
Both would be lovely but I think the syrup will come first Love your label 🙂
Great idea you delivered here !! Thank you for the story !! 👌❤
You are welcome, I always try to find a story.
Beautiful blackberries and delicious results 😋
For sure is divine using champagne instead of the club soda 😉 🥂 This syrup deserves champagne 🥂 🍾 😉
Or Prosecco!
What Farm has raspberries ?
On Wed, Jul 29, 2020 at 4:13 PM The New Vintage Kitchen wrote:
> Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen posted: “Berries are plentiful right now, > and the squirrel in me is transforming and tucking away these treasures for > the rest of the year. I went to the berry farm today and what a selection! > I was looking for blackberries, but went away with more blueberries, ra” >
I went to Dutton’s Berry Farm in Newfane yesterday, but I also found some at Pete’s a few days ago. Dutton’s is about a half hour from me.
Oh how I wish you were my neighbor! Your blackberry syrup bottle and label are fabulous! So smart to freeze berries now for winter enjoyment later, everything sounds so good!
Thank you so much Jenna! I think of these little bags of berries in the freezer as hidden treasures!
One question, Dorothy. How do I get on “the list” to receive blackberry syrup?! 😜🍃🤣
You’re on it! But it may take a while, you are a ways away!
Thanks very much. You’re worth the wait. lol🍃🌸💕
❤️
Mmmmm! I’ve made elderberry syrup to save for winter pancakes, but never blackberry. A wonderful idea.
Elderberry syrup is wonderful! Mom used to make that too, and elderberry wine as well! She, nor any of her siblings, all made the wine but no one wrote down the recipe, I suppose there really wasn’t one. They just knew what to do!
Thanks for sharing these ideas! I’ve never tried blackberry syrup….now I must!
Oh, it is wonderful! I hope you try it. Thanks for stopping by.
One of my faves! I have never picked blackberries (tried to grow them once but they weren’t very successful, a hybrid that was supposed to “behave:” But I do try to take advantage of them when I see them at the store or farmer’s market!
Well, I guess the best blackberries are those that don’t behave!
Just like the best people, lol!!! 🙂
You bet!
I’d like to have the syrup please. I love the flavor of blackberries, so the syrup takes that flavor onto more foods. Pie is great, but not as all encompassing.
Good choice Ally!
Wow, blackberry syrup sounds really easy to make. I love the idea of making gifts using the berries.
It’s one of the easiest kitchen gifts! And a delightful treat.
blackberries really bring back childhood memories for me as my sister and i used to pick them each summer, some to sell to the jam factory up the road, some for mum to turn into jams and jellies. i love a fruity syrup…
Love it Sherry! Wonderful memories are best when they are tied to delicious food!
Makes me pucker up! Reblogging
Wonderful!