When berries start to produce there are often very few at the start; one here and one there, generally nibbled by the surprised harvester. Then, with no warning at all the bushes bust forth with a heavy load..filling our baskets to the brim.
Freezing is our first and foremost method for berry preserving. Washed and well dried, berries are first scattered in a single layer on trays and placed in the freezer. This keeps them from sticking together later. Once frozen they are bagged and labeled for later use. I bag in 2 cup portions..the right size for muffins and crisps.
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| Larger berries are sliced before freezing. |
The other excellent method of preserving is jam! Jelly is nice, but jam gives us a heartier taste of those delightful berries. Cleaned and crushed ever so wonderfully, mixed with sugar and lemon..cooked slow until thick and bubbly. I love cute little pint jars with the 'quilted' look to them..so rustic and homey! Nothing satisfies a harvester's soul quite like the pop of canning lids fresh from the canner.
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| Marmalade from an earlier spring. |
This post is linked to :
http://www.noordinaryhomestead.com
6 comments:
I love berries. Your picture of them is making my mouth water.
I agree...my mouth is watering too. I can't wait for fresh berries - in Wisconsin...I have a long wait...blessings.
My farm boy made a delicious cobbler last night with some berries he picked..wish I could share it will all of you!
It's definitely time for ice cream making! :)
My 3yo is a berry junkie and the raspberries & strawberries just cannot grow fast enough. Last year, she harvested all our berries and ate them immediately (kinda like the carrots) but I'm happy she knows what the plants are and enjoys good, fresh produce!
mmmmmmmm!!!
OOoh, I love blackberry pie and blackberry jam and they are so expensive here!
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