Having started to make my own alcohol (see Making Alcohol: 3 Ways) and with a freezer full of my summer berries, I decided that it would be fun to try making some different fruit liqueurs. This one is a Blueberry Liqueur. You can swap out the fruit in the recipe for whatever you have on hand (or perhaps even make a mix). 2 cups blueberries, frozen* 1L vodka or neutral spirit 1 cup sugar *freezing breaks down the cell walls, allowing you to get more juice You can experiment with adding … [Read more...]
Blueberry Compote Recipe
I love January because it is when my blueberries start to ripen and I can harvest a large basket of berries every week. I do love to just eat them as they are but as it often coincides with other fruit ripening at the same time, I often freeze much of my blueberry harvest so that I can use it during the year. Blueberries couldn't be easier to freeze: just lay them out in a baking tray to free-flow freeze and then tip them into a bag. Then they are ready to use whenever you need them - no need to … [Read more...]
Blueberry Sauce Recipe
Blueberry Syrup is one of my favourite recipes (and a great gift), but I wanted to make a quick blueberry sauce recipe that had whole blueberries in it rather than just as a syrup. This Blueberry Sauce Recipe is designed to be eaten immediately or within a few days rather than to bottle and keep in the pantry. Serve it with your favourite muesli or porridge, or put it on pancakes as a breakfast or dessert. 2 cups frozen (or fresh) blueberries ⅓ cup water ¼ cup sugar 2 tablespoons lemon … [Read more...]
The Birds and My Berries
I have a love-hate relationship with the birds in my garden and have written previously about feeding the birds and stopping the birds from eating all the plums. This year I have been fighting a losing battle between the birds and my berries, particularly my blueberries. There must be something special about blueberries or maybe it is that blackbirds really like a challenge. I'm tending towards the challenge explanation and have evidence that they keep learning new tricks to get to the netted … [Read more...]
Cinnamon Blueberry Jam Recipe
Blueberries are wonderful plants to have in the garden or just in a pot; they are incredibly healthy and nutritious - and they are wonderful in this Cinnamon Blueberry Jam Recipe. For other blueberry recipes, see the links at the bottom of this post. 1 kg blueberries (I used frozen) 2 tbsp lemon juice 4 cinnamon quills 1kg jam setting sugar (or use ordinary sugar and add 1 pkt pectin) I really like cinnamon so I added another 2 tsp cinnamon as well. You could add a tsp of cloves or a … [Read more...]
Blueberry Lemon Slice Recipe
Blueberry and lemon go wonderfully together and this blueberry lemon slice recipe is a perfect combination for last summer's bumper crop of blueberries in my freezer and the lemons that are dripping from my tree at the moment. 125g butter 3/4 cup sugar Zest of a lemon 2 eggs 1/2 cup yoghurt 1 1/2 cups flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen Preheat oven to 180C. Line a slice tin with non-stick baking paper. Cream butter, sugar and lemon zest until pale … [Read more...]
Blueberry, Blackberry & Grape Jam Recipe
I love combination jams because they are a great way to use fruit that you have (either fresh or frozen) but don't have enough of anything to make a single fruit jam. They also provide a wonderful range of flavours. This jam recipe is courtesy of Chelsea sugar who make a great Jam Setting Sugar that allows you to make a quick and simple jam. You can also easily scale the recipe up or down because you just use equal quantities of fruit and sugar. Juice and peel of 1 lemon, large pieces … [Read more...]
Four Berry Jam Recipe
I grow as many different berries as I can in my garden because they are so easy to grow, freeze really well, and are great for cooking right throughout the year. Sometimes I end up with only a small amount of each of the different types of berries left in the freezer, not enough to make anything specific with any of them. This year I tried making a Four Berry Jam recipe with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. The amount of each doesn't really matter and the end result is … [Read more...]
Blueberry and Buttermilk Pancakes
With blueberries now in peak season and some buttermilk in the fridge left over from making cultured butter, blueberry and buttermilk pancakes seemed like a perfect weekend breakfast. You can use these delicious pancakes anyway you wish (with or without blueberries) and if you have some left you can freeze them for another time. Serve with blueberry compote, blueberry syrup or try my quick jam sauce. 3 Eggs 1½ cups Buttermilk ½ tsp Baking soda 225 g Flour 2 tsp Baking powder ½ tsp … [Read more...]
Growing Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the most rewarding plants you can have in your garden. They look great all year round: they have beautiful delicate lily-of-the-valley-type flowers in spring that lead to a mass of berries turning to blue in summer, and they have lovely autumn and winter foliage colour as well. My friend Steph has blueberries in a pot on her deck solely for its decorative properties - she is happy for the birds to eat the berries. I don't know how she can just watch those divine berries … [Read more...]