Blackberries

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/blackberry-coconut-squares

This is delicious!

I often make a compote of Bramley cooking apples and blackberries. Then use in a fruit pie or crumble,, or with ice cream.
I find blackberries on their own too sharp.

GagaJo later on in the year you might like to try putting some fresh cranberries plus the zest and juice of an orange, and maybe some cinnamon, in a bottle of cheap vodka.
Leave it for several weeks.
Christmas in a glass! ?

(Cheap vodka works best as it doesn't have a particular flavour of its own. The cranberries are best pierced as they have tough skins. If you can't get fresh I have used frozen ones instead).

I’ve still got some frozen from last year? stewed with Apple this morning and spooned on porridge.

If he likes cake you could make blackberry muffins

GagaJo

Had a lovely time picking them with grandson last year. I'm looking forward to doing it this year. He was amazed that he could eat what he'd picked.

Any suggestions beyond the usual jam/jelly/crumble?

Blackberry coulis to have on icecream - freeze in small batches. I made some last year and it was very good. (Though I say it myself ?)

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/blackberry-coulis

I’ve just spotted one that’s ready to pick this afternoon! Lots of pale pink ones awaiting ripening. I’m in East Yorkshire.
Gagajo blackberry vodka sounds divine. I saw a similar recipe somewhere using raspberries or was it redcurrants and Gin. I thought about doing some as a present for pregnant DIL as she will be able to drink again by Christmas.
Recipes I like using blackberries are to poach gently and then layer up with Greek yogurt in a tall glass as a dessert.You can do a layer of oats, crushed biscuits,nuts etc whatever you fancy. It also makes a nice breakfast.
Another recipe I do is to make a flapjack mixture using 5oz each of plain flour,melted butter,oats and brown sugar. Put half in a square tin put cooked fruit on top and then the rest of the mixture. Bake 35 mins or till slightly brown/golden. Leave till cool and cut into squares. I’m making my own mouth water here ?

I think everything is about 2-3 weeks behind this year due to the unusual weather patterns. Blackberries here in Oxfordshire are still in flower.

Had a lovely time picking them with grandson last year. I'm looking forward to doing it this year. He was amazed that he could eat what he'd picked.

Any suggestions beyond the usual jam/jelly/crumble?

The blackberry harvest is weather dependent. A round here (Oxfordshire) it can be as early as July, can be as late as September.

This year the cold weather in May delayed any flowering to early June. I expect a late harvest this year.

Ours are still only in flower ……..but remember what a hard long period of rain, wind and cold we had April / may Everything is late, - well it is round here