| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 11:24:54 AM
Hi all,
I have been straining the blackberries I picked this summer and making jam, but hate to throw away the leftover "mush" consisting of seeds and pulp that did not pass through the strainer. Are there any ideas for using this, either in a vinegar, tincture or natural fruit juice, all ideas are welcome!
Frugally yours,
Jo |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Norskema |
Posted - Oct 14 2006 : 7:03:36 PM
The raspberry canes that we had were prickly but didn't have thorns exactly. Sounds like you've had a good result with not a lot of fussing which is what I was wondering about. I'm going to give it a try I think. The info about not being cut down is helpful. I will pick a spot where they can just be left on their own maybe. This was very helpful, thanks Jo.
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 12:16:16 PM
Hi Candace ... the blackberry bushes were already on the farm we purchased two years ago, and I just discovered them this summer for the first time. Mine grow on their own, in the fields and the smaller bushes in the open are bushhogged every fall but grow back. The ones along the edge of the fields are left alone and have grown 5-6 feet in height.
There seem to be two kinds of bushes, and berry sizes, or maybe the ones that are bushhogged every year just don't get a chance to make bigger berries.
The biggest problem are the thorns! Ouch! Do your raspberry bushes have thorns that catch on your fingers and hands when you pick the fruit? Note; on the bigger bushes/berries, it is easier to grab the fruit without getting your hands scratched up.
When I picked berries, I picked for three hours on a Saturday and two hours on a Sunday. I was slow at first, plus I was picking every little berry, off of every little bush. The second day I discovered the taller bushes with bigger berries, so I was picking faster and getting a bigger yield. All told, I had 42 cups of berries when I was done.
Hope that helps, and hopefully another farmgirl can give you some better information.
Jo |
| Norskema |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 8:21:29 PM
Jo, I am thinking of planting blackberries. Are they hard to grow and do they produce much fruit? I've had a small patch of raspberries before. The berries were delicious but we never got much from the canes considering all the fiddling around we did with them. Also, I think the syrup idea is great.. the cordial suggestion very tempting!
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
| Phils Ann |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 1:47:16 PM
Jo, that is great. I hope your Anne with an E gets a huge kick out of her cordial.
I think the seeds and pulp would probably be great for compost. I use cottonseed meal in my fertiliser for the nitrogen. Steve Soloman's book, Gardening for Hard Times, (I think is the name) is really big on all seed meals. Our tomatoes LOVED the fertilizer made from his recipe.
Ann, sadly without an E
There is a Redeemer. |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 11:39:39 AM
Thanks, Betty!
Jo |
| BettyWeeks |
Posted - Sep 28 2006 : 07:29:01 AM
Hi Jo,
My son likes pancakes, so I usually double the recipe to 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar, pinch of salt. I put abut 3 cups of fruit because we like the fruit. If I am using pulp with a lot of seeds, I do strain some. If using blueberries which don't cook down as much, I would only put in 2 cups. And, remember the salt. I made it once without a pinch of salt and the flavor wasn't there.
It does keep refrigerated. Hope this helps.
Betty
True Happiness: Something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Sep 27 2006 : 08:36:33 AM
Betty,
I love that idea! I was toying with trying to make my own syrup, so I will try your recipe.
How much pulp do you add to the above measurements? Do you strain the seeds?
Thanks much! (Move over, Smuckers!)
Jo |
| BettyWeeks |
Posted - Sep 27 2006 : 06:15:38 AM
I use leftover pulp to make flavored syrups. We were poor growing up and our pancake syrup was made with 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt. It was boiled until it was a little thick. Now I make that and add whatever pulp I have and cook it until it thickens. It makes good syrup for pancakes and waffles.
My son likes it so much that now I buy fresh or frozen fruit to make the syrup.
Betty
True Happiness: Something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Sep 19 2006 : 06:20:29 AM
Ok, farmgirls, here is what I did. I found recipes for cordial and am making some with vodka and sugar, steeping in a dark cabinet and shaking gently once per day. (If it works) This is going to be part of a birthday present to my SIL, named Anne for you know who. I am my SIL's Diana Barry, so I think it will be fitting that the Diana of our duo will offer some cordial to Anne this time, hopefully we won't have the same hangover and punishment as described in the Anne of GG book! What do you think?
Jo |
| suzyhomemaker |
Posted - Sep 14 2006 : 5:54:07 PM
I made blackberry jelly and jam, too. I just composted the leftover seeds and pulp. I know a friend whose grandma made jam from the pulp after making jelly from the juice. However, she said she hated the stuff because it was so seedy (She told me the story when I gave her jam one Christmas, but I assured her I used the whole thing so it would not be so seedy!)
Country girl in NE PA |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Sep 13 2006 : 04:54:05 AM
Thanks everyone...I do not have chickens, but do have a compost. Fruit butter sounds good, too.
Does anyone out there want me to ship them a pint of the stuff now, and/or later?
Whew, talk about one person's trash being another chicken's) treasure...LOL
Jo |
| Shirley |
Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 11:09:47 PM
they are good for the compost |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 1:44:01 PM
Chickens were the first thing I thought of too...my hens love a treat like that now and then! They have been relishing all the peach peels this week!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 1:15:23 PM
I just read that you can use the leftover pulp for making fruit butter. I think it's in a The Joy of Cooking canning book.
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority." -E. B. White
http://www.betweenthecities.com/blog/ljr/
|
| junebug |
Posted - Sep 12 2006 : 11:46:41 AM
Do you have chickens? They love the stuff!
www.sageflowerfarm.blogspot.com
www.herbalfarmstead.blogspot.com
www.countrypleasures.motime.com |
