Do you have a U-Pick farm near you? We found
this one and Mr. McBride was friendly, generous, and so kind. We'll definitely go back. We left with two buckets of blackberries and a bouquet of zinnias. I enjoyed them the whole weekend in the kitchen.
There is a long row of zinnias and sunflowers as you leave the patch and a sign that says, "Pick a bouquet as you leave." They even had scissors at the end of the row. How great is that? The McBride's Brier Patch is nestled just under the mountain and there are rows and rows of raspberries and blackberries to pick from.
Because blackberries have large seeds, I juiced the them and made jelly. Our two buckets (about 12 lbs. of berries) yielded 24 half pints of jelly. I used the
this recipe from a box of pectin and water-bath canned the jars. To 12 of the jars I added minced jalapeno pepper. The pepper jelly is so good in sauces for meat dishes, or served with cheese and crackers.
I had a lone cup of blackberry juice left, so I added some frozen raspberries from our backyard patch and some fresh blueberries from the fridge. I strained most of the raspberry seeds but left a few. I was out of pectin after making 4 batches of jelly so I just added lemon juice, and sugar and cooked the jam down until set. The flavor was bright and tart and that batch made 3 pints and plus a half jar for the fridge. I tried it on bread (didn't even need butter) as it cooled. MMMMMmmmmmm!!!
Tomorrow I tackle the garden zucchini and tomatoes. Today I'm tired.
*By the way, can you tell the difference between black raspberries and blackberries? The stem stays in the blackberry when you pick it but with all raspberries, black or red, the stem stays on the cane. Can you believe how big Mr. McBride's blackberries are?
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Looks delicious and what a generous place, to share their flowers. We just found a u-pick-it place near our new home in RI and are planning to go when it gets sunny, with my inlaws. You can't beat homemade. :)
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious and what a generous place, to share their flowers. Lucky you! We just found a u-pick-it near our new home in RI and plan to go there with my inlaws on the next sunny day we get. You can't beat homemade :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Bonnie! Do rest. If you're tired, you can wait a few days, can't you?
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing! Sounds like a fun place to pick berries.
ReplyDeleteBonnie -- You have been working hard. The berries look so good. I haven't heard of the McBride Farm. We used to go to a farm near Santaquin. Do they have any of the golden raspberries? I have picked those before in CA and love the look of them. What a great idea to pack some jam with jalapeno. Didn't know that about black raspberries and blackberries. I canned three batches of raspberry jam -- this is a good time of year. Enough of my ramble -- have a good evening. Joni
ReplyDeleteWE have a few "u-pick" farms around, and I LOVE them! You are such a natural at whipping up good food, in this case, jam:)
ReplyDeleteOh YUMMMMM! They look amazing! Think of all the sunshine that jelly will bring you this winter -- you lucky girl!
ReplyDeleteOh envy! Our blackberry canes were all murdered by this awful hot dry summer of ours ;(. I still have one package in the freezer from last year, but I'm saving them ;).
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
GG
Look at those berries! Won't that jam be good this winter?
ReplyDelete