Urban Farm Hub

Mouth watering

This year the blackberries are coming in thick, sweet and early so time to break out those recipes and learn some new ones.

Here are reader’s favorite things to do with these delectable berries:

1. Make a gallette.
2. Just eat them off the bush.
3. Blackberry cobbler with French Vanilla ice cream on top.
4. Make jam

This past weekend I used my kayak to get out and harvest.  This was a romantic idea but the reality of trying to hold the boat steady while avoiding thorns and grabbing ripe berries proved to be a bit of a challenge.  I did get enough to make jam but they were hard won!

By land, by water…

Making blackberry jam is as easy as raspberry jam.  Some people like to strain out some of the seeds but I usually leave them all in.  I kind of like the crunchy texture they impart.

Here’s how to do it with a pack of Sure Gel pectin.

• Pick the berries and mash them with a potato masher
• Measure out five cups of berries and four cups of sugar 
• Put the berries and pectin in a pot and bring to a boil
• Add in sugar and boil for a full minute
• Pour into sterile jars and water bath can for 10 minutes
  

  Jam!