I have always wanted to go foraging, pick berries and make something with them and I was determined to do it this Autumn. Hooray for doing something I have always wanted to do! We woke up early on Sunday morning, wrapped up in scarves, jackets and boots and headed out into the next village. We parked the car and trundled through a muddy path and a few gates and arrived in a field I had heard where full of blackthorn trees which grow sloe berries.
We were not disappointed - there were loads of trees abundant with the powdery blue berries and we got picking. It was a beautiful clear morning but it was very cold. We managed to pick a couple of kilo's (we couldn't believe how many once we got home) and we are going to make sloe gin for Christmas gifts this year. Sloe gin is easy to make and while I have never tasted it, I have heard it is lovely neat over ice or very refreshing with some tonic water.
There are other things you can make with sloes such as jam, jelly or in a pudding. Although sloe berries are very bitter so they need a lot of sugar. I have stored our pickings in the freezer and we are going to buy some swing top bottles and gin this weekend to make some sloe gin. Watch out for a post next week on how we make it.
Why don't you head out this weekend if you are in the UK, do some foraging and make something homemade for your loved ones this Christmas?
♥
2 comments
I have always lived next to SO many blackberry bushes here in the Good ol' USA (Washington State). I love picking berries. They are probably the greatest of all fruit groups and really are such fun to pick. Especially in good company. I am so glad you got to fulfill a dream of yours!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by :) Yes, next year blackberries are definitely on my list to pick!!
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