Peeking Out From Under The Duvet

Sorry I've not been around much. I've been spending a lot of time in bed or stretched out in front of the TV under a blanket. I have been so tired and kinda sick :( Yuck!
Baby Woo is growing fast and I'm starting to feel flickers of my old self coming back! Hooray!

I felt spritely enough to go berry picking this afternoon...only....it's still too early. I did manage to pick 3 blackberries which I gave to Daisy and Truman. Instead of the heavily drooping briar full of plump juicy berries I saw lots of this sorta thing....

Not very tempting. But it does look like my blackberry harvest is going to be HUGE this year! I just have to leave it a few weeks and then head back down with a bucket in hand to collect these!

I'll make jam, of course, but maybe I'll try something different too like Black Tea & Blackberry sorbet. Mmm...that sounds good! Yum! Hurry up and ripen all you berries!
I'd better go get the enchiladas out of the oven, if they burn I am going to be very sad! I am SO into Mexican food right now! I've always been a fan, but I think maybe Baby Woo can't get enough!

Blackberries

It has begun. Well, it sort of began about a month ago with all of the elderberry cordial I made. But foraging is in full swing!
I grabbed my little basket, which is far too small really and headed out for my secret foraging spot!

It's still a bit early in the year, but I thought I'd give it a go anyhow. The berries on the ends of the bunches were the ones that were ready so I went for it!
However....there are some risks involved....

The evil nettles. horrid, horrid, horrid stinging nettles. They always get me. always! I don't know about you, but I get welts from nettle stings and even a minor brush will still be stinging the next day!

The green bits are bits of Doc leaf that I rubbed all over my stung self. And yes. It works.

Thank you Doc Leaves!

After the unfortunate incident I continued on my way.

What's the story morning glory?

The single & most delicious raspberry on earth.

I remember finding a single raspberry last year. Just ONE! I sort of remembered where I'd found it. Sure enough I found the same thing! One single raspberry! Incredibly yummy too!

The best spot! 

My basket is way too small! 

Blackberry manicure.

This little lady faired better with the nettles than I did!

I got my berries home, washed them & picked out any creepy crawlies that came with them. Heated them up, mashed them down, squished them through a sieve. Added an equal amount of sugar a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice and cooked it for about 30 minutes all together.
What I've got is a huge jar of very jammy, very sweet & extremely fruity seedless blackberry jam!
It is even better than it sounds! Yum!
I'll wait a week or so and go down for my second forage! Hmm....what shall we make with those berries?
Do you have a fave blackberry treat or recipe?