Tuesday, August 30, 2011

it's the berries

The other day as I was watching the girls, I heard a loud chewing sound directly above. I looked up and there were a couple of squirrels feasting on juniper berries. This is an annual event. I don't know why they eat them but I'm sure they have a reason -- it may correct something in their urinary system, or be a fall tonic food, or maybe they just like the taste.


I harvested four cups of gooseberries this morning. I've never made anything with gooseberries and need to find a recipe to use these. Any tried-and-true recipes out there? I know I can look online but that's what I did with some frozen elderberries a few months ago -- randomly found and made an elderberry crisp. It was crisp all right with a little hard seed inside every single elderberry. I was hoping the seeds would soften in the oven. But no.


Don't tell my husband I made a mini-jar of raspberry vinegar. Because he loves fresh raspberries so much. This amount would've made him a nice little dessert tonight with whipping cream on top. But there's this chicken recipe that calls for raspberry vinegar so I had to.

Raspberry Vinegar

Fill any size jar (this is only a half cup) to the shoulder with fresh unwashed raspberries. Then fill again with champagne or white wine vinegar. Close tightly with a plastic lid and store in a dark cupboard for 2-3 weeks. Strain and store in a cool place.

If you don't have a plastic lid, place a sheet of plastic wrap or waxed paper over the top before putting a metal lid on -- vinegar corrodes. Learn from my mistakes.

11 comments:

  1. I've never actually had gooseberries, but what I've heard is that they're sour and make good pie.

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  2. Bethany, that's what I hear, too! Guess I'll look for a Martha or Ina recipe, I think I can trust them for something good!

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  3. Not something I've ever experimented with much. My mother has some I think, should get some from her and try a recipe. I do make raspberry vinegar and raspberry vodka just about every year...lots and lots of raspberries. :)

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  4. I have heard of gooseberry jam, but have never made any jam myself.

    Those raspberries would not stand a chance at my house...daughter #2 loves berries and will sit down and eat a whole pint of whatever type of berry I bring home!
    : )

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  5. Don't know anything about gooseberries but I love the bowl they're in. What is that made of?

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  6. Deb, I'm jealous. Seems like we have to work so hard to get berries here -- that means lots of extra watering cuz it ain't coming from the sky. Our raspberry patch is growing and improving every year. The next flush is starting to ripen and that's when I'll get going on making things. I do a vodka, too, funny how we do the same things!

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  7. Marie, I decided to go with a rhubarb recipe, just subbing the gooseberries for rhubarb. We'll see.

    Raspberries are the best, and so good for you -- smart girl, #2 is!

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  8. Kathy, that's a Mexican mortar -- a molcajete! It's carved out of volcanic stone and is for making salsas, guacamole, etc. Which I still intend on doing with it this summer yet!

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  9. they are so pretty, what does a gooseberry taste like?

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  10. Cindy, it's a sweet and then sour flavor sequence. When they're ripe. Otherwise, sour, sour, sour!

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  11. Yes, I think we like to experiment with similar things. :)

    The county that I live in grows more raspberries than anywhere else in North America if I remember right...they grow like weeds. I think that is a very good thing.

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