Blackberry Bramble Food

BLACKBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• Put two small, sterilised saucers in the freezer - you will use these to test the setting point of the jam. You can sterilise the saucers by washing them in hot soapy liquid, rinsing and placing in an oven at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 5 mins. Remove carefully and allow to cool.
• Wash and drain the fruit, cut the apple into 2-inch pieces and tip into a large, heavy-based saucepan with 200ml water and the lemon juice. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer with a lid on for 10-15 mins until the fruit is soft. Stir occasionally using the back of a wooden spoon to help break down the fruit.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Place the fruit in a muslin lined sieve over a large mixing bowl and allow the juice to drip through. Discard the contents of your sieve, retaining your muslin to use another time.
• Weigh the remaining liquid and return to the saucepan. Weigh three quarters of sugar to your total liquid amount (for example, if you have 400g of liquid, add 300g of sugar). Add the sugar to the berry liquid and stir over a low medium heat until completely dissolved.
• Turn up the heat and bring the fruit to the boil, stirring occasionally, and allow to boil hard for about 8 mins. If using a thermometer, you're looking to reach 105C. If not, check the setting point of the liquid after 8 mins by removing a saucer from the freezer and adding a teaspoon of the berry liquid to the plate. Allow to sit for a minute. Push your finger through the liquid - if it starts to wrinkle the jelly is ready. If not, return to the boil and try again after another minute.
• Pour into sterilised jars and allow to cool completely. Store in a cool dark place.

BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Shake the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker with a good handful of ice cubes then strain into a rocks glass full of crushed ice. Drizzle the crème de mure over the top so it 'bleeds' into the drink. Garnish with the lemon slice and blackberry, if using.3 TWISTSFresh fruit brambleThis drink is one to make when the hedgerows are groaning with ripe fruit. Start by muddling 6 blackberries in a rocks glass. Add 50ml gin, 25ml lemon juice, 25ml sugar syrup and fill the glass two thirds full with crushed ice. Mix with a long-handled spoon. Top with more crushed ice, a garnish and paper straws.Bramble royaleGo glam with your bramble by adding a splash of champagne to the mix. Just make the drink as normal but reduce the amount of crushed ice by about a third to leave room for the fizz. Then top with 25-50ml of champagne, mix gently, add a bit more crushed ice, garnish and serve.Peach sourThe classic 'sour' formula that the bramble sticks to is easy to adapt by switching out the liqueur. Try 12.5ml of crème de peche instead of crème de mure - it might not look quite as eye-catching as the bloodshot bramble but it will taste just as delicious.

PAT'S BRAMBLEBERRY

Steps:

• Make the simple syrup: Combine the honey, ginger and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and let simmer until the honey dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand 30 minutes to cool. Strain, and set aside.
• For the drink: Muddle the blackberries, lime juice and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add the whiskey and 2 ounces (1/4 cup) simple syrup to the cocktail shaker (save the remaining simple syrup for another use). Add ice and shake to combine.
• Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with additional blackberries and mint sprigs.

BLUEBERRY ROSEMARY BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Add the gin, lime juice, Rosemary Simple Syrup and blueberries to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds.
• Fill an 8- to 12-ounce glass with ice and strain the cocktail over the ice. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a few blueberries.
• Add the sugar, rosemary sprigs and 1 cup water to a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring regularly, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the rosemary is fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and cool completely. Once cooled, remove and discard the rosemary sprigs.

BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. For the Pie crust: In a food processor, combine the flour, salt and butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water and pulse just until the dough begins to come together. Do not overprocess. Turn the dough onto a floured board and shape into a flat disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll out the dough to a 10-inch circle that is 1/8-inch thick. Place in a 9-inch pie dish and blind bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely. For the filling: In a large bowl, gently mix together the blackberries, sugar, flour, lemon juice and ginger. Pour the mixture into the cooled pie shell. For the Crumble: In a bowl, mix together the flour, almonds, sugar and cardamom. Mix in the melted butter. Top the pie with the crumble and place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool to room temperature.
• In a rocks glass, muddle 4 of the blackberries, 1/2 mint sprig and 1 ounce of the cooled simple syrup. Add 2 ounces of the vodka and 3 ounces of the blackberry juice, and fill with crushed ice. Stir gently. Top off with 2 ounces of the club soda. Garnish with a blackberry and a mint sprig.

APPLE & BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Tip 120g plain flour and 60g caster sugar into a large bowl.
• Add 60g unsalted butter, then rub into the flour using your fingertips to make a light breadcrumb texture. Do not overwork it or the crumble will become heavy.
• Sprinkle the mixture evenly over a baking sheet and bake for 15 mins or until lightly coloured.
• Meanwhile, for the compote, peel, core and cut 300g Braeburn apples into 2cm dice.
• Put 30g unsalted butter and 30g demerara sugar in a medium saucepan and melt together over a medium heat. Cook for 3 mins until the mixture turns to a light caramel.
• Stir in the apples and cook for 3 mins. Add 115g blackberries and ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, and cook for 3 mins more.
• Cover, remove from the heat, then leave for 2-3 mins to continue cooking in the warmth of the pan.
• To serve, spoon the warm fruit into an ovenproof gratin dish, top with the crumble mix, then reheat in the oven for 5-10 mins. Serve with vanilla ice cream.