The last few days in the countryside...

The timings of these posts might seem a bit odd but I've been writing for a while and have only finally got round to sorting out a blog. Happy reading!

 After a few days of pottering in the garden and foraging I now have ample supplies of blackberries and sloes but disappointingly few mushrooms. I did find a Death Cap, or maybe a false Death Cap (as the name implies they are quite hard to differentiate) which was exciting due to their remarkably toxic properties, but luckily I still have plenty of dried mushrooms from last year to beef up my casseroles over this autumn and winter. Despite the lack of edible mushrooms it is always fun to wander about a wood convincing yourself that you have discovered something tasty only to turn the page in the mushroom book and see an equally similar picture of a fungi with a name like the Sickener.

Blackberries are always abundant at home probably due to our relaxed and somewhat “hands-off” approach to the garden. We even have, after several years of diligent cultivation, a whole greenhouse full of brambles with berries the size of your thumb which are testament to my family’s ability to grow these wild plants. With the help of a faithful, ageing mutt, who only found one compared to my two rabbits, I managed to gather a large bowlful which weighed in at 2.5kg. It is always satisfying when your bowl becomes so heavy that it cannot be held in one hand for long. Thoroughly pleased I have already put them on to simmer and they are currently being strained, ready to be made into jelly in the morning. With Mum’s contribution too I will have plenty Bramble Jelly to go round. What lucky friends I have.

I love blackberries. Partly due to the struggle that sometimes is required to pick them, the largest and juiciest looking berries are always the most inaccessible, and most importantly that they are free which greatly appeals to my student outlook on feeding myself. But remember when picking them to always leave some left over for the local hedgerow inhabitants. I don’t know if rabbits eat berries, I don’t see why not, but I like to imagine mum, dad and multiple baby rabbits nibbling on the remaining berries in the sun on autumnal afternoons.

Also the jelly is fantastic. Have a slice of toast with this and shop-brought jam will seem so disappointing and unsatisfying in comparison.

Sloes, of course, are made into Sloe Gin. With the help of Grandpa, a gin consuming machine, I have, in a surprisingly short time, gained two empty 1.5l gin bottles. Give me two or three months, time for the sloes to infuse the gin, and I’ll have a boozy early Christmas tea party with cake, scones and of course my Bramble Jelly.

 Four of my jars of jam. I promise that they are home-made and not full Bonne Maman.