Blackberries are the easiest of things to identify. Granny would say you couldn’t eat them after September as the devil had spat on them, a saying that I discovered is rooted in a bible story involving Lucifer landing in hell directly on top of a blackberry bush. Even if the devil hasn’t spat on your blackberries, by September’s end they are usually quite manky so best harvest them early. Elderberries are a little harder to identify with other plants fashioning similar berries, so make sure you are certain before cooking with them.
Many recipes call for cooking apples, which will collapse in the heat of the pan resulting in a smoother jam. I rather like using eating apples though as they keep their shape, resulting in little tart nubbins within the jam.
Filling the house with fruity steam and BBC Radio 4 is one of my most favourite ways to celebrate the season. It’s cheap and easy, and I encourage everyone to join in.
Here are more recipes from Beth