Martin B Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 My mum has bought me some to make something with..... but what? Kate- any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I made ours into muffins and a pavlova. Both delish!! Blueberry Muffins 250g self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 50g soft magarine 75g caster sugar 175g fresh blueberries grated rind of 1 lemon 2 eggs 250ml milk Preheat oven to 200C/GM6. Line a deep muffin tin with paper cases. Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl and rub in margarine with fingertips until you have a texture like breadcrumbs. Stir in sugar, blueberries and grated lemon rind. Mix together the eggs and milk and pour into dry ingredients. Mix quickly but gently to make a lumpy consistency. Don't beat it or you'll knock all the air out and have flat muffins! Spoon into prepared tin and fill cases almost to the top. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until well risen and golden. Leave to cool for a few minutes in tin then transfer to a wire rack. Best eaten warm - mmmmm! Pavlova 3 egg whites 175g caster sugar 1tsp cornflour 1tsp vinegar 1/2tsp vanilla extract Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until stiff. Whisk in the sugar, a third at a time, whisking well between each new addition until stiff and very shiny. Fold in the cornflour, vinegar and vanilla extract. Draw round a dinner plate on the greaseproof paper and spoon the meringe into this circle, making the edges slightly higher than the middle. Bake at 130C/GM1/2 for 1 and a quarter to 1 and a half hours until pale brown and dry but a little soft in the centre. Leave to cool slightly then peel off paper . It will crack and sink in the middle but it doesn't matter as you're going to smother it with cream and fruit! For the filling: Whip 300ml double or whipping cream until thick. You can sweeten it a little with some sifted icing sugar before you whip it if you like - I prefer it slightly sweeter. Spoon the cream into the centre of the pavlova and sprinkle the blueberries over this. It's DIVINE!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Mmmmm - I love Blueberries,but don't think they can be beaten just eaten as they are. They are just as good as strawberries dipped in chocolate,though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 Can you make blueberry jam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Don't see why not. I'll have a look in my vast collection of jam making books Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 OK, I've found 2 really nice looking recipes in one of my books. Blueberry Jam 1.4kg blueberries juice of 2 lemons 4 small fresh bayleaves 1kg sugar with pectin Stir the blueberries, lemon juice, bay leaves and half the sugar together in a non-metallic bowl, crushing the berries lightly. Cover and leave in a cool place for 6-8 hours. Tip the contents into a pan and add the remaining sugar. Stir over low heat until th sugar has dissovled. Raise the heat and boil hard for 4 minutes until setting point has been reached. Remove from heat, scoop out the bay leaves and skim off any scum. Leave to stand for 10-15 minutes. Stir gently then pour into warm, clean, dry jars. Cover and seal. Leave overnight to set. Store in cool, dry, dark place. Blueberry Curd 225g blueberries 50g unsalted butter, diced 225g caster sugar 3 eggs, lightly beaten Place blueberries in a covered saucepan with 1tbsp water and cook gently, shaking pan occasionally, until very soft (about 10 mins). Press through a fine, non-metallic sieve into a heatproof bowl then stir in the butter and sugar and put the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Don't allow the bottom of the bowl to sit in the water. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted. Strain in the eggs and continue to cook over simmering water until the curd thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon - 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally at first but more frequently towards the end of the cooking process. Strain into warm, clean, dry jars. Cover and seal. Store in a cold, dark, dry place or in the fridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 The blueberry curd sounds good! Thanks again Kate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 What exactly do you mean by strain though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I fancy the curd too. We have 5 blueberry bushes in the garden so we might have enough to try that next year. If you make it, let me know whether it's worth a go, Martin. Blueberries are gorgeous in anything - cooked or raw! We all enjoyed the muffins so I'll be making them again. Good luck with whatever you make ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 Will let you know tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 How long will it last for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Lemon curd usually keeps for up to 4 weeks so I should imagine this would keep for the same length of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 Blueberry Curd 225g blueberries 50g unsalted butter, diced 225g caster sugar 3 eggs, lightly beaten Place blueberries in a covered saucepan with 1tbsp water and cook gently, shaking pan occasionally, until very soft (about 10 mins). Press through a fine, non-metallic sieve into a heatproof bowl then stir in the butter and sugar and put the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Don't allow the bottom of the bowl to sit in the water. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted. Strain in the eggs and continue to cook over simmering water until the curd thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon - 30-40 minutes. Stir occasionally at first but more frequently towards the end of the cooking process. Strain into warm, clean, dry jars. Cover and seal. Store in a cold, dark, dry place or in the fridge. A huge success, quite runny but absolutely georgeous. My Dad says it it the tastiest thing I have ever made! Thanks Kate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Woohoo !! Well done Martin!! Nothing quite like a fruit curd, is there. So glad it worked out so well! Told you that you were a star ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 Try telling Sean that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Don't tell me he picked all the blueberries while you stirred again ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 No he didn't. He didn;t come into the kitchen once. He keeps singing about Slave labour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Terrific ! He and Ollie would get on very well as he would say just the same thing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 if we used our crop of blueberries we would get a teaspoon of curd THANK YOU CHARLIE FOR EATING THEM ALL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Our blackbird must be trying to keep up! We had to net ours in the end as it's so painful watching your delicious crop disappearing before your eyes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 The chickens ate all of my shiny red tomatoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Naughty chickens! No treats for them, eh ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 They can have a few crushed cornflakes every so often I suppose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 The chickens ate all of my shiny red tomatoes. Now that charlie has finished the blueberries he is onto our tomatoes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
