Bursting with berries

This week we have a plethora of berries ripening.  CSA members will share in this bounty – and get some unique fruit.  IFM shoppers will find our booth filled with a diverse mix of gooseberries, currants, and raspberries. 

What to do with all these berries?  Much of the fruit should be enjoyed fresh – especially the gooseberries which store in the fridge well.  For those of you interested in jam and jelly making,  the Hinnomaki Red Gooseberries and red currants make excellent single varietal jams.  We love black currant jam, but it also delicious when mixed with black or red raspberries.  As someone noted, the Invicta Gooseberry jam does not look appealing.  However, it can be juiced and made into jelly.  It is fun to experiment with different fruit blends.  We prefer to use Pomona Pectin (found at Greenstar) as it does not require sugar to jell.  We use honey as a sweetener.  Cooperative Extension is hosting upcoming canning classes: http://ccetompkins.org/nutrition/food-preservation

Freezing the berries is another option.  It is great fun to pull out a bag in the middle of winter to bake muffins, to make delicious fruit smoothies, and Idunn loves to snack on frozen currants.  You can also use the frozen berries to make jam or jelly when you have more time.  The currants and smaller Black Velvet gooseberries are best for pancakes.  The berries can also be cooked down into a sauce.  I should note that gooseberries are high in vitamin C and with frozen berries I can avoid purchasing tropical fruit altogether.  The New York State Hort Society just released a study on black raspberries which shows they are off the chart with antioxidant capacity.  http://www.nyshs.org/pdf/2009-Volume-17/Vol-17-No-1/Antioxidant-Capacity-of-Phenolic-Phytochemicals-in-Black-Raspberries.pdf

That said I am off to cook waffles which we will top with the Gooseberry Fool Michele dropped off.  It is delicious!  Michele is baking with berries in season so remember to check her blog: http://thehaywardhouse-aviewfromtheporch.blogspot.com/

I apologize for the lack of a recipe section yet, the berries began and everything else ended.