Tunnel Vision

Last week we went on one of our regular routes, and it occurred to me that if I wasn't careful I could spend all my time looking closely at the shrubs and ground cover instead of the bigger picture. So in favour of balance, have a lovely picture of part of our walk.
I don't always forage on my walks. Sometimes the walk is enough, although usually I do have a bag in my pocket 'just in case'. I find it difficult to walk past without picking. The thought of something going to waste 'bothers my nose' as Mum would say!

Fat sloes

 Even when not actively picking, I've always got my eye on what's coming up. Further along this path, at the end of the tunnel where there is more light, the blackthorn bushes are smothered - or as we'd say 'snided'- in sloes.

Ideally we'd wait to pick them until after the first frost, but my fingers are twitching - and I do have a freezer. I must resist - there is a lot of other fruit in need of picking first!

It's been a bit busy in the FF household over the last couple of weeks. What with that and the weather the foraging went a little quiet. It did give me time to start producing goodies from the bounty though!

Cherries may be my new favourite thing to make things from. I've been determined to make the most of the lovely flavour and try to save it for a hit of summer in the depths of winter. So, cherry jam for starters. I did make five jars but only have one left as it's ever so popular with my friends! I used the wrong sugar (preserving rather than jam if you're interested), so it didn't set hard, but ooh it is good on a scone.

I used 4lb of the lovely fruit to start a cherry wine. I really hope the flavour comes through in the finished product, but I'll just have to wait and see. I don't use artificial methods of stopping my fermentation (as I'm allergic to sulphites), so it will probably be next year before I find out! As I'm impatient though, there are a couple of bottles of cherry liqueur on the go (one vodka, one brandy) which will be ready by the festive season. I'm picturing a good book, a roaring fire, and me getting gently sozzled thinking of summer!

I do have a few cherries left in the freezer (both wild and morello) so I can extend my cherry-fest a little longer. I also bought a new toy, so had to try dehydrating some cherries. I may have taken them a bit far as they are now rock hard, but I reckon that will just make them able to soak up more of the brandy I plan to rehydrate them in!