MarmeeDear's Recipe Library

We have always lived in the country and always had plentiful thickets of blackberries. Picking blackberries is just standard fare around here every summer…it’s therapy plucking a plump ripe berry and dropping it into a basket. I sketched this for my nature notebook some years ago.

Here on our acres thickets are plentiful with berries and the little GrandDears are keeping up the tradition of plucking berries and bringing in cupfuls to make treats.

They all love our original recipe of BlackBerry Fritters found in The Young Man's Handybook. I think I’ve just found a new favorite!

Flipping through some old Southern Living Magazines I found a featured recipe of Buttermilk-Blackberry Popsicle. Hmmm…sounds interesting ‘cuz recently I have acquired a taste for thick and creamy raw buttermilk we get from a local  dairy…I keep it in a tiny glass bottle in my frig door and take a few swigs a few times a day…good fer ya!

[PRINTABLE RECIPE CLICK HERE]

I tweaked up the recipe and made them like this:
Blend up in food processor or blender:
1 1/2 cups washed freshly picked blackberries
7 Tablespoons orange juice concentrate
Mix together:
1 1/2 cups fresh creamy whole raw buttermilk
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup clover honey
Add in fruit and buttermilk mixture alternately to popsicle molds or mini paper cups (like little bathroom dixie cups)  until 3/4 full. Place in freezer on sturdy shelf for 20 minutes. Then push in wooden Popsicle sticks into centers of each pop. Freeze overnight.

Note 1: You will have to run warm water over the outside of the mold or cup for a few seconds to be able to loosen the popsicle from the mold.
Note 2: Blackberries have seeds…some of these are blended in the processor but the popsicle will have small seeds still – so if you have an aversion to blackberry seeds or digestive issues you would need to put the berries through a strainer first to remove all seeds. The BOSCH accessory of the Berry Press does a great job of this if you want to go to the extra trouble of removing the seeds.
Note 3: I think after savoring and enjoying these dreamy frozen treats, that it would be delish with blueberries or strawberries too! So I am definitely going to try it as soon as the blueberry patch across the lane starts hanging heavy with plump blue deliciousness.
NOTE: I've tried it since with peaches and also strawberries and it is AMAZING!

My serving suggestions...we love all of these!

C-C-C Sticky Wings 

Indian Fry Bread 
Honey
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C-C-C Sticky Wings
Pasta Salad or Potato Salad
Corn on the Cob
Garlic Toast
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C-C-C Sticky Wings
Indian Pilauf
Fried Okra
Zucchini & Summer Squash Stir-Fry
Naan
Honey Butter Spread

This salad is sweet and crunchy. Broccoli, crumbled bacon, raisins and almonds, with a pop of sweet red onion tossed in a sweet tangy dressing. Delicious!

[PRINTABLE RECIPE CLICK HERE]

Cook in a skillet on low-med heat; cut strips in half and cook until crispy:

• 1 pound thick-sliced bacon

Drain off grease. Clip up small with kitchen scissors while still in pan and then remove from pan to a paper towel to absorb excess grease. 

• Fresh broccoli heads

Rinse broccoli, trim off top florets into small pieces. I used 3 small heads for this recipe. It is simple to make more or less according to how much you need. I then take the tender part of the stem close to the florets and cut them in 2-3 inch lengths. I peel the stems like you would a potato and then put them through my grater to add to the mixture of florets. Only use the stems peeled and the parts that are not tough and fibrous or stringy. Place in a large glass or stainless bowl. Pat dry if there is any excess water from the rinsing process.
Add into the bowl with the broccoli florets and shredded stems:

• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 1/2 cup raisins
• 1.5 lb block sharp cheddar - cut in small cubes 1/2"
• 1 med red onion thinly sliced 

In a small bowl with a whisk until smooth:

• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 
• 2 cups DUKES mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup cane sugar crystals
• 3/4 tsp. coarse black pepper
• 1 tsp. coarse celtic salt

Keep chilled. Best if served after chilling overnight. Serve cold. A favorite salad of mine for summer potlucks & picnics & parties. Always! yes...always! Keep dishes with mayonnaise well-chilled.