'It's only the hairs on a goosegog that stops it from being a grape' (anon.)
It's gooseberry season in the small mountain kingdom of Trelystan. The 3 bushes planted last summer have fruited prolifically; the viciously spiked branches are laden with hairy green berries.
It's gooseberry season in the small mountain kingdom of Trelystan. The 3 bushes planted last summer have fruited prolifically; the viciously spiked branches are laden with hairy green berries.Sizewise the individual fruits are pretty good too, although not quite worthy of one of those cut-throat gooseberry competitions held by the old Gooseberry societies. Sadly my fruit have succumbed to mildew - which is Not a Good Thing.
I've picked a colander full anyway - each fruit a reminder of what an unpleasant thing it is to harvest. It was a job we were always given as children.'Because you've got small hands...' Yeah right. We also got to 'top and tail' them too - and that's as boring a job as jobs get. I've a sneaking suspicion that even when cooked up into the inevitable pie they were not popular with the Cross children either.
I think I'm going to make Gooseberry and Elderflower Fool - the two things coming into season alongside each other, albeit on either side of the garden fence. I bet my Glamorous Ass. will complain that it's sloppy stuff. Tough.
9 comments:
Now it's your turn to be way ahead. My gooseberries aren't ready yet, but they spend time every day sharpening their killer thorns in preparation for when I'm brave enough to come picking.
Fool is lovely, but you can't eat it in vast quantities; ice cream is very good too, especially with elderflower, and a flaky pastry tart is just divine. But I know I'm going to be filling the freezer and giving loads away this year, and spending my evenings picking thorns out of my fingers.... Maybe I need some children with small hands to come and help....
Me too! But only enough for on crumble so far...
He he "Gamourous Ass." sounds decidedly dodgy!! My word verification is . . pickledl
- I only had one glass honest!
I inititally thought 'I'll bet my Glamorous Ass' was along the lines of 'I'll bet my bottom dollar...' but then I caught up! (Sigh. I do apologise.) Sadly I'm the only one in this house who likes goosegogs, so I've sneaked in a pink one. Can't wait 'til next year!
Ohh, Gooseberries remind me of our old house. Mum used to grow loads of them in the top garden... not that I liked them, but it's a nice memory! I've not seen any gooseberries for ages.
I love gooseberries and we have tons. Have to agree with you about the risks of harvest but they are so good. I have tons of recipes: gooseberry fool. gooseberry and elderflower jam, gooseberry cake as well as crumbles and pies. yum yum yum.
Gooseberries galore this year. The scraper has warned me to clear some space in the freezer. Fool, jam, puree and a bit of stewed mash for the winter - those are all the recipes I know of. What's the betting I'll end up with bags of them cluttering up the freezer again.
Grapes without hairs? No way. Far too tart. My cheeks are aching at the thought.
Having pruned my gooseberry bush earlier in the year it hasn't fruited brilliantly not enough for jam but plenty for a version of 'Eves pudding' a crumble this eve and plain stewed yesterday. Ohhhh delishus!
CKx
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