Mulberry conserve with vanilla and orange zest

and here it is - the recipe
i had about 1 1/4 kg of mulberries that i had collected off our tree out the lounge room window and i had been freezing them. Don't attempt this recipe if you don't like mess!
i modified the recipe from 'windfalls' for mulberry jam

ingredients

1kg mulberries (stalks removed)
800g sugar
100 ml water
juice of 2-3 lemons
teaspoon of vanilla bean paste
or
1 vanilla bean
1 teaspoon of orange zest

add the mulberries, lemon juice (and pips, you can scoop them out later and they have pectin) and water to a large pot and simmer until all the fruit is soft and mushy.
Once it is soft, turn the heat down and add sugar. When the sugar has all dissolved, turn the heat up high and bring to a rolling boil.
After a little while the mixture will bubble up really high, at this stage it is getting close to being ready, start testing for set. The bubbling will subside and when it does test for set often. it will happen quickly. When it reaches set point, take off the heat immediately and bottle. While the jars are still hot invert them to create a good seal and sterilise. and voila! delicious mulberry vanilla and orange zest conserve!

mulberry jam...

i have finally made the jam! and its good :)
but first, here's the trees they came from, and a bowl of the glorious purple staining fruit that tastes like childhood

botanical drawings...

on a side note, i love botanical illustrations. i am a biologist after all...
i found this one of mulberries which i really like

a mulberry tree!!

exciting news!
recently i discovered two old mulberry trees growing outside my lounge room window! (by just discovered i mean only just connected the large green leaved trees that i knew were there were mulberry trees because they are fruiting)
and this is very exciting!
so far i have made mulberry and white chocolate muffins using stephanie alexanders recipe for muffins from her bible - 'a cooks companion' - and will be making mulberry jam as soon as i collect about 1 kg of berries
yay!


recipe - mulberry and white chocolate muffins
220g self-raising flour
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk (i used soy)
1 egg
3/4 cup vegetable oil
a big handful of white chocolate bits
1 cup mulberries

with an over preheat to 180 combine all you wet ingredients (except berries) and whisk lightly to combine . Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl (sifting if you feel energetic) and make a well in the centre. Add the wet ingredients and berries and stir lightly until just combined. put muffin mix into muffin cases and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden on top
YUM
image via giniann.wordpress.com