Dear The Kitchen,
Please help! My sister in law delivered to me this morning a 5 lb. bag of completely thawed raspberries and a 5 lb. bag of thawed blueberries (&, btw, a thawed 2 lb. bag of peas). Her freezer is not working & she knows I (usually) have a good imagination & do cook/bake. What can I make? Something that can be stored/frozen-well, actually, anything! Will appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!
- Leeds
Dear Leeds,
I would probably work with just one of the three bags, which ever you like best. I might put the peas and the blueberries in your own freezer for a later use - although re-frozen, the berries will be fine for smoothies or pancakes, and the peas could be whipped into a soup without too much harm done.
Phew! Now that you only have one 5lb-bag to contend with, why not make a raspberry sauce by cooking them down with a little sugar? The sauce can be used over ice cream, pound cake, or just about any other dessert. You could also make a raspberry sorbet or ice cream - that of course can be easily re-frozen. You could also make some jam if you're feeling really industrious.
Good Luck!
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My husband would be so excited if he got those berries. he would make a big batch of sorbet by putting them in a blender and with maybe some orange juice and a little lemon or lime juice. Then he freezes it. Or he'll make a big pitcher good berry alcohol cocktail. Besides making a cobbler, mixing them into muffins or making a compote to pour onto angel food cake- I can't think of anything else.
Thanks, good idea Sara Kate! I wasn't sure if I could re-freeze, but you're right, for smoothies they would be OK, thanks again. Guess I panicked--I sure wasn't expecting that right before leaving for work.
It's definitely more manageable to work with just one of the ingredients as you wisely suggest. I may make a blueberry compote & a blueberry coffeecake (recipe that I found which uses thawed blueberries). Thanks, Dani (berry alcohol cocktail sounds G-o-o-d, & the weekend starts tonight!!)
Will look up some easy jam recipes maybe. I've only had one experience making jam(bad one--I reduced the sugar which totally affected the result--oops!) but I'll have to try again some time.
What a nice surprise!
I would use some to make a sauce and then freeze the sauce.
The pea soup idea was great - If I had the time I would even make it up front and then freeze the soup.
To use for now, I love cobblers, crumbs and pies.
You could also use the berries to make a 'jam'. We used to cook down extra fruit, just add sugar (and lemon if needed) and then can them in sterile jars and refridgerate.
Good luck! Don't stain too much!
Make jam! Make jam! Make jam!
Our friends made blueberry jam as favors for their wedding. It was soooooooo good. Theirs was in sealed jars, no refrigeration needed until opened. My husband and I are still fighting over the last few jars.
I make a berry compote with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, though you can throw other fruit in there if you feel like it. It's really good, and all you need to add is a little water and some sugar/splenda and let it cook on the stove. Serve with cream/ice cream :)
How about fruit leather? Easy, tasty, and lasts for ages.
thanks, everyone! I looked up some jam recipes yesterday. compote seems easy & easy to mess up!
m - how do you make fruit leather? I don't have a food drier...
would have helped me as well if I had an ice cream maker, but not in my current apt. as kitchen is too small!
will update soon on stuff I've made with the goodies.