Hurry — before you know it, the end of September will be here and fresh, in-season blackberries will be gone. Like the lingering warm nights of the Summer, the last of the blackberry pickings should be delightfully savored. Here are our favorite ways to enjoy them.
I've been up to my knees in blueberries after discovering cartons of them on sale for next to nothing at the market. After a long afternoon of hard work, I found myself in need of an alcoholic refreshment — so very naturally, the berries found their way into my drink. Browsing through cocktail recipes, I was inspired by a libation, Le Midi, which combines the essence of lavender with blueberries. I reinterpreted that with berry sauce I'd just made, lavender-scented limoncello, and Cointreau liqueur.
The end result smelled sweet and tasted fruity-floral, with just a whiff of lavender that wasn't overwhelming. For the recipe, read on.
It's cherry season, and if you love the plump miniature stone fruits, you better act fast. They aren't around all year, and the time to enjoy cherries is now. To encourage you make the most of cherry season, I've rounded up 10 of our best sweet and savory preparations.
Katie's creative strawberry, balsamic, and black pepper cocktail was a great reminder that strawberries aren't just for shortcake; there are plenty of different ways to make the most of the fruit's floral, sweet-tart quality, from strawberry-thyme panna cotta to tequila infusions, and even strawberry spaghetti! Now that strawberries are at their peak, what's your favorite way to work with them, besides eating them straight out of hand?
When hosting a female-centric event like a baby or bridal shower, it's important to offer a special nonalcoholic drink for those who don't sip alcohol. My favorite mocktail? Raspberry lemonade. It's a combination of fresh raspberry syrup, lemon juice, sugar, and water. What I love about this recipe is its adaptability. If it's too sweet, dilute with water. If it's too sour, add more sugar. It's also easy to turn into an alcoholic concoction, all you have to do is add sparkling wine or vodka. Fabulous! Get the recipe I like here.
After satisfying my curiosity about the fine distinction between biscuits and scones, I decided I needed to heed my physical craving for them, too. And given my near-obsession with raspberries this month, what better way than to pull together a quick raspberry scone?
The best part of this recipe is the fact that it doesn't require a mixer of any kind; just a food processor — something I couldn't live without, anyway. In half an hour, these babies were in the oven, and 15 minutes later, they were in my mouth.
It's best to eat the batch within a day, so make these for a crowd. Or, you can follow in my gluttonous footsteps: I meant to sample one out of the oven, but wound up eating at least three. The recipe? It's right here.
I'm a big fan of raspberry cocktails, so I knew the minute I came across a raspberry rose syrup that it'd be a must try. The recipe called for rose petals, but I substituted rose water, which I already had on hand (it can be found at Middle Eastern grocers or online at Amazon).
The cooking process is basic: Dissolve sugar in a wine-and-water mixture, cooking raspberries down until a gooey syrup forms. The finished product is not only sweet and tart, but also has a lingering floral flavor from the rose water. See the easy recipe — and the different ways I made use of the syrup! — when you read more.
I've never met a sangria I didn't like, and this blushing variation with Rosé and raspberries is absolutely delightful. It's the ideal sort of drink to enjoy with salty nibbles while watching a late Summer sunset. Some tips: Be sure to make in advance, as this will give the ingredients time to meld. Don't skip the creme de cassis; it really develops the flavor of the berries and Rosé. Ask your local wine shop owner for the driest Rosé, otherwise the sangria will end up too sweet. You'll love sipping this pretty pink concoction, so get the recipe after the jump.
The antidote to a solemn Summer, I recently learned, is liberating oneself with a spur-of-the-moment trip someplace new. That, and finding ways to celebrate even the minor details in life.
Over the weekend, I popped open a bottle of bubbly to commemorate the small fact that we'd finally gotten around to revamping the apartment. (Casa would be proud.) To liven up our glasses, I tossed in some leftover blackberry Calvados, grenadine, and our fruit of the month, raspberries.
The cocktail's vibrant jewel tone and floral bouquet were the perfect accoutrement to an unusually warm afternoon.
Are you, too, hoping for your share of the splendor, regardless of the occasion? Then get your hands on the recipe.
If you saw the word daiquiri and pictured a florescent blended drink, you better think again. A traditional daiquiri consists of nothing more than simple syrup, lime juice, and rum, and it's served straight up. This delightful recipe expands on the idea by adding fresh raspberries to the mix. The resulting cocktail has a pretty color and refreshing taste. It's neither overly sweet nor too strong; it's perfectly balanced. The thing I love the most about this libation, though, is its name. Isn't it fun to say, la bomba daiquiri?! Just writing the words puts a smile on my face. To shake this up for your friends, get the recipe after the jump.
