1/2 a pound Of Sloes

[stella]

My Husband has just taken the dogs for a walk and come back with approx 1/2 a pound of sloes (at least I think they are sloes). I have no idea what to do with them, I have never cooked with them before and these look in good condition, any ideas. Not sloe gin

[Strawberry delight]

You probably (saying you dont want gin) dont want alcohol either but you can do other alcohols aswel instead as gin!

[northepaul]

You could make sloe and apple jelly??

[stella]

Thats a thought. Is it just apples, sloes, lemon and sugar strain it then boil to set?

[Flummery]

Cook the fruit with a little water, drip overnightand add 1lb sugar to 1 pt juice, then boil to set.

They are so astringent I wouldn't attempt to cook them to eat!

[Nicos]

might be good to check that they are sloes first!!

I think it's a bit late now for bullaces- although not so sure about damsons.
Are they small and hard and no bigger than your index finger nail??
Take a tiny nibble. If they are bitter as flum suggests- then yup they are most likely sloes ( I'd go through some Google images just to check the size, shape and leaf type first though)

[stella]

Yep small but not hard on the outside as I think they are very ripe and very bitter

[Nicos]

...look what I found!!!!...

sloe.biz • View forum - Sloe jam, jelly, etc

[stella]

Urm thanks Nicos but I could not look at your link as it was not sure I was over 18 and it is a restricted site!!??!!! First time I have been told that for a while

[Nicos]

how strange..I've just clicked and got straight in.
maybe you should type more slowly with one finger whilst chewing your tongue

I'll copy some ideas on it for you.

[stella]

And twiddling my hair, I am still not old enough for this site

[Nicos]

Sloe ketchup/sauce
quote....What I did, just for info, was to cook some sloes up in the rayburn, liquidise and seive them and then mix them with a little ground allspice, some sugar and some wine vinegar. I don't know the quantities - I just mixed it until it tasted OK and poured reasonably well - like tomato ketchup.

I didn't cook everything up together, just mixed it at the end while everything was still hot.

store in fridge

sloe jam
quote...All you need is:
900g (2lb) Sloes
1.8kg (4lb) Cooking apples
Juice and peel of one Lemon
Sugar

Wash and drain the sloes and prick them. Put them In a pan with the lemon juice, peel and just enough water to cover. Simmer until pulpy.

Wash and chop the apples, then simmer in a Separate pan, with water to cover - again until soft and pulpy.

Strain the two pulps through scalded jelly bags or fine muslin hung overnight over bowls to catch the juice - do not squeeze the bags, which will result in cloudy jelly.

Mix and then measure the juices, bring to the boil, add sugar at the rate of 450g to 570ml (1lb to 1 pint) and stir until dissolved. Boil until setting point is reached. Remove any scum, using a heated stainless-steel spoon.
then you can bottle it, and store it.

sloe chutney

Quote...Sloe Chutney
1kg sloes
450g brown sugar
225g seedless raisins
1 stick cinnamon
1 teaspoon whole cloves
300 ml malt vinegar
Wash sloes and put into casserole, cover tightly and cook in a slow oven until they are very soft, pass through a sieve, Tie the spices in a muslin bag and put this with the pureed sloes and the remaining ingredients into a stainless steel pan. Bring to the boil, stirring well until the sugar has dissolved . Simmer gently for 30 minutes. Remove muslin bag. pot and seal. Store at least two months before use. A pleasant, mild chutney.

Sloe cake
Quote...As per the pud recipie I stewed 200g sloes til they were pulpy and then passed them through a sieve to remove the stones and skins. I then added a tablespoon of bramble jelly and sweetened the puree. I spread this over the bottom of an ovenproof dish and topped it with a basic 2 egg sponge mix then sprinkled flaked almonds over the top. Baked at gm 4 for about 25 mins or so then served warm with soured cream and satsuma zest.

Hope that's a start??

[Nicos]

And twiddling my hair, I am still not old enough for this site

Ah- but have you tried a tena lady??????

[stella]

Many thanks Nicos, going to go and pick some more now with all of these to make

[northepaul]

The cake sounds yummy nicos...(goes to dig out the kg of sloes in the freezer)