Archives September 2018

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TOP 8 ORCHARD EXPERIENCES

At OrchardsNearme.com we go to grow. Every experience allows us to immerse ourselves in the culture, history and food of the places we visit. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the sun kissed vines of the Duoro Valley, there is so much to be explored. Every moment of your orchard adventure is unique and will leave you with long lasting memories. Here are some of the top orchard experiences we would suggest:

  1. Discover the grapes of the Douro Valley
  2. Experience the wine harvest of Rioja Region in Spain
  3. A Citrus Cycling Adventure in the Algarve, Portugal
  4. Walk through the heart of Tuscany at Harvest Time
  5. Cycling in the stunning Loire Valley – France
  6. Stargazing and traditional suppers in Central Portugal
  7. Walk a taste trail for the senses along the Italian Coastline
  8. Cycling romantic Italy at harvest time

Now that you have a few great ideas it is time to make a plan. Whatever orchard experience you choose we are here to help you go to grow. Getting ready? Get your free packing checklist here.

For more information on any of the suggested tours please contact one of our travel specialists.

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FRUIT RECIPE: HOMEMADE BLACKBERRY JAM

What food warms your heart in winter? For us, there is nothing that compares to warm toast, creamy butter and fresh homemade blackberry jam. Toast is pretty simple if you have a toaster or grill. Here is a short and easy recipe for homemade jam to melt your heart. Blackberries are one of our favourite things to forage for so we will focus on Blackberry jam for now.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 kg Blackberries
  • 1 litre of water
  • 1.8 kg Caster sugar
  • 1 spoonful of honey
  • 1 lemon

METHOD

Always start by picking the berries. If you are out of season don’t worry. Head to your local organic supermarket to pick up some fresh berries. If you are organised than maybe you have some stored in the freezer from last seasons harvest.

How many blackberries do you need?
You should make blackberry jam in small batches. This recipe is enough for 4 large jars of jam. For each jar you will need at least 5 mugs of berries. That’s a good days pickings.

Wash the fruit is cold water to remove any excess dirt, insects or stems.

If you are like me you will want to leave some berry chunks in your jam but if you prefer smooth jam than you will need to whisk the berries in a food processor. I simply use a fork to mash them around in a pan. Add a little lemon juice at this point.

Next place the pan over a warm hob and heat gently. Don’t be tempted to turn the heat up full blast, you don’t want to burn away all of those juicy flavours.

After 5 minutes of gentle boiling add the sugar to the pan. Gently stir the mixture. Wait until the mixture starts to bubble and boil. At this point turn off the heat and leave the jam settle before transferring it to a dish or jar. Place in the fridge for a couple of hours to help the jam set.

Last but not least, serve on warm homemade soda bread, scones or toast to show off your newly made homemade blackberry jam. Enjoy!

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