Looking after a small baby is rather time consuming, it turns out (heavy sarcasm intended here) ... hence the lack of recent posts and, indeed, hours of gardening under my belt in the last few weeks. The heavy rain that has dominated the skies over the past few weeks hasn't helped, either.
Rick harvested these gorgeous looking redcurrants which I found the time to freeze. I have to admit that aside from making redcurrant jelly, I have no idea what to do with them. All suugestions gratefully received ... preferably something that takes two minutes in between nappy changes and feeds, please ...
i planted a couple of red currant plants two year ago. no of them have produced any fruit. i dont understand why. the plants look healthy. any special thing i need to do? thanks.
Posted by: growyourownveg | July 05, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Redcurrant muffins - yes, they take a little longer than 2 min, but should fit in between nappy changes. It's based on an American recipe, so it's all in cups (and you may want to reduce the sugar a little, although the redcurrants are sufficiently tart that you may find the basic recipe is OK - I just adapted a blueberry muffin recipe.)
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar
2 teasp baking powder
1/2 teasp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
approx 1 cup redcurrants
1/2 teasp cinnamon (opt - I didn't, but I wish I had)
Combine first 4 ingredients (and cinnamon, if using) in a large bowl; make a well in centre of mixture. Combine egg, milk and oil; add liquid mixture to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Gently stir in redcurrants. Spoon into greased muffin pans filling 2/3 full. Bake at 400F (200C) for 20 to 25 min. Remove muffins frm pans immediately. Yield: approx 10 muffins.
Posted by: Anne P | July 06, 2007 at 08:05 AM
I never know what to do with redcurrants either. I've just made some jelly, but that's it. I heard someone uses redcurrant juice to add pectin to her strawberry jam.
Posted by: Matron | July 06, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Ooh, that looks like a great recipe Anne P, and I am currently on a "muffin kick" (made apple and cinnamon muffins recently which were fab) so will definitely give those a try...
Posted by: Jane Perrone | July 06, 2007 at 09:29 AM
Redcurrants and raspberries are a match made in heaven. Redcurrants brings out the flaour of rasps like nothing else in on their own, crumbles, pies, ice creams, jams, sorbets, jam, compotes etc etc
Posted by: mark | July 06, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Believe it, I just picked a cup of red currants!!! At this time of the year, ours are all done for. I'm going to make some more of the muffins. I doubted the thought of seeds not being a problem and they aren't.
Posted by: Ruth | September 25, 2007 at 02:35 PM
I MADE THESE MUFFINS TODAY WITH THE CINNAMON. THEY ARE VERY EASY TO MAKE, THE HARDEST PART WAS PICKING 1 CUP OF CURRANTS. THEY ARE VERY YUMMY:)
Posted by: ROSE | July 28, 2008 at 03:31 AM
growyourownveg, it might be that the variety you choose isn't adapted to your region climate. do you have enough cold in the winter? most of the berries need cold so that their flowers form.If the region doesn't provide the enough hours of cold flowers won't form and therefore you wont have fruits. I'm sure there's a lot of other possible reasons for your trees not being prooductive but this can be one.
Posted by: barbara | June 16, 2009 at 12:37 AM
I am also looking for recipes, and my trsuted cookery books have failed, only red currant jelly, I have picked 3 lbs this afternoon from 1 bush and have another rippening quickly. Although I love jelly I don't want to use it all in that way. I saw a site with Red currant cheese cake, I guess the same recipes as black currants can be used. Good luck
Posted by: Lyn Jones | June 21, 2009 at 07:50 PM
I have copious amounts of currants and have tried them in all sorts of stuff. I love making them into jam with strawberries or raspberries. Extends my sweet fruits and gives it a bit of zip. I have made currant banana muffins, currant blueberry muffins, currant blackberry pancakes are on the menu for tomorrow am. I agree that they are fab in crumble or mountain cake!! Yum! I'm ready to try them with any fruit in any fruit recipe!!
Posted by: Jacqueline Stearns | July 03, 2009 at 03:13 AM
What I do with my over producing current bushes:
of course Red Jelly
I also Run through a sieve and make Current Jam and Current sauce, Current Syrup is amazing on pancakes and waffels.
I mix 1/2 pulped and seeded currents with blueberries for Jam.
Current Cranberry and Orange rellish, Just about any Cranberry recipe can be used with the currents, same tart factor.
There are many recipies for Onion and Red Current Relish, or Currents and Horseradish.
Toss currents into an Apple Pie, I also make and then freeze Current Juice, add some to Lemonade for a zing.
Posted by: Jean | July 29, 2009 at 05:32 AM