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What do I do with a bucket of redcurrants?

Behold! I have picked redcurrants! I haven’t weighed them yet, but I reckon I have ten pounds of the little buggars.

Did you know (because I didn’t) that growing currants was illegal in many places in the States until recently? Article says black currants, but I’m not sure if it’s just black currants. It was believed to harbor a fungus dangerous to trees (also gooseberries, for a similar reason).

That explains why blackcurrant is such a common flavor here for juice drinks and candies and so on and not a common flavor back home.

Red currant is most commonly used here to make a jelly that is served with lamb. We don’t eat lamb.

I’m going to have a thunk. They’re nice. A bit sharp, but still edible raw. I found one recipe that said to poach them for four minutes, then sprinkle them with sugar and serve them with cream.

Ideas?

Don’t even mention the freezer. Our freezers are full of last year’s red currants.

Comments


Comment from Uncle Badger
Time: July 22, 2019, 9:40 pm

And rhubarb. Don’t forget the rhubarb.

Uncle Badger is the rhubarb king and exceedingly proud of his forest of the blessed plant.


Comment from Ric
Time: July 22, 2019, 10:39 pm

Fresh berries over vanilla ice cream!


Comment from Pupster
Time: July 22, 2019, 10:59 pm

I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a currant on purpose.


Comment from Mitchell
Time: July 23, 2019, 12:22 am

I guess I always thought currants were a type of cherry. They certainly look like cherries anyway.


Comment from Some Vegetable
Time: July 23, 2019, 1:18 am

My dad trained me to be a fan of dried black currants (like raisins but with a distinct difference in flavor), served with nuts and a good port.

My mother’s preference was for Red Currant Jam, which I also quite like.
Here’s a randomly chosen example recipe.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/red-currant-jam-recipe-1327858

Especially nice on am English Muffin.

My Grandfather made repeated attempts to make Red Currant wine, although if he ever made a batch that was drinkable, I never heard of it, let alone tasted it.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Red-Currant-Wine-Recipe/
I always found it (like rhubarb) an unpalatable combination of too sweet and too sour; Some people like it though.


Comment from DurnedYankee
Time: July 23, 2019, 2:25 am

We had Rhubarb in the back yard in Masswatuchetts. We used to pick it, run water over it, dip it in the sugar bowl, and make my mother angry.

But Strawberry Rhubarb pie….that is the best. Even better than destroying your enemies, seeing them driven before you and hearing the lamentations of the people who don’t have red currant jam.


Comment from MrsMGunz
Time: July 23, 2019, 11:36 am

I grew up eating those – used to sneak to the current bushes to eat them!

Try making them into a sugar sauce (thickened with corn starch) and serving over pound cake with whipped cream. 😀


Comment from Durnedyankee
Time: July 23, 2019, 11:50 am

Hey! You got the Boris that the Russians were supposed to deliver to us in 2016!

You’ll be hearing from our lawyers, after they’re done trying to impeach Orangemanbad.


Comment from Clifford Skridlow
Time: July 23, 2019, 5:02 pm

Smoked pork tenderloins, marinated for a day in red currant jelly and dijon mustard. Cook them on the far end of the smoker and brush them with the marinade for the last hour or so. Mighty fine.


Comment from Deborah HH
Time: July 23, 2019, 6:02 pm

I’d suggest leaving bags of them in unlocked cars, but that might get you tossed into the pokey. Maybe mix a handful or two in with the chicken feed? I bet the chickens would love red currants.

Re: Black currants. I read somewhere that Elton John loves a carbonated beverage flavored with black currants and has it shipped to the States in large quantities.

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