The Red Raspberries are ripe and ready for picking. High in vitamin C the leaves can be made into a tea for morning sickness and is a good herb to take for the entire pregnancy. According to folklore raspberries were originally white, when Ida (a nymph) pricked her finger while picking berries for the crying baby Jupiter, the raspberries were tinged red from her blood.They also make a great cordial. so off we go to get our wild raspberries before the birds have eaten all of them, but when we get there we find something did beat us to the berries - a Bear!
See how all the bushes are broken and crushed. However we managed to pick enough berries to make our cordial and didn't run into Mr. Bear!
Raspberry Liqueur Recipe
1 1/2 lbs. fresh Raspberries
1 cup sugar
3 cups white zinfandel
1 1/2 cups 100 proof vodka
2 cups water
Crush berries and sugar together in bowl. Let stand for 1 hour. Transfer to 2 quart container and add zinfandel, vodka, and water. Cover and let stand in a cool, dark place for 3 days, shaking frequently.
Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain out solids.Transfer liqueur to clean container and let stand for 1 week.Filter into final container and age for at least 1 month more before serving.
Cordials from the Kitchen
Pattie Vargas
& Rich Gulling
