Gathering mulberries can be a hazardous occupation. The traditional method involves spreading a sheet on the ground underneath the branches and shaking the tree till the fruit drops.
MAKES: about 2¼ cups
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 pints overripe mulberries
- sugar (for quantity see below)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Place the mulberries in the top of a double boiler or in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Mash the fruits with the back of a spoon to break them down and add 1 tablespoon water. Cook until the fruit is soft and the juices are flowing and the fruit comes to the boil, stirring now and then.
- Pour into a jelly bag and collect the drips in a measuring pitcher.
- Add ⅝ rounded cup sugar to every 1 cup juice and stir over a low heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Bring just to the boil, then quickly remove from the heat.
- Pour the nectar into clean, clip-top or corked bottles and sterilize, or pour into freezer containers, seal, and freeze.
