I just want you to know that this tree is banned! But we had one already growing on our property, so we get to keep it. Actually, this harvest is from our neighbor’s tree that grows over our fence–all over it!
Seriously, it is illegal to plant a mulberry tree and it has been for a long time. Why on earth would we ban the planting of a wonderful tree that bears copious amounts of berries, you ask? I have no idea, except that this particular tree is very hard to get rid of even after you cut it down, dig out the root and cover the place where it was with layers of shingles.
Ask me how I know this.
Since we have them all around us, we decided to make use of the berries this year. Mulberries have a rather bland, slightly sweet flavor that doesn’t seem to stand out on its own.
I have wanted to use the berries to make jam and pies, but I couldn’t seem to get a good flavor, so I put it off. There are always so many things to do in the summer, anyway, but this year seems special. There are so many good-quality berries, for one thing. And for another, our taste buds have been (at least mostly) weaned off of sugar. I have found that most of the flavors I used to think were bland were just muted from sugar usage. Or maybe it’s just my imagination. But this year we are going for it.
We have left sheets spread out to catch the berries as they fall, but that method also catches lots of things we don’t want. So we spread and shake, then wait a day or so and spread and shake. That seems to work best.
Pick them up, and you’re done!
I heard from a friend of mine who just loves to make mulberry pie, that you must use lemon! That is the key to bringing the flavor out. We will be taking her advice, and I will let you know how it goes. Right now I have quarts of mulberries and raspberries in my kitchen just waiting for something to do, so I’d better get to it before it’s Sunday!
Happy Forth of July, everyone!
God bless America (and lead her to repentance.)
The Fullers Four 