It’s blackberry time!

By SU STELLA/for The Herald  —  Blackberries are everywhere. This free food is not only great to preserve but also ensures a year-round supply of deliciousness. Grab the kids, the buckets and band aids it is berry picking time!

Gathering: Be sure to wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when you go out to pick them. I like to have a large bowl, colander, or even a bucket to put them in. I prefer a colander to bring them in and rinse them immediately.

Dehydrating: I like to pour them out on a towel to inspect them while they dry. Remove any stems and do a general check on each berry.

Then, load your dehydrator trays with a single layer of berries. Set the temperature to 135′ Fahrenheit or 57′ Celsius. Depending on the juiciness of the berries, it could take 18 to 24 hours.

Your berries are ready when they crumble to dust in your fingers after the dehydrating process. You can use a grinder to pulverize everything. I prefer to use a sifter and discard any seeds. Store your powder in mason jars. Add a spoon to yogurt, oatmeal, in recipes,

Blackberry Quencher Concentrate

This recipe is quick and easy for everyone. All you need are the ingredients, a pot, a strainer, storage jars, and a stove top or hot plate.

I make small batches and add this sweet juice to my tea, smoothies, and soda water (with a shot of vodka for the adults), for a refreshing afternoon cooler.

3 cups of blackberries

2 cups of sugar

6 cups of water

Bring everything to a boil for 15 to 20 minutes. When the water is rich purple in color, strain your liquid into clean mason jars. It is common to have a cup of sugar for every cup of berries, but I do not want the extra calories. Store this in your fridge and use it within a week, which is easy because it tastes so good.

Deep Purple Lemonade Concentrate

This is a fantastic way to save your bounty for the winter. This delicious mix can flavor tea, smoothies, yogurt, and oatmeal and is a great substitute for baking. This recipe is for folks with canning skills. If you are new to canning, please watch a professional canning video because food safety is vital.

6 cups of blackberries

6 cups white sugar

4 cups of bottled lemon juice

Boil your mix for about 15 to 20 minutes so the flavor concentrates. Makes about 4 pints strained.

There is no reason to let our bountiful crop go to waste. With a little effort, you can enjoy a sweet winter.

Su Stella has lived in Oakridge with her husband for eight years. Her cookbooks can be found at http://www.SizzlingHotPizza.com