When we moved into our house 5 years ago, we noticed a row of small black raspberry bushes on the west yard, growing only a few berries on each.  We figured the deer had eaten most of the berries, and we pretty much forgot about those bushes.   And while we didn’t notice any fruit growing, the bushes grew taller, and grew shoots leading to more bushes.

Fast forward a few years and we have a different story.  Turns out, not many people nor plants are big fans of harsh, cold winters, but black raspberries depend on those winters.  We may have lost a boxwood or two this past winter, but we sure did gain a few quarts of these black raspberry beauties.

The Little Miss and I go out and harvest them every day, and each day, we pick around 4 cups. We’ve been harvesting now for a little over 2 weeks.  The numbers have gone down some, but there are still loads more on the vine that will be ready to pick in a few days.

I feel like I’ve struck gold.  Because these little gems are so perishable, it makes their price tag on the high side at the grocery store.  So, we pick and pick, not letting one ripe berry go to waste.

And the more we harvest, the more recipes I can make.  Want to add some zing to your bar-b-que?  Try this Black Raspberry Bar-B-Que Sauce!

So delicious.  Tastes great on all grilled meats, and I have been known to dip my fries in the sauce too.  Yum-O.

Want a sweet that will cool you off and make your mouth sing?  Try this Black Raspberry Frozen Yogurt.

Such a cinch to make and a crowd pleaser.

And if frosting is more your thing, HELLO Black Raspberry Buttercream.

Amen.  Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Little Miss and I are still harvesting, and all the rest are going in the freezer.  I carefully rinse the berries and let them dry.  Then, I pour them evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet and put them in the freezer.  Once frozen, I transfer them to a freezer bag and keep them in the freezer until I’m ready to use.

I’m thinking of making a black raspberry beer with some of my leftover crop.  Of course I’ll need to find a brew master, as brewing beer is out of my realm, but I’m excited of the possibility.  What do you think – does black raspberry beer sound good to you?