Blackberries, Blackberries, Blackberries

They are everywhere! We have a particularly good picking spot only a few minutes walk from our house and this week we have been over every day. I honestly think if we had an army of people working over there we would still keep picking all day, they are ripening quicker than we can pick them.

I took our two apprentice pickers out on Saturday Little Me and his friend Alfie. Alfie took picking in his stride, but Little Me had enough and decided to read his Thomas magazines in the bushes instead!

Where are your favourite picking spots? We are having a competition at the moment. Tell us your best spots in Brentwood and Billericay and we will enter your name into a draw to win 12 months supply of jams and chutneys (1 jar a month). The draw is picked in October so send us your entries by leaving a comment below.

Whats cooking?

Sorry we havn't blogged for so long. We have no excuses but hope you dont mind!

This week we have been cooking up a storm in the 'Me' kitchen making Strawberry and Greengage jam.

As you can see we have a rigourous testing system in place. The jam is popped on a cool plate to see if it is set and then given the quality taste test by my chief taster Little Me.

If it passes (which it usually does) a dollop is placed on a slice of bread and Little Me is dispatched to the table while I pot it all up.

Photos to follow soon of the finished products!

It's Market day

We will be at Ingrave Community Market again this Sunday 6th June from 9.30am - 12.30pm. The market takes place at the Knights Way Centre, Knights Way, Brentwood, CM13 2AZ and is a great place to come and buy your organically produced meat and veg, our lovely jams and chutneys, cakes, plants and wonderful crafts.

This month we have been raiding the freezers due to the lack of available wild fruit so have some interesting fruit mix jams for you to try. Why not put them in a pie instead of on your toast for something a bit different?

We have on sale this Sunday:

Apple & Blackberry jam
Victoria Plum & Apple jam
Ginger and Marrow Chutney
Orange Marmalade
Strawberry jam
Red Onion marmalade

Do pop along and see us and remember if you have any fruit or veg, fresh or frozen that you cant use, we will swap it with you for a jar of produce.

Market day tomorrow

We are back at Ingrave Community Market tomorrow.

Do pop along and see us, we have some lovely stock all packed in the car and ready to go:

Red Onion Marmalade
Marrow & Ginger Chutney
Blackcurrant Jam
Prune Chutney
Apple Tarts

The market runs from 9.30am - 12.30pm in the Knights Way Centre, Brentwood, CM13 2AZ

Remaining Stock List

Well today was the last market of the season for us today and we have a small quantity of produce left. So rather than hold it over till Februray we thought we'd post a list so you can see whats left. Should you wish to purchase any of the items below just send us an e-mail to clairemackaness@btopenworld.com and we can arrange a time for you to collect your produce.


4 x Seedless Apple & Blackberry Jam - £2.10
4 x Prune Chutney (Great with cheese) - £1.90
2 x Orange Marmalade - £2.20
2 x Blackberry Jam - £2.00
4 x Cinnamon & Crabapple Marmalade (with Christmas fabric tops) - £2.30
4 x Pink Grape Jelly - £1.50
1 x Gift basket containing a mini Blackberry Jam, Mini Elderberry Jelly & 2 sachets of tea £2.50
2 x bags of 1/2 lb of Fresh French Walnuts - 80p
4 x Tarte Aux Pomme Normande (now frozen - collect from Billericay) - £3.50

This list will be updated to show recent sales.

Available produce

Mum and Me will be at Ingrave Community Market on Sunday 6th December. This is our list of available produce that should hopefully be ready in time for you to purchase:

Seedless Apple & Blackberry Jam
Rose, Grape Jelly
Crab Apple & Cinnamon Christmas Marmalade
Prune and Sun Ripened Red Pepper Chutney
Green Tomato Chutney
Orange Marmalade
Lemon Marmalade
Fresh French Walnuts
Tarte Aux Pomme Normande (French Apple Tart)

The market runs from 10am - 1pm at the Knights Way Centre, Brentwood, CM13 2AZ

Dinky Jam

I just had to show you this little cutey. We have been saving mini jam jars all summer in order to make up some little gift baskets for our Christmas markets.

This tiny jar of blackberry is still dressed with our signature cloth top and string but is only available to buy in one of four gift baskets we have made up for the festive season.

If you would like to get your hands on one of these tiny treasures you will need to visit us on Saturday 28th November at the Doddinghurst Road Community Church between 10.30 - 1pm. Or at the next Ingrave Community Market on the 6th December @ Knights Way Community Centre, Brentwood between 10am - 1pm.