It is the time of year again when the Hedgerows are abundant with fruit and none is finer than the humble 
blackberry, packed with flavour and Vitamin C it is the perfect as a snack on a country walk or used in cooking. This month I shall be celebrating this gorgeous berry that is widely found everywhere.
This aggregate fruit (composed of many smaller fruits with the seed inside) grows on thorny brambles widely across the northern hemisphere. Also known as Caneberries, tradition states they should be picked before Old Michaelmas Day (October 11) or else the Devil might tamper with them. In reality they often spoil by this date and grow a mould.
To celebrate the blackberry I am going to make blackberry campfire crumble, blackberry griddle cakes and blackberry daquiris.
For the Crumble (serves 6)
30g Light brown sugar
200g Porridge Oats
25g Plain Flour
20g cold butter
Teaspoon of Cinnamon
6 apples (cooking or eating apples)
100g blackberries
Method – Core the apples and peel if desired, roughly chop and place in a large piece of tin foil adding the blackberries on top. Wrap and seal the tin foil and place directly onto the campfire coals for about 6-10 minutes to cook. Meanwhile using fingers mix the crumble ingredients to a fine crumb. 
After the apple is cooked remove from the fire and open the packet. Spoon some of the apple and blackberry mixture into a ramekin and top with the crumble. Serve with a teaspoon and a cup of tea.
For the Griddle cakes (makes 6)
250g sifted plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
25g caster sugar
1 Egg
220mls milk
125g chopped fruit or freshly picked blackberries
Vegetable oil for cooking
Combine all the ingredients save for the fruit and whisk. Then fold in half the fruit and use the remainder to serve fresh. Heat the oil over the coals in a heavy bottomed skillet or griddle and cook for about 4 minutes on either side.
Blackberry Daiquiri
Take 200g of blackberries, blend and pass through a sieve to remove the pips.
Place 100mls white rum, the berry pulp, juice of a lime and a hand full of crushed ice into a blender and whizz briefly. Then pour into a Cocktail / Martini glass and garnish with a slice of lime. 