We are going Mulberry mad over here! We’ve had a great time foraging for Mulberries this Spring and we hope you have too! Here are some tasty gift ideas using Mulberries in all their glorious forms. 
Ingredients
Step 1 is to pick Mulberries (Sept to Nov in Joburg)
Otherwise use a combination of other berries (look for promotions at your local fruit & veg store)
Step 2 is to make a Syrup
4 cups water + 4 cups granulated sugar + 1 tsp citric acid
Stir these together in a small pot on medium heat until the sugar is dissolved - then cool down
Step 3 is to get ingredients together for the Preserve and Jam
Granulated Sugar
1 Lemon or Balsamic Vinegar
Step 4 is to get the ingredients together for the Meringue Swirls
2 Egg Whites
Castor Sugar
Cream of Tartar
Instructions
To make Mulberry Cordial
Blitz about 2-3 cups of mulberries then push through a fine sieve to remove pips until you have 1 cup of mulberry coulis (thick juice)
Add 2 cups of syrup (above) MIX and pour into a sterilized bottle to gift or use later
For a Chai Spiced Mulberry Cordial
In a small pot simmer 2 cups of syrup (above) and infuse with
1 star anise
2 allspice berries (or 1/2 tsp ground allspice)
2 cloves
1 large cinnamon stick (or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon)
Do this for 5 to 10 minutes and then cool down
Strain and then mix with 1 cup Mulberry Coulis and pour into sterilized bottles
Check photos for serving suggestions....and gifting ideas!
To make the Quick Jam
Boil 2 cups mulberries until starting to soften then add 1 cup granulated sugar and the juice of 1/2 lemon (Balsamic Vinegar is also FANTASTIC in the place of lemon juice - 2-3TBS)
Boil until sugar has dissolved stirring gently (10-15 minutes)
Bottle into attractive sterilized jars
Makes about 2 bottles (depending on size of course) and perfect to give as a gift tied up with a pretty ribbon
To make the Preserve
Same steps as the quick jam - but once done BLITZ the whole lot in your blender and strain through a fine sieve leaving behind a thick gorgeous drizzle (a bit of ARM WORK required here)
To spice it up add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger during the boiling process (1/4 tsp of each)
Bottle in little jars and gift to your special friends
To make the Meringue Swirls
Okay for this one find a meringue recipe that works for you. I used https://www.trufflesandtrends.com/home/2015/10/14/how-to-make-perfect-meringues
Then once your meringue fluff is ready paint 3 stripes of the mulberry PRESERVE on the inside of your piping bag on opposite sides then fill with the fluff and pipe onto your tray using the "open star" nozzle
This will give your the swirl effect
Once baked and dried, all you need to do (whilst you chomp a few) is to tie them up in a pretty little packet ready to sweeten someone's day
Hope you liked these gifting ideas and thanks for visiting www.cleverleftovers.co.za
Notes : Thanks for your meringue recipe Truffles & Trends
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