Pats Brambleberry Recipes

PAT'S BRAMBLEBERRY

Steps:

• Make the simple syrup: Combine the honey, ginger and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and let simmer until the honey dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand 30 minutes to cool. Strain, and set aside.
• For the drink: Muddle the blackberries, lime juice and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add the whiskey and 2 ounces (1/4 cup) simple syrup to the cocktail shaker (save the remaining simple syrup for another use). Add ice and shake to combine.
• Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with additional blackberries and mint sprigs.

SUNSET'S BRAMBLEBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Put an oven rack on the lowest rung, and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly dust your counter and rolling pin with flour, then unwrap one disk of dough. With short strokes from center outward, roll dough into a 12-inch circle (about 1/8-inch thick), turning 90 degrees after every 3 or 4 passes of the rolling pin to keep it from sticking. Transfer dough to a 9-inch pie pan, letting it fall into place. (If you push or stretch the dough, it will shrink back when baked.) Trim overhang to 1/4 inch. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 15 minutes and up to overnight. Meanwhile, roll second disk into an 11-inch circle. Transfer to a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 15 minutes and up to overnight.
• While crusts chill, put berries in a large bowl. Sprinkle with flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, tapioca, lemon juice, and salt. Stir gently until berries are well coated. Taste and add more granulated sugar if you like.
• Pour berry mixture into chilled bottom crust and dot with butter. Unwrap top crust, and lay over pie. Fold bottom crust edge up over edge of top crust, and crimp edges together. Cut several vents in top crust, and sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp sugar. Put pie on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crust is browned and filling is bubbling, 60 to 75 minutes. (Cover edges with foil if they become too dark before middle of top is nicely browned.).
• Let pie cool until bottom of pie pan reaches room temperature, at least 3 hours. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream if you like.