Picking after dark

[novapsyche]

I went mulberry picking after midnight last night. I actually had more fun than I thought I would. (I think the activity satisfies a very primal gathering desire.)

The only mulberry trees I know of are on the corner of Stadium and Packard (that is, at a major intersection) and downtown, near the edge of campus. I didn't want to walk too far if I didn't have to; however, as I pretty much picked the nearer tree clean of the ripest berries, I might have to journey farther next time. (For those in Ann Arbor, do you know of any mulberry spots? I'm going to have to scout around my neighborhood.)

I spent a lot of time this morning picking off the stems. This evening, I shopped for ready-made crusts, and tonight I plan to make either a pie or tarts.

It's been entirely too long since I had a baked mulberry item. Mmmmmmmm.

(Also on the baking agenda: apple cobbler or crisp)

Mulberry Pie

3 cups mulberries
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp milk

In a large bowl, mix berries with sugar and flour. Place mixture into bottom pie crust. Dot with butter and then cover with top pie crust. Crimp edges, cut slits in upper crust, and brush with milk. Let pie rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (200 degrees C).

Bake pie in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Remove pie from oven and let sit on wire rack until cool.

Comments

[davidfcooper.livejournal.com]

The only mulberry trees I know of are on the corner of Stadium and Packard

Mulberry trees are quite common here in Brooklyn. We used to have three, two female and one male, but the females were too close to our building and had to be removed. The remaining male mulberry tree has filled out in the absence of its siblings but does not bear fruit (only pollen).

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

They're all over our neighborhood. If you come by sometime in the next few weeks, you may be able to walk about 5 min. and get a bunch, if their ripe season isn't over by then. They're dropping on the sidewalk right now.

How did the pie turn out? I always felt mulberries were a bit on the bland side, but I've been told they work well in baked goods and jams.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

The pie was a success, although I think the recipe called for too much sugar. Next time, I will put in less and/or add lemon juice for contrast.