Sweet Basil And Blackberry Jam Recipes

BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place the berries in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, mashing the berries with a potato masher as they cook. Add the lemon juice and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring and mashing constantly.
• Add the sugar and return the mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to look syrupy and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and test for doneness: a candy thermometer should register 220 degrees F and the mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Run a finger--or a clean object about the width of a finger--through the coat of jam. If the jam does not run and fill the gap, it is done. Otherwise, return the pan to the heat for another 1 to 2 minutes and test again. Be careful not to let the mixture get too thick--it will thicken as it cools.
• When the jam is done, transfer it to a heatproof jar and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate. The jam will keep for up to 2 weeks.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES WITH BLACKBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sieve together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, peanut butter, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar, and the light brown sugar together, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until blended. With the machine running on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until incorporated.
• Put the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl. Form the dough into 1/4 cup-size balls and roll in the sugar. Arrange 5 balls of dough, evenly apart, on each baking sheet. Using a round 1/4 teaspoon measure, or the thin end of a wooden spoon, make a hole in the center of each ball of dough, 1/2 to 3/4-inch deep. Spoon 1 teaspoon of jam into each hole. Bake until the dough has spread and the surface of the cookies are crackled, 11 to 14 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Arrange the cookies on a serving dish and serve.

BLACKBERRY SPRITZER

Steps:

• Muddle the blackberries and basil in a pitcher. Add the club soda, vodka, cassis, lime juice and agave and stir to combine. Chill for at least 1 hour and until ready to serve. Thread a basil leaf and blackberry onto each cocktail pick. Serve the spritzers over ice and garnish with the cocktail picks.