A strawberry surprise.

Strawberries!   Lots of them today!   I picked almost a kilo on Wednesday which we gave to our friend in Yátor as payment for the goody bag,  next week is fiesta here in Montenegro there is always a picnic afterwards and we want to take a bowlful to share with friends,  so I thought today would be a good day to pick some,  with it being halfway between the last and next picking day.

Luckily I took a big bowl with me,  and even then I struggled to carry it without them falling out.

3.8 kilos - just over 8 pounds.

We wanted some to eat today but not that many!   Don't need jam,  still got a dozen or so jars from last year,  we've already dried a couple of kilos and have dried ones left from last year..... so I made the first batch of strawberry wine instead.   Strawberry wine may sound a bit too fruity or sweet but surprisingly it isn't.  It's a gorgeous colour,  served very chilled or even over a bit of ice,  it's very refreshing.

I used the same recipe as last year as it worked so well,  but did a double batch today.

First I de-stalked,  weighed 500 grams at a time as we only have a fairly small food processor,  then whizzed them.

3.5 kilos of chopped up strawberries in a cleaned and sterilised bucket,  with a shower cap close by waiting to be put on.  Next we need to add  7 litres of boiled and cooled water into which has been added 2.275 kilos of sugar,  tannin - strawberries don't have any but a teabag in a mug provides enough - no sugar or milk though in the tea please - a squirt of lemon juice,  and later on a sachet of wine yeast.  

By the morning it will be frothing madly - hopefully the bucket,  which holds 12 litres,  will be big enough and it won't be bubbling all over the kitchen.  Next weekend or thereabouts we can strain it and will have the first 10 litres of this years wine made.

****An update****   the wine is so frothy that it has now filled 2 buckets  :o