[juliec]

Hi,

I have just found an abundance of gooseberries on a bush I only planted last year.  Please can any one tell me do I cook the gooseberries before I make them into a pie or crumble I tried one last night and it was quite hard and bitter.

many thanks for your help

Julie

[Beetroot queen]

Have a look in the recipe section on here. I did a blackcurrant the other day but it was rather tart still.

[Mrs Bee]

I would always cook fresh gooseberries with a little sugar  before making  into pies and crumbles. You can adjust the sweetness and get them soft.  I add a little cornflour slaked in  water too.

I also use a couple of tablespoons of elderflower cordial too.

If you use frozen gooseberries, as they defrost they are soft anyway, so for pies and crumbles   you wouldn't need to cook them first but make sure you add enough sugar or you will get the mouth puckering.