Slow-Cooker Blackberry Cordial - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 cups blackberries
1 cup sugar
6 black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
1 lemon, zested in strips
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 1/4 cups brandy (optional)

Preparation

In a large bowl, crush berries and sugar with potato masher.
Add to slow cooker and stir in 1 qt water, peppercorns, bay leaves, and lemon zest.
Cover and cook over low heat for 2-1/2 hours. Stir, increase heat to high, and cook 1-1/2 hours
Strain through fine mesh sieve without pressing on berries. Stir maple syrup into blackberry juice and let cool.
Stir in brandy, if using. Refrigerate up to 1 month.
With brandy use as a cocktail with seltzer over ice, or as a sauce for pork or chicken.
Without brandy, whisk with olive oil for a vinaigrette, or simmer until thick and pour over pancakes, waffles, or ice cream.