Juniper

Juniper berries are tiny blue berries that grow on prickly, waist-high bushes. The berries smell like a pine forest and are the principal flavoring of gin. In cooking, the berries are always crushed before using to release their perfume. Traditionally, juniper berries are added to marinades for pork and venison, pâtés, sauerkraut, and conserves. We combine them with allspice berries and black peppercorns, crush them all together, and dip both sides of venison steaks lightly in the mixture. This tenderizes the meat and complements its rich flavor. Juniper also combines wonderfully with bay leaves, fennel, marjoram, parsley, thyme, garlic, brandies, and wines.