4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Does anyone have a tried & tested recipe for elderflower champagne or cordial?

 

I'm trying to be a bit more organised this year, I've always seemed to miss the window of opportunity in previous years!

 

Many thanks,

 

Sha x

[Guest]

here you go

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=993048&l=eaaa7422d9&id=568396756

 

we made it last year and it was gorgeous, can't wait to do it again this year

 

we stored it in plastic bottles and froze it and drank it diluted with fizzy water (co-op's own brand 8p for a 2 litres!), lovely!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I knew someone would come up trumps........and given your limoncello recommendation which was spot on last year, I'm not surprised you managed to be first with this plea Poet !!!

 

I may have to rearrange the freezer to make room for some pop bottles!

 

Sha x

[Charlottechicken]

Here's an old thread of Kate's with her tried and tested recipes on, there's one around with Elderberry cordial in too, I make that and it is lovely but you have to freeze it if you make loads.

 

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=5412&hilit=+elderflower

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Wonderful, thank you, I just have to wait for the flowers to burst forth now!! Oh yes and get a bucket or two to make it it, I don't think I'd get any of my buckets clean enough these days !

 

Sha x

[Charlottechicken]

I bought a clear plastic dustbin with lid from Poundstretcher the other year, for £8 (I think it is 80 litres or something, it is large). I only use it for the chooks food, but I imagine they are meant for brewing etc, so you could try them if you have a shop near.

 

If I remember, Hugh F-W used black dustbins for his elderflower champagne

 

Alternatively, just treat yourself to a couple of new buckets anyway, you'll need them on here!!

[Guest]

I didn't have the bottle (pardon the pun) to try the champagne last year as the stories of exploding bottles put me off but I think we'll try it this year as I got a a load of small grolsch style bottles for freee from a local restaurant who were going to chuck them out!

[Charlottechicken]

I didn't have the bottle (pardon the pun) to try the champagne last year as the stories of exploding bottles put me off but I think we'll try it this year as I got a a load of small grolsch style bottles for freee from a local restaurant who were going to chuck them out!

 

Poet, I used Schloer bottles as they are really thick because Schloer is fizzy (I nabbed the empties after a leaving do at work ). Alternatively, try plastic ones, like the 1 litre mixer bottles for soda water, that type of thing. As a guide if it had fizz in it, then it should be OK. But the free grolsch style ones sound great (pics please ).

 

You could always store them in a bucket with a towel over (in the shed) if you are worried about them going off!

[Chucky Mama]

Here's an old thread of Kate's with her tried and tested recipes on, there's one around with Elderberry cordial in too, I make that and it is lovely but you have to freeze it if you make loads.

 

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=5412&hilit=+elderflower

do you freeze it straight away? I made some the year before last and it all went fizzy and exploded!

[Christian]

I made elderflower cordial last year (Kate's recipe above) and it lasted a good 6 months in the fridge. Will make extra this year and freeze it though. It tastes so good with fizzy water on a hot day

[Charlottechicken]

Freeze the cordials not the champagne

 

Freezing it means you can make large batches and enjoy it until next years crop is ready

[chooklady]

I had a go at the champagne last year but it was too sweet for me, is there a less sweet recipe I could try this year, I hasten to add it didn't last long my son's girlie friends all thought it was great!

[Patricia W]

Anyone got a recipe for the champagne?

[Mrs Frugal]

Anyone got a recipe for the champagne?

 

There's my tried and tested recipe here Patricia

[Patricia W]

Thanks Kate! I'll let you know how I get on.

[Guest]

I froze some umbels from last year and have just started a batch of cordial. Hope it works okay

[Guest]

.... But the free grolsch style ones sound great (pics please ).

 

 

we've just bottled some plum schnapps in some, here

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2560608&l=f5542b18e8&id=568396756

 

this is one of them pre-schnapps, so you can see the size

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2299119&l=0e39502ba7&id=568396756

 

going to collect some more later

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I froze some umbels from last year and have just started a batch of cordial. Hope it works okay

 

uuuuummmmm.....what are umbels ? (Yes I know I could google but I'm too tired so am asking!)

 

Sha x

[Guest]

umbel - A cluster of flowers with all the stems coming from one point. Picture in your mind the spokes of an umbrella.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

aaahh, that's better, thanks for that Poet! Hope the cordial works out ok, I'd have thought a bag of umbels would be much easier to find space in the freezer for then a couple of pop bottles!

 

Sha x

[Guest]

well, we've just bottled our first cordial for this year. Cheated and used frozen flowers from last year though The flowers went brown in the freezer but the cordial tastes just as nice as it would normally. It's slightly darker in colour but looks much less 'sample' coloured when it's diluted

 

I'll post a pic of last years so you can compare the colour of the 2 batches.

 

this years

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2604186&l=414efd1a5c&id=568396756

 

last years

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=993049&l=062dd77aa9&id=568396756

 

will be trying some champage this year

[Mrs Frugal]

I started my cordial yesterday with elderflowers from the lottie which I nabbed while we planted out the borlotti plants!! I've used unrefined caster sugar this year so the cordial is going to be a nice cidery golden colour. Mmmmmm! Smells fab too!

[Guest]

lucky you They're not out round here yet.

[redhotchick]

I'm close to you Poet and I've not seen any round here yet either.

I want to make elderflower cordial this year. I will have to print off the recipe and get my bits and pieces ready. I may go foraging next weekend!

[Cinnamon]

Probably a stoopid question, but where do you get citric acid from?