Unsecure chicken perches

[Chucky Mama]

For elderflower cordial The trees outside my house and up the road are flowering already.

[Daphne]

and champagne

[Charlottechicken]

Ooh good, and I'm just up to walking down to the park too Thankfully, I've got a couple of packs of citric acid from last year, as I'm not up to the shops yet (or driving).

 

Actually, almost forgot, I have a black elder in the garden, and it has two bunches of flowers on it, so there's a small bottle of pink elderflower champagne to make!

[Chucky Mama]

Black elder Didn't know they existed. Does it taste much different?

[Charlottechicken]

No idea, it was too small to flower last year so this year will be interesting

 

Here's a link to some black elder info

[Chucky Mama]

Looks lovely

[Christian]

The black elder looks really nice Have searched high and low but cannot find any

 

We do have masses of 'normal' elderflowers down the lane though I stocked up on citric acid last year, bought the lemons and the bottles are sterilized, ready to go! Just need a sunny day!

[Charlottechicken]

I have two black elders, as a piece broke off the first one last year and is now growing nicely in a pot Not sure where to put it though

 

I've been stymied, as I was going to pick some elder flowers today but it's been raining non stop. I'll have to abandon the ones which are open as the pollen's probably been washed off by now

[kinsk]

We leave ours and make elderberry cordial later in the year instead. It certainly kept colds and viruses at bay last winter and with a nip of brandy or cointreau in it tastes amazing hot.

[Charlottechicken]

I've still got a bottle of last year's elderberry cordial in the freezer, you are right of course, it tastes divine

[Chucky Mama]

We leave ours and make elderberry cordial later in the year instead. It certainly kept colds and viruses at bay last winter and with a nip of brandy or cointreau in it tastes amazing hot.

 

ooh I could do both Do you have a good recipe kinsk?

[Charlottechicken]

This is the elderberry cordial recipe I use CM, it's from Country Kitchen magazine September 2006:

 

2 litres of destalked elderberries

1 kg sugar

1 tsp cloves

 

Method

Put the elderberries in a large pan, add water so that the fruit is just covered and stew for 15 mins on a medium heat. Strain off the fruit and add sugar and cloves and boil for a further 15 mins. Allow to cool and pour into sterile bottles and seal. If using plastic bottles the cordial can be frozen and used later in the year.

 

I freeze mine in 500ml bottles (don't fill to the top ), still have a bottle from last year in the freezer, but I tend to drink it throughout the winter to keep colds and flu at bay.

[The Dogmother]

I have a black elder bush, the flowers look so pretty.

 

We made elderberry cordial once, but it wasn't too nice. I use the berries to make hedgerow jelly instead.

[Chucky Mama]

This is the elderberry cordial recipe I use CM, it's from Country Kitchen magazine September 2006:

 

2 litres of destalked elderberries

1 kg sugar

1 tsp cloves

 

Method

Put the elderberries in a large pan, add water so that the fruit is just covered and stew for 15 mins on a medium heat. Strain off the fruit and add sugar and cloves and boil for a further 15 mins. Allow to cool and pour into sterile bottles and seal. If using plastic bottles the cordial can be frozen and used later in the year.

 

I freeze mine in 500ml bottles (don't fill to the top ), still have a bottle from last year in the freezer, but I tend to drink it throughout the winter to keep colds and flu at bay.

Thanks Charlotte, I will give it a try

[Charlottechicken]

My first lot of elderflower cordial is stewing as we speak

 

Went on a little trip one stop on the train this morning to the nearest Aldi (armed with a couple of plastic carrier bags for any foraging stuff). There was an elder in full flower overhanging the car park so I had about 6 flower heads off it, all I could reach that were in bloom. Coming off the train I passed a disused builders yard with , yes you've guessed, an elder growing next to the gatepost. I took all the lower flowers and left the high up ones to fruit as I'll be able to go back in Autumn and bend the stem over gently to reach them.

 

[Christian]

I picked loads today too CC. On my way back from the Butchers I picked a bag full and it is brewing away in the utility room Smells delish already!

[Charlottechicken]

I'm really chuffed today. Went for a gentle stroll to the local Co-op, and passed though a mini park, found a female mallard and six ducklings having training sessions in the brook, and watched them awhile Took the other exit out of the park to give myself a bit more of a leg stretch and spotted a new supply of elder on the other side of the road Turns out the road is lined with elder. I quickly filled a carrier bag with lovely pollen laden flower heads, and now have more cordial and two lots of champagne on the go There were loads of flower heads which weren't even open too so it will be a fantastic supply of berries in the Autumn

 

Never got to the Co-op though

[Chucky Mama]

I had a day taxiing children off over the place and there seems to be loads along the roadsides this year. Sent OH out for the citric acid and he came home with 1 pack Need to go out for more supplies. I hate getting it though as people look at me very suspiciously and ask why I am using it. My children( ) tell me it is used for certain illegal activities

[Charlottechicken]

It is used to water down certain substances Tesco sell it round here, behind the pharmacy counter so you have to ask, or you could ask a local chemist to get some in for you at the beginning of the season

 

I'm thinking of just adding more lemon to one lot of cordial and see how it turns out.

[The Dogmother]

I always get a funny look when I order in 5 or 6 packs from our pharmacy

[Chucky Mama]

I got mine at the Asian Cash & Carry. I am not sure why they have it in such quantity there but it was cheap as chips (actually chips aren't that cheap anymore are they ).

[kinsk]

We leave ours and make elderberry cordial later in the year instead. It certainly kept colds and viruses at bay last winter and with a nip of brandy or cointreau in it tastes amazing hot.

 

ooh I could do both Do you have a good recipe kinsk?

 

Sorry it's a bit late!

 

I put the berries into a pan with a few cloves, a stick of cinnamon, star annise is apparently a good addition but I didn't have any, covered with water and simmered for about an hour. Left it to cool overnight and then strained through some muslin. Put this back in a pan with some sugar, the recipe I found said 450g to each pint of juice, I put in just over 2/3rds of a 1kg bag for 3 pints and found it a bit too sweet for me, although everyone else liked it, and OH even added more sugar to his when using the cordial. I added lemon juice to mine which worked for me with the sweetness.

[Daphne]

I'm going to give this a go, I drink a lot of plain water but elderflower cordial is my favourite summer treat -flavoured water!

 

Does it keep OK - I only ask as I've had elderflower champagne explode on me. I presume this is OK because there's no fermenting involved?

[Christian]

I have just made 6 more bottles and put them in the outbuilding fridge - where I found 2 bottles from last year Still perfectly ok to drink. As long as you steralize the bottles, it will be fine Daphne.

[Lesley]

Mine comes with free thunderbugs - despite using double muslin to strain it