The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Recipes => Topic started by: gillandtom on September 12, 2010, 08:29:56 am

Title: Elderflower berries?
Post by: gillandtom on September 12, 2010, 08:29:56 am
I normally make Elderflower champagne but we were away at the start of the summer this year so missed out.  As a result our tree is loaded with Edderflower berries which have been looking at me every day this week demanding I do something with them -

Not to keen on red wine so have been avoiding that one.

Any one use these / Have any recipes?

Thanks
Gill x

 
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: Fleecewife on September 12, 2010, 11:01:08 am
You can use elderberries in both hedgerow wine and hedgerow jelly, mixed with other wild fruits.  I can't drink red wine either, but elderberry wine doesn't have the taste/effect that red grape wine (and Vimto - have you tried that horrible stuff?) does. We have loads this year too - haven't made wine for years but if the wild birds don't get there first I might give it a go.
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: Samantha on September 12, 2010, 12:19:21 pm
oh yes elderberry jelly / jam ... also you could maybe make a cordial ?

Sam
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: Greenerlife on September 12, 2010, 03:03:38 pm
I made some kind of savory sauce which was in "food for Free" - delicious.
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: plumseverywhere on September 12, 2010, 05:12:51 pm
I used them all up in jam - not keen myself but the kids (human ones that is) love it!!  :goat: 
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: sarahevers on September 12, 2010, 07:19:01 pm
As said before, they make great jam, but you could also make apple and elderberry jam, or elderberry chutney.
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: Billy Rhomboid on September 13, 2010, 12:55:47 pm
Pontack sauce is made of elderberries, and is an absolutely fantastic ingredient in stews, casseroles, with game or liver etc. there is a recipe in the River Cottage preserves book IIRC or one here:
http://grethic.blogspot.com/2009/09/pontack-sauce-or-what-to-do-with.html

It is apparently best when aged 7 years.  I have never managed to make enough to keep it that long though. We use it after one year. Great stuff though. once you try it you'll wonder how you ever got by without.
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: Greenerlife on September 13, 2010, 09:40:50 pm
Aha!  Pontack sauce was the recipe I made - I couldn't remember the name.
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: gillandtom on September 17, 2010, 07:08:30 pm
Thanks everyone for the ideas!!!!!  I will be haveing a busy weekend! :)

Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: Anke on September 24, 2010, 09:14:12 pm
I juice elderberries in my steam juicer, then boil up the juice (1ltr juice to 700g sugar) and fill into sterilised bottles for homemade elderbeena. Comes from a HFW recipe. Wonderful in the middle of winter (and cannot be washed out from kids white school t-shirts... or anything else it gets on...)
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: northfifeduckling on September 27, 2010, 09:18:40 pm
I'm going to try liqueur this year, after having had everything else you can make with elderberries!
Pick off the all stalks (they make it bitter) !!! Steep in vodka from 1 - 6 months. then strain and add sugar, shake each day until sugar is dissolved. Leave until you want to enjoy it  :yum: :&>
Title: Re: Elderflower berries?
Post by: hartstone on October 03, 2010, 11:29:29 am
I juice elderberries in my steam juicer, then boil up the juice (1ltr juice to 700g sugar) and fill into sterilised bottles for homemade elderbeena. Comes from a HFW recipe. Wonderful in the middle of winter (and cannot be washed out from kids white school t-shirts... or anything else it gets on...)

It's very good warm also for coughs and colds :yum: :yum:

We have jusy made 5 pints :yum: It keeps really well also.