[waterbuffalofarmer]

Hi guys
All the elderflowers are in bloom now and I was wondering now that the elderflowers are out, what are everyones thoughts? I was looking on the bbcgoodfood website and found this recipe, it sounds yummy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/frozen_elderflower_07251

[Treud na Mara]

Elderflower champagne every time - see the brewing strand for recipes, also cordial for the under age! So jealous - we only planted our in November so it'll be while before we can harvest our own. But I will be out on the forage soon!

[mowhaugh]

Yummy, sounds delicious.

[HesterF]

Cordial and champagne - once the rain stops. Once they're done, maybe I'll try some new and exciting things!

[Somewhere_by_the_river]

Definitely gallons of cordial, great added to anything with gooseberries in particular (gooseberry fool always good). I want to experiment with adding it to cakes this year too.. that's if OH doesn't drink it all as soon as I make it like last year! 

[Dan]

Champagne and cordial. The latter freezes well and gives a taste of summer in the depths of winter. 

[Ina]

Elderflowers are nice in herbal tea; also mixed with mint and/or verbena. That way you can get the flavour without having to ingest tons of sugar...

[LouiseG]

I've just made gooseberry and elderflower muffins.    they are very yummy

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Sounds good, could you post the recipe please?
Thanks

[LouiseG]

Gooseberry and Elderflower Muffins
150g plain flour , 1 level 10ml spoon Baking Powder, 1/4 tsp salt
sift the above together
1 egg, 40g caster sugar, 30mls milk, 75ml elderflower cordial, 50g butter (melted)   
whisk the wet ingredients together
top and tail 225g + 18 extra gooseberries
sieve the flour mix again onto the wet ingredients and fold in quickly and carefully for no more than 15 seconds. Do no stir or mix and don't worry if some lumps are left.
Quickly fold in the 225g gooseberries and then put mixture into 6 or 7 muffin cases in a muffin tin.
Gently press 3 gooseberries into the top of each muffin and sprinkle with some Demerera sugar.
Bake for 30 mins
Only makes 6 or 7 but they are quick and easy and wouldn't keep well if you were to make lots                                                                                                                                  

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Thanks for posting the recipe. I will try and make them myself soon.

[northfifeduckling]

lovely thread 
I always make cordial and dry some for winter teas. Ours isn't quite there yet, I can't wait! 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I made some cordial the other day and it is very nice. Now I need to make some elderflower chamagne. I have never made elderflower chamagne before, does anyone have any advice?
Thanks

[northfifeduckling]

sorry,can't help with a recipe -  I only got drunk on some homemade elderflower champagne as a student and I thought I was about to die....treat with caution and moderations as elder is a potent medicine for colds and flu! Racing heart and feverish flushes in cases of overdose 

[ellied]

I'm just starting the first batch of cordial today as there are finally 30 heads flowering, and hopefully lots more to come and enough to leave for berries later too

I don't think of it as just for kids as an alternative to grown up champagne at all..  In fact when I'm working and need hydration or tired and need a bit of a lift, it's just sweet enough and refreshing enough to avoid reaching for a biscuit, so I think of it as a health food even not knowing about the flu remedy part til now

I'm tempted to try my first batch of ice cream with a bit of EC in it later on, but I've not made the cordial yet (my first batch of nettle is going down fine tho so fingers crossed!)..