Posted: Fri May 27, 05 12:01 pm Post subject: Challenge for the weekend... Elder.
Elderflowers are open all over the place down here.
My challenge for you for this weekend is this; if you've never used elderflowers before, do so. Either make an elderflower champagne (remind me later to post a recipe), or fritters, or a syrup, a sorbet, or just sprinkle the little flowers over really good vanilla ice cream.
Elderflower is a great wild harvest, make use of it!
sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42219 Location: North Devon
Posted: Fri May 27, 05 12:03 pm Post subject:
Definitely making syrup this weekend. I might try a couple of the others too. What type of batter would you use for the fritters?
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Fri May 27, 05 12:03 pm Post subject:
I read somewhere that if you dry elderflowers, and then put them in with your stored apples, it makes them taste of pineapple!
I'll leave it to others to decide whether this is a Good Thing, but it would be interesting to see if it works.
Definitely making syrup this weekend. I might try a couple of the others too. What type of batter would you use for the fritters?
Something thin and light. I like to beat the egg whites, beat the egg yolks with flour and milk, and fold them together. Doesn't come out meringue like, but it comes out reasonably airy. Then I serve the fritters with honey.
Lucky buggers - elder up here is at least a week away from flowering; a shame now the weather's getting warm enough for some lovely refreshing elderflower champagne.
Mad Dad
Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 407 Location: Nowhere near where I want to be
Posted: Fri May 27, 05 8:36 pm Post subject:
I have an elder on the lottie which will be flowering eventually (its grim up north) and Ive never tried using elder flowers. Never used the berries either (the birds get up really early round here and beat me to them). However, if anybody can post some recipes for the flowers I'll certainly give them a go and report back.
mochyn
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 24585 Location: mid-Wales
Posted: Fri May 27, 05 9:14 pm Post subject:
These southern softies, eh? Ours are a week off yte, too, but I'll be doing fritters, champagne & syrup ( the things we usually do). Any other ideas? Especially for things that will keep.
could someone please post a few really clear photos of elder trees and flowers... i really want to try them but i haven't a clue what they look like and my searches on google have been, well a bit fruitless (you can groan now)
I'll be doing the fritters too, and the champagne and cordial. Also some ice cream - if you infuse the flowers in sugar for a day or two, the sugar takes on all the lovely flavour If you want to cheat add a splash of cordial to the mixture instead
Have a look also using the scientific name; put that into google images and you may have more joy.
jema Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 28238 Location: escaped from Swindon
Posted: Mon May 30, 05 9:45 pm Post subject:
Did a bit of "the rounds" today and yesterday and some elderflower is appearing, but i fgure a few weeks to see lots. Unless I am getting it totally arse about face and it is on the way out.
Have a look also using the scientific name; put that into google images and you may have more joy.
thanks for the photo cab. i had a look in both my encylopaedia of herbs and encylopedia of gardening and they both talk about Sambucus nigra BUT neither shows a decent photo either i'm looking for something now on google
didn't someone say they smell funny as they're growing?
do they flowers smell nice? there's a tree down the way that i thought might be elder but i want to be sure before i go eating the flowers
didn't someone say they smell funny as they're growing?
do they flowers smell nice? there's a tree down the way that i thought might be elder but i want to be sure before i go eating the flowers
The leaves smell horrid. The flowers smell either like champagne and ice cream, or something that comes out of a cat, people seem to differ on that one.
If you want to cheat add a splash of cordial to the mixture instead 
i'm looking for something now on google
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