Gooseberry and Elderflower Presserve

[Dobby]

Goin to try this Gooseberry and Elderflower Presserve From Collins gem(Food for free )

For 500g (1lb)
gooseberries take
4 Elderflowers
500ml (1pint) water
500g (1lb) sugar
Trim off as much of the elderflower stalk as you can. Top,tailand wash the gooseberries and put in a pan with the water. Simmer for half an hour, mashing the fruit ti a pulp. Add the sugar, stir rapidly until dissolved, and bring to the boil rapidly untill the setting point is reached.remove the flowers and pot in the usual way

thought some of you might like to give it a go

[Earthbabe]

Thanks for that Dobby. I'll give that a go.

[Dobby]

Think we are going to try this one today as Mrs D is off work so when I have been to the Drs were of to the plot yea

[Flummery]

It's one of the miracles of nature that gooseberries and elderflower, which go so well together, are ready at the same time.
Hope your visit to the Doc goes well Dobby, and that you're soon up to fighting strength. Should be with all that great salad inside you!

[Alison]

Surely you haven't got gooseberries already Dobby??

Sounds nice though. I made some gooseberries and elderflower ice cream a couple of years ago and it was absolutley lovely - will have to look out the recipe for this year's crop.

[Flummery]

I have some ready. It's an Invicta and is grown by a fence, south facing and is always weeks ahead of the main cropper (variety unknown, gift from Jack next door.)

[Waffler]

We had our first last night too - as I posted elsewhere, they're still quite hard, but, with a bit of sugar, were lovely.

[Alison]

Ours will be a bit yet but they are hidden away at the bottom of the garden and by rights shouldn't do half as well as they always do!

[Mrs Dobby]

Ours are looking very tempting atm Alison, I recon they'll be ripe very shortly, in fact I'm having trouble stopping Mr D from harvesting them now! lol!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Dobby that recipe sounds delish! Bernie

[Dobby]

Thanks
its from a little pocket book by Collins gem Foof for free isbn 0007183038
when the book came we both thought is that it?
but its realy good pocket size
by Richard Mabey
think you can get it from www.collins.co.uk or amozon

[Flummery]

I think I've got the original edition Dobby, had it since the 70s. Does it still have the recipe for Pontack Sauce - made with elderberries. You must try it!

[Earthbabe]

I'd love that recipe. It was made at a autumn wild food thingy we went to and is absolutely delicious. Nearly went back for tenths.

[Dobby]

I think I've got the original edition Dobby, had it since the 70s. Does it still have the recipe for Pontack Sauce - made with elderberries. You must try it!

yes if its the same
for earth babe

Pontack sauce
500ml (1pint) boiling vinegar or (claret)
500ml (1pint) elderberries
1tsp salt
1 blade mace ?(whats this and where do i get it from)
40 peppercorns
12 cloves
1 onion, finely chopped
half tsp ginger
pour the vinegar or (claret) over the elderberries in a stone jar or casserole dish. cover, stand overnight in an oven at a very low heat. next day, pour off the liquid and put in a saucepan with the salt, mace,peppercorns, cloves, onion and ginger. boil for 10 min and then bottle securely with the spices. the sauce improves with age and is especially good with liver

[dexterdoglancashire]

Dobby - mace is the outside shell of nutmeg. You should be able to find it at your supermarket in the herbs and spices section. Bernie