Elderberry ideas?

[Earthbabe]

There was a recipe for Elderberry Rob in one of today's tabloids, taken from a book by Anne McIntyre:-

1lb fresh elderberries and 1lb brown sugar.

Strip berried from stems, wash and crush. Bring them slowly to the boil with the sugar and simmer until a syrupy consistency is reached. Pass through a sieve (probably fine as a mouli is suggested) and bottle in clean, airtight bottles. Serve diluted with hot water.

[Bibliobeck]

Sounds nice - I really like the sound of the catsup too. Only got the elderberries left at the very top of the tree now after doing my death-defying leaps from the back of my hubby's trailer at the weekend so it looks like it'll have to be next year now!

[Pip]

I made a ton of elderberry jam last year and it was fabulous, I have been keeping it a secret as I don't want lots of people cleaning out my elderberry supply.

[Rhona]

I see you're down South but up here in the North, we still have new elderflower blossom! Can we really be so out of sync? I'm interested though because there is a huge amount of blossom so could be bumper year for the berries. I might have a bash at wine this year - never tried it before.

[CarolineSonning]

We've also got a bumper crop of flower, so I'm about to make my second batch of elderflower cordial and I'm just waiting to see now the champaign turned out (both much easier to make than wine ).

[Rhona]

I'm hoping to make the champagne and cordial too - love elderflowers! Did you use citric acid or just lemon juice?

[JanieB]

Unfortunately as I'm at work at the mo I can't post my recipe for Elderberry Cheesecake. It is fabulous . I'll fish it out sometime. I haven't made it for ages as I can't seem to find curd cheese anywhere and I've found that other soft cheeses don't work as well.

[Hilary B]

Unfortunately as I'm at work at the mo I can't post my recipe for Elderberry Cheesecake. It is fabulous . I'll fish it out sometime. I haven't made it for ages as I can't seem to find curd cheese anywhere and I've found that other soft cheeses don't work as well.

Would the 'home made by mischance' curd cheese work? Mum occasionally had leftover milk which went sour. She let it go a bit MORE sour, until it curdled, and then drained it in a muslin. The resulting soft cheese was pretty good.

[JanieB]

Would the 'home made by mischance' curd cheese work? Mum occasionally had leftover milk which went sour. She let it go a bit MORE sour, until it curdled, and then drained it in a muslin. The resulting soft cheese was pretty good.

When I wus married to a farmer, I made my own curd cheese. That was when I had access to unpasteurised milk. Can't make it with pasteurised milk. Sainsbury's are supposed to sell curd cheese but I've never found any there and I object to making a 20 mile round trip for something that they only stock in certain stores.

[CarolineSonning]

I'm hoping to make the champagne and cordial too - love elderflowers! Did you use citric acid or just lemon juice?

Having found a chemist that actually stocks it I used citric acid - though I do object to being questioned about it!

[Hilary B]

Having found a chemist that actually stocks it I used citric acid - though I do object to being questioned about it!

You try getting hold of saltpetre for curing bacon!
Apparently it can be used for making explosives (but you need massive quantities for that so why the fuss over a couple of ounces??)

[Two_Sheds]

Elderberry Sauce

Elderberry Sauce (add a dash to gravy etc)

makes 700ml

1kg elderberries (stripped off stalks with a fork)
1 litre cider vinegar
400g shallots, peeled & sliced
12 cloves
8 allspice berries
2 blades mace
2 tbsp black peppercorns
30g fresh root ginger, bruised

cook berries overnight in the oven, at about 130C.
Strain berries through a sieve the next day, crushing them with a fork to obtain maximum juice.

Boil juice with everything else for about 25 mins.
Sieve/strain again, boil for a further 5 mins.

let it cool a bit, then pour into sterilised bottles.
Apparently keeps for a few years

(cribbed from Preserves by Pam Corbin, a brilliant little book)

[pdblake]

They're not quite ready here, maybe by the weekend, but I'll be doing jam and wine when they are