What to do with Elder

[SlugLobber]

Citric Acid is available from chemists here, Roitelet, unless it's changed since last year!

[dinah gale]

Can you freeze the flowers, do you suppose?

Great recipes! I'm grateful for these because I have lost the old book that had my cordial recipe in.

I shall probably be away when the bulk of my elder flowers are at their best but I wonder if the flowers can be frozen for a couple of weeks - does anyone know? Thought I might have a good pick the day before I go away.

[maytreefrannie]

My suggestion would be to have a good pick before you go, then put them somewhere to dry out.

I don't know whether they freeze well or not, but they can be dried and should keep in an airtight jar / container.

[eye1der]

I have a dim memory of reading or hearing that you can deep fry elderflowers
Does it ring a bell with anyone else?

make a light pouring batter, add some sugar to taste then dip the flower head into it just covering the flowers holding the stalk, then drop it into a hot skillet that has some melted butter in, as it cooks snip off the stalks as close to the flowers as possible then flip to do the other side, drain on paper towels and dust with icing sugar = elderflower fritters!

[hmk]

You can freeze elderflowers.

I make my elderflower fritters like eye1der, but sometimes whisk the egg white before mixing it into the batter if I feel like faffing. A few drops of orangeflower water are supposed to go well if you have it.

Otherwise, elderflower goes well with gooseberries (last year I made a delicious Gooseberry and elderflower ice cream, also G and E jam/pies).

It also goes well with gin- try elderflower cordial in a G&T.

I've also got a recipe for Mackerel with elderflower if anyone is interested.

HMK

[Hilary B]

I read that you take off the flower heads by running a fork through the stalks - very awkward when you've washed them. It's good if you can use the green stalks as well, I never knew that.

Regarding the cat-pee smell, I've read that if you use too many flowers for the wine, the result will be cat-piddle wine.

I've made elderflower 'champagne' and elderberry wine a few times but it was some years ago - you've put the idea back in my head for this year. Thanks.

Our elderflower wine is made with a LOT more flowers than the recipes suggest. It smells lovely!

[Glutton4...]

You can freeze elderflowers.

I make my elderflower fritters like eye1der, but sometimes whisk the egg white before mixing it into the batter if I feel like faffing. A few drops of orangeflower water are supposed to go well if you have it.

Otherwise, elderflower goes well with gooseberries (last year I made a delicious Gooseberry and elderflower ice cream, also G and E jam/pies).

It also goes well with gin- try elderflower cordial in a G&T.

I've also got a recipe for Mackerel with elderflower if anyone is interested.

HMK

What a great thread - got loads of it in flower here, and it smells divine!

Strangely, this is the second time I've heard it's good in G&T, and I had already tried it myself at the weekend, before being told! It's delish!

Off to find scissors and a bag - catch-ya later!

[HeyWayne]

Ooh, yes please!!

I'll send you a branch if you like shirl?

When I pruned back the elder I kept some of the branches/twigs/stalks - call them what you will. I had some chilli plants that looked a bit droppy and in need of some support (laden with chillies at the time). Anyhoo - I stuck one of the branch/twig thingys in the pot to support the plant.

After a while I noticed some new growth on the chilli plant. As time went on I thought to myself - those leaves look an odd shape.

Investigated further, and discovered that the elder branch/twig thing had taken root and had started to grow.

So, if you want some...

[shirlthegirl43]

Thank you for the offer Wayne, save your postage money though, I can pinch some sticks off the tree I get my flowers from. I was told to take cuttings in spring and tried last year with no success - I totally forgot this spring though. Might take a couple today if I go to collect more flowers. Thanks for the reminder too

[shoreham_steve]

I use my elder prunings as support sticks and they certainly do seem to sprout and root quite easily.
Years ago I made Elderberry wine and port. The recipe said to leave it bottled for six months before drinking. When I opened the first bottle it was horrible ! I left the other bottles, always meaning to throw them out, until I moved house some 8 years later. Out of curiosity, I opened a bottle of port and had a sip - it was gorgeous ! We mamaged to slurp every bottle of port and wine before the move ! Helped to take some of the stress out of it, I can tell you!

[maytreefrannie]

Hey Wayne,

You might be interested in the following - I've read that elder can be used to make an organic insecticide:

Boil elder leaves, strain off the liquid and apply to plants with a sprayer. It must be used within twenty four hours. It starts to break down as soon as you make the 'tea'. Particularly effective against greenfly and other aphids.

Hope this is some help.

[HeyWayne]

Hey Wayne,

You might be interested in the following - I've read that elder can be used to make an organic insecticide:

Boil elder leaves, strain off the liquid and apply to plants with a sprayer. It must be used within twenty four hours. It starts to break down as soon as you make the 'tea'. Particularly effective against greenfly and other aphids.

Hope this is some help.

Now that I like!!

I have plenty of both leaves and greenfly to try it out.

Most of the flowers have now turned, but there should still hopefully be enough to make the champers.

[maytreefrannie]

Now that I like!!

I have plenty of both leaves and greenfly to try it out.

Most of the flowers have now turned, but there should still hopefully be enough to make the champers.

Just don't get mixed up between the champers and pesticide!

Funny thing, Wayne - when I read the elderleaf pesticide directions, I thought of you.

[Flummery]

I have a dim memory of reading or hearing that you can deep fry elderflowers
Does it ring a bell with anyone else?

Yes, dip them in a light thin batter and lob them in fast, hoik them out and dredge with caster sugar.

[Flummery]

I never pick the flowers before having agood old sniff. It depends on the tree as to whether they smell like heaven or a cat's latrine!

I use them in Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam.

Don't forget you can leave them to set elderberries and they are good in wine. Or my favourite way of using them in cooking is to make Pontack's Sauce - recipe is in Richard Mabey's Food for Free. I can dig it out if anyone's interested It's a sort of Gentleman's Relish and is seriously good with Cheese on Toast.