Challenge for the weekend... Elder.

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Challenge for the weekend... Elder.
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cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

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.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Fri May 27, 05 12:06 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

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.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Fri May 27, 05 12:21 pm Post subject:
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.

ButteryHOLsomeness

Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

Posted: Fri May 27, 05 9:39 pm Post subject:
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)

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri May 27, 05 10:28 pm Post subject:
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

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon May 30, 05 9:22 pm Post subject:
Buttery, there's a picture and links to more pictures in the may article: https://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Wild_Food/Top_Ten_Wild_Foods_for_May/ 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: 28251
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.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon May 30, 05 9:50 pm Post subject:
Interesting... Sounds like for elder at least, Cambride is way ahead of everywhere else. Most peculiar. I've got my wine and champagne on, and had enough spare to make strawberry and elderflower jam. Putting the finishing touches to the June article now (sorry Bugs, been very busy!), but I'll hack out some elderflower recipes next.

ButteryHOLsomeness

Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

Posted: Tue May 31, 05 6:49 am Post subject:

cab wrote:

Buttery, there's a picture and links to more pictures in the may article:

https://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Wild_Food/Top_Ten_Wild_Foods_for_May/

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

ButteryHOLsomeness

Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

Posted: Tue May 31, 05 6:53 am Post subject:
ooh i just found an excellent link for for a photo of elder here https://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=85

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 31, 05 8:12 am Post subject:

ButteryHOLsomeness wrote:

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.

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