Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Elderflower and Lemon cordial



Elderflower and Lemon Cordial


Its that time again, the Elderflowers are just out and fresh. Time to get the step ladder out and pick them before they brown even slightly. I’ve just finished bottling a batch to take on holiday and to share with our friends.As usual i probably havent made quiet enough to see us throught the summer months, but i always have a tussle between harvesting the flowers and leaving enough to divide between us for berries for syrup and other recipies later in the year and the birds.
A zingy grown up cordial that balances tangy lemon with the fragrant buzz of elderflowers.Delicious with iced water and even better with a tot of vodka and a large splash of chilled fizzy water.


Ingredients:

•300g of elderflower heads (all but the tiniest stems removed). This was 50 medium and small heads from our tree.
•750g of chunky lemons (I bought five)
•2 kilos of white granulated sugar
•3 litres of boiling water
•110g of citric acid

Method:

1.In a large heatproof bowl (or deep saucepan) pour the boiling water onto the sugar and stir. Leave to cool, stirring every now and then to dissolve the sugar.
2.When cool add the citric acid, the lemons (zested and sliced – not squeezed) and the elderflower heads.
3.Leave to steep for 48 hours in a fridge or a really cool place.
4.Strain twice through sterilised muslin
5.Using a jug and funnel carefully pour into hot sterilised bottles

1 comment:

jojo said...

so good to hear from your side of the water again. I am not attempting a garden this year, but I had considered the raised gardens to take some pressure off the back. I hope by next year to atleast have a happy herb garden growing.