bingo
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Elderflowers...............Are everywhere here in the south now.
Anybody else got'em?
Love it!
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hedgehogpie
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Just beginning to pop here, which is just as well as I want to pickle some buds this year too.
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Green Rosie
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Sounds intersesting - tell us more
Elderflowers coming out here so I'm going to try either elderflower champagne or cordial this year ..... scurries off to find recipes .....
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bingo
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I'm putting an Elderflower and summer fruits jelly at a restaurant I'm running this summer. Found a massive patch of wild Strawberries the other day too just starting to flower. 
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Ian33568
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Don't forget to try using elderflowers as a fly repellant - just place a few in a bowl near to where you are eating and they stay away.
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Frewen
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Elderflowers here 
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sally_in_wales
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Just starting here
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cab
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Been here a week or so. Elderflower fritters for tea, I think.
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Mary-Jane
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| sally_in_wales wrote: | | Just starting here |
Not quite here yet.
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Fee
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I noticed a load in the pub car park last night!
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LynneA
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First flowers seen three weeks back, now popping open everywhere.
As I no longer have "my own" tree, I've got the OK from someone at the new allotment to pick the flowers on their tree in exchange for a cake.
Must get ready to bake 
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lottie
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I've 5 baby ones I've planted but flowers not out yet.----too cold and miserable today I think. 
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hedgehogpie
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Elder bud pickle - (something to try while you wait for the blossom)
Collect enough elder buds to fill a small le parfait or kilner jar. Snip them off their stems down to small 'florets' and wash thoroughly. Put into a saucepan with 1 tp Mace, 1 tsp peppercorns, 1 tsp seasalt and the pared and shredded rind of a lemon try to avoid the bitter pith. Top up with the vinegar of your choice (which you will have already measured off into the jar you're using to have roughly the right amount), white wine or cider, or even malt vinegar if you like the taste (personally I find it's bit strong and raw for me).
Bring to a swift boil, and take immediately from the heat. Strain off the liquid and allow it and the buds to cool separately (doing this stops the liquid from overcooking the buds). Put the buds into your sterilized jar (don't use one with a metal lid - Le Parfait or Kilner with a rubber seal is best). Pour over the vinegar liquid - add or remove any of the spices as you prefer, and seal securely. Leave for a month or so to mature and develop the flavour.
This is a bit like pickled capers or nasturtium seeds, and would prob go equally well with fishy dishes, but I like it as salad pickle variant in a ploughmans. If the buds aren't overcooked, they should still have a crunchy texture. I don't tend make this in large amounts because I'm the only picklehead in our house. My version of the recipe has been tweaked with the addition of garlic and chilli - possibly not to everyones taste - but you can be bold and experiment!
Elder flower pickle - (haven't got round to trying this one yet - if you do, could you report back please!?)
Gather enough flowerheads to fill a smallish jar (as above). Shake them lightly to remove unwanted guests, give them a light rinse, and snip down to smallish florets. Fill your jar. Boil some white wine or cider vinegar and pour over the flowers in the jar. Pop the lid on loosely and leave for an hour to cool, then strain off the vinegar and use the florets in a tossed salad. Keep the vinegar for another occasion
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AnnaD
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They are only just beginning to appear here.
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2steps
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Not open here yet
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PeteS
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I am just finishing off last years elderflower cordial. Lots in flower here. Also noticed wild strawberries and bilberries in flower too. I love bilberries. Oh, and have been making beech leaf noyau.
This morning a got a good haul of Oyster mushrooms. Noticed Dryads Saddle as well. So far this year I have picked some kind of wild mushroom at least once a week.
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colour it green
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yup - just starting here - first batch of elderflower champagne on the go...
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jocorless
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Not out here yet - I checked yesterday - loads of Hawthorn in blossom but not the Elderflowers
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growingafamily
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none here yet either, but then we are usually a little behind north of the border !
Got everything ready to go when we spot some though LOL
Elderflower cordial has to be one of my faves
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BahamaMama
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All over here, first batch of elderflower champagne on the go, just waiting for them to dry out a bit after the deluge yesterday then start up some cordial.
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Woodburner
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Just about starting here, hadn't noticed they were even showing, they are so high up now we cut out a low branch.
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Green Rosie
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Bottled my first ever elderflower cordial this morning - and the boys turned their noses up at it. Will offer it again in a few weeks with sparkling water and see if they like it then ...... little heathens.
Also going to make some elder leaf fly repellant as I am sitting here being dive bombed by demonic flies  :
| Quote: | THE WORLD'S BEST INSECT WARDER
Mrs Grieves, in The Modern Herbal of 1931, swears by elderflower leaves, bruised or 'in decoction' to drive away flies, midges and mosquitoes. Bruised leaves can be worn in a hat or rubbed on the face. Alternatively, make an infusion of the leaves and dab the mixture on afterwards with a cotton wool pad.
METHOD
Gather some sprigs of fresh leaves from the Elder.
Remove the stems and place the leaves in a jug.
Pour on enough boiling water to cover the leaves.
Cover with a lid immediately.
Leave for a few hours, until the liquid infusion is cold.
Strain, decant into a bottle and keep tightly corked. |
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dpack
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monday
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Lorrainelovesplants
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There out here, and the hawthorns done.
Anyone got a simple recipe for elderflower fritters?
Also, if I get some stuff to make it off freecycle, how do you make cordial?
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mark
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yes been waiting for them.
2 big favourites here
1) elderflower pancakes - just like ordinary pancakes with bits of elderlower in the batter - lovely taste
2) elderflower wine - BUT if you are making this less is always best with elderflowers. For years i follewed the recipes and put too much elderflower in my elderflower wine and steeped for two long . You get a stong and unpleasant flavour. I reduced the quantity and the steeping time to about half and you get that lovely light floral fragrance than reminds you of the flowers in bloom.
oh and if you can find some meadowsweet use that in it - its a wonderful flavour.
Mark
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