Rich Black Elderberry Cordial

Rich Black Elderberry Cordial

This post is out of sync with the seasons (just a bit)...life has been busy but please enjoy I want to share this gem of a berry.

It is not cold yet but I have made this cordial thinking ahead to have on a cold winters evening with hot water and a good old fire. Elderberries are packed full of goodness and are believed to be extraordinary in fighting against colds and flu. This is also an amazing cold drink with soda water and ice...slurp...g for it!

© Fig.1. L.Moore Black Elderberry Cordial     

© Fig.2.L.Moore Black Elderberry Cordial

© Fig.3. L.Moore "Cordials together"

©. Fig.4.L.Moore Elderberries 

Ingredients

Elderberries (about a pan)
sugar (the same amount as extracted juice)
water (to cover berries)
2 tsp lemon juice

This is ridiculously easy and well worth the little time it takes. Collect about a pan of elderberries and using a folk comb through them to release the berries from their stalks. Put in a pan and cover with water (about an inch from the berries). Boil for about 10 minutes until soft and then using a masher give them a mash in the pan. Now sieve them into a bowl. Measure the same amount of sugar as your extracted juice. Pour your juice into a clean pan and add the sugar and a little lemon juice. Boil for  no longer than 10 mins (otherwise it gets too thick) and then bottle into sterilised jars...hooray...that's it...gulp it down it's gorgeous.

If you collect a lot of elderberries they freeze brilliantly and then you can make a batch in the winter. Have it warm with cinnamon or cloves. Experiment with adding vanilla flavors to your juice.

Enjoy x

Proud Blackberry and Chilli Jam

Proud Blackberry and Chilli Jam

Oh yes there are lots of them about at the moment. Go and get an old shirt on and go blackberry picking before it's too late. These little unassuming beauties will knock your socks off for taste. The list is endless what you can do with these but I opted for a good old fashioned jam/jelly that I can have with butter and toast and in yogurts, granola, and puddings along with certain cheeses and meats...let your creativity flow. Hooray to the humble blackberry...your gorgeous.

This post is a little out of sync with the seasons...life is great it's just a bit busy at the moment but hey ho better late than never LOL.

© Fig 1.L .Moore Proud to be British...Blackberry and Chilli Jam 

Ingredients

1 large bowl of Blackberries
Sugar (same amount as extracted blackberry juice)
4 tbs lemon Juice
3 apples (any)
3 chillies (depending on stamina)

If you put your berries in the fridge for a while any crawlies tend to appear on the lid of your storage container so it is easier to get rid of any nasties. Put a saucer in your fridge for the plate test later on.

First give them a rinse gently so as not to take too much juice from them. Now add them to your pan with your chopped apples (keep peel on and cores) and cover with water about an inch from the berries and apples. Boil the berries and apples until soft simmering for about 15 minutes. Using a masher give them a mash and and then strain them. Collect the juice in a bowl and discard the pulp. Measure the same amount of sugar as your extracted juice. Now pour the juice into a clean pan and add the sugar. Heat up and dissolve the sugar. Keep stirring until it has dissolved. Then add your lemon juice and chillies.

Boil the juice rapidly for about half an hour and then do a plate test. The plate test is to see if the jam/jelly is ready. On your cold plate add a teaspoon of the boiling juice and pop back in the fridge until it cools down. Then take it out and push your finger through the jelly. If it crinkles up as you push your finger through it the jelly is done. If it is not done keep boiling a little longer and try again.

Now pour into your sterilized jars...Ta Dah. Just like that. Gorgeous...yummy. Great for present for xmas (why not make a hamper).

Enjoy x

Black Luxurious Elderberry Compote

Black Luxurious Elderberry Compote

OMG...so simple...so humble...amazing

Seasonally this post is a bit late...(Well err... about a month actually so apologies for not being seasonal and in real time...life is just taking over at the moment but it's all good).

This is heaven on a plate. The simplicity of this compote astounds me and it's great for you. Have this with a few dollops of natural Greek yogurt and fruit and it is enough to leave you truly satisfied. It's eye candy in a bowl so lush and rewarding. I tried this last year with just a few handfuls of elderberries and loved it. I was sad to see them go but they are back and here for a little while. Be quick if you want some the birds love them.

© Fig.1.L.Moore Black Luxury Elderberry Compote  

Ingredients

I pint of elderberries (more or less it does not matter) 

About a cup of sugar (taste as you go) 

Water to cover berries

Ok So to make your easy compote collect about a pint of elderberries (or a bowl). Using a folk comb through your berries and let them fall into a pan. Now just cover them with water and simmer in a pan for about 10 mins until soft. Use a masher and mash them just a little to get a little more juice out of them. Add sugar (about a cup) and stir until dissolved. Simmer for no more than 5 mins (otherwise you will get a syrup) and Ta dah... it's ready. I would recommend tasting your black luxury before you store it and add more sugar if you want to (or less...taste it as you are making it).

I normally put it in the fridge and use it over a week. I have it dolloped on top of some Greek yogurt and it's delicious...a great start to the day...and packed with lovely anti oxidants...and it's free YAY. You could of course add vanilla etc. to your compote to add a bit more flavor but experiment. 

The benefits of Elderberries is astounding. They have a high Vitamin A content, potassium, iron, B6, beta carotene, lots of flavanoids and they contain 87% of our daily vitamin C.