What to do with elderberries?

taurusgb

A work colleague handed me a photocopy of a newspaper article today (from last year - sorry don't know which paper so can't acknowledge source) advocating home made elderberry cordial to fight colds and flu. She says she used it and was very favourably impressed, so I've spent this afternoon getting stung by nettles to pick enough elderberries to make a winters supply and thought I'd share the recipe:-

1llb fresh elderberries
1lb brown sugar

1)Wash berries and strip from stem (easiest way is to use a fork- takes no time at all).

2)Crush berries and put in large heavy pan with brown sugar and bring slowly to the boil.

3) Simmer until a syrupy consistency is reached, then sieve and bottle in steralized, air tight bottles/jars.

Dosage for colds and flu is 2 tablespoons in glass of hot water. - apparantly the bioflavanoids help destroy viruses
Here's to a flu free winter!:beer:

tiff

I made this a few weeks ago, you can also make a blackberry cordial the same way. I found it too sweet, so I used less sugar in my next batch and it was a bit better. The longer you boil it the more concentrated it becomes, but you can overdo the boiling so it goes very thick. There's also a recipe using cloves etc to spice it up a bit.

pounds_and_pensive

Just wondering... how long would this keep for? Thanks.

tiff

I froze mine in ice cubes, but in theory it should keep well in the cupboard due to the amount of sugar in it.

thriftmonster

Mine has been in the cupboard for 2 years and is still ok = although it has cloves in as well so they might act as a preservative. I sterilised the bottles first etc just like for jam.

Juliav_2

Hi

In the middle of potty training my son and just happened to glance out the window to see loads of elderberries on the tree at the back of our garden. Can't say I have noticed it before.

Would love to get some ideas on how to use them so they don't go to waste? Are there juices, receipes that they can be used in?

rach

my dad used to make elderberry wine when i was a kid.

try google

also there's an older thread i found (again through google!): here

Ytaya

You can use them to make elderberry cordial, elderberry ketchup, chutney, jam, they're good in fruit pies and crumbles with other fruit (blackberries, apples), make elderberry vodka, elderberry port, all sorts! A really good place to look is the River Cottage forum, just do a search on 'elderberry' at http://forum.rivercottage.net

DawnW

elderberry jelly is nice, either on toast or as an accompaniment with roast meat or game. In fact, I am just about to make some, as the elderberries in my garden are ready too! Pick the elderberries, take them off their stems (it is easy just to push them off with a fork into the pan you are going to cook them in, as it doesn't matter if they get a bit squashed), then cook gently, adding a little water if it initially looks a bit dry. They will make lots of juice. Allow to cool a bit to avoid scalds, then strain through muslin, a jelly bag (or improvise like I do, with an old - but clean obviously - pillowcase in a colander over a large bowl). You might need to leave it overnight to strain. You then put it in a large pan or preserving pan, add some lemon juice to help it set, maybe 1 tablespoon per pint of juice. For every pint of juice, add 1lb sugar, heat gently and stir till sugar is dissolved. Then boil fast to setting point (as jam). I use the saucer test - put a saucer in the fridge to get cold, then place a little of the hot mixture on the saucer, replace in the fridge till cold, then push with your finger. If it wrinkles, it is ready. Pot in clean hot jars and cover. It keeps for ages. If by any chance it is still runny, and not set jelly-like when cold, simply boil it up again and test as before. As I mentioned, you can either use it as jam with toast etc (kids tend to like it as there are no 'bits' in it, being a jelly), or use with roast meat or with game dishes.

3106catherine

Hi all, we have what I am sure is an elderberry bush growing up the pine tree that overhangs our garden. I'm not convinced about making the wine, quite aside from not having anything we would need to do that, so, what else can be made from them??