Then searched for the recipe and found it in a favourite book
Soon had them stripped from the stalk and measured - 1¼ pints- and into a saucepan. Covered with water and tight lid and simmered for 45 minutes, squished with a potato masher. Left to cool, strained, measured and tipped into clean saucepan. Same volume of sugar added, boiled and stirred to dissolve sugar then simmered and stirred for 5 minutes and into hot bottles. I bought these Kilner bottles from a charity shop a couple of years ago and nearly took them to the car boot sale - good thing I didn't.
Autumn bottled! ready to protect me from colds............a spoonful a day in warm water should do it.
Thank you for comments yesterday.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Those jars are great. I usually have my syrup on porridge. X
ReplyDeleteThe bottles were from a charity shop ready for gifts for Christmas hampers - which I'm not doing and I nearly took them to the boot sale in May
DeleteYou have saved yourself a small fortune. (You can buy the equivalent brew, in tiny bottles, from the chemist - at an extortionate price.) Much nicer to make your own, knowing that people have been making the brew through the centuries.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you could buy it - will have to have a look and see how much it is and what it has in it
DeleteIt looks simply wonderful and should be very comforting over those cold months to come.
ReplyDeletexx
It tastes sweet and earthy and good
DeleteInteresting. I have never made syrup from the elderberries. I used to made elderflower wine which was very nice. I will pick some berries later when I am back from the dentist and make a batch of syrup. Lovely morning here. No doubt same up the road in Suffolk. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes bright and sunny here too after yesterdays drizzle and then heavy rain.
DeleteDidn't like the sound of the film you went to - I'm too much of a wimp!
Glad you found some. I add a stick of cinnamon and a few cloves to mine when they are stewing. Oh yes, and a tablespoon of brandy per bottle, but that’s just me!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed driving past but walking I could see there will still loads on this one tree. I thought about adding spices as cinnamon is good for colds - then forgot!
DeleteI also make a syrup with elderberries, and use it to make a delicious deep pink ice cream.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good bet it loos good too
DeleteWhen the children were young, I found a recipe for rose hip syrup. I couldn't find enough rose hips, but it was the time of year when our blackcurrant bushes were covered in berries.
ReplyDeleteSo, I substituted them for the rose hips in the same recipe.
Like you, I thought it would be some extra vitamin C for the children through the winter. I made about a gallon.
The children loved it - it was very tasty.
But, after a bit, I realised it had turned alcoholic!!!
And the children were all under seven at the time!
Sadly I threw it all away....
Love it!
DeleteWhoops!
DeleteGood idea! My uncle used to make elderberry wine.
ReplyDeleteI've made elderflower cordial in the past but neither sort of wine
DeleteA local mice cream producer had elderberry ripple ice cream on sale. I fancy having a go at that.
Deleteabsolutely autumn in a jar, and I love those bottles. Good thing you held on to them.
ReplyDeleteI was out and about early this a.m, I noticed all the elderberries out. Well, actually I noticed all the elderberry splats on the path, then saw the berries in the trees!
Messy birds and berries
DeleteIt's been years since I've had elderberries, but I like the taste. My grandmother used to make the most delicious elderberry pies. A lot of times when she baked pies, she would make miniature, individual pies for the grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of elderberry pies
DeleteIt's been a really good year for virtually all berries this year, the birds won't miss the ones you managed to pick. I love the bottles,I think I've got some similar at the back of one of my cupboards, but mine used to have posh ketchup in them and just have plain white lids.
ReplyDeletePlenty left for the blinkin' pigeons at the top of the tree!
DeleteBeautiful. Those canning bottles are very expensive in the US. I got a new elderberry plant this spring because of the medicinal values. I have a question. Do they lose their leaves in winter? I wondered, since mine is in a pot, if I should overwinter in a greenhouse or not.
ReplyDeleteYes they lose their leaves and are OK outside here but we don't have real freezing winters. I'll do a post about the Elderberry sometime - it's an interesting tree with lots of folklore attached
DeleteAh, 'tis good stuff. I made Elderberry Rob last year and reached for it when I had a cold starting, and it does help. I have frozen some berries and still have most of last year's Rob left, but hopefully we won't get colds. Think of all that Vitamin D we have had this summer to help us.
ReplyDeleteI might have some even without a cold, it's very good.
DeleteI remember collecting rosehips for rosehip syrup. We took them to school and received a few pence per pound. Given rosehip syrup everyday as a child. A teaspoon every morning. Good memories. Did you ever use the seeds from rosehips as itching powder...
ReplyDeleteI thought the rosehip collecting was during war time and I know you're not That old!!
DeleteStill being collected when I was at school in the 60tis. Loved picking both elderflowers for gramps wine and the rosehips. We did live off the beaten track. Never remember supermarkets or even shops all from the garden or local farmers and market. Great time picking up apples for cider. Good to keep in touch x
DeleteUsed to make elderberry wine many years ago and it was the best thing ever for the type of colds my family get - all 'head' colders (like living with a herd of elephants when the nose blowing really gets starting!). Mix of elderberry wine and hot water just before bed used to totally zonk you out so you (and everyone else in the house) got good nights sleep and somehow, don't know how, it dried out the cold too! Not thought of making syrup, will have a go at that.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have elderberry trees/bushes? here. I got shingles then postherpetic neuralgia five months ago. I read on some uk forums that elderberry syrup could help with the pain. Had to buy it at a health food store. A little bottle that had enough to make 8 glasses cost me $26.00 (15.28pounds sterling), expensive!! Sadly it didn't help, but it was a nice drink!
ReplyDelete