Elderflower cordial
We've made a delicious elderflower and strawberry cordial. We used Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' so it's a delightful pink and tastes exactly like summer should.
Other than bottling, we've been trying to keep on top of the weeds and watering. I picked a good sized bunch of sweet peas. I'd forgotten what a pleasant task it is to pick flowers. I think I shall pick a bunch of flowers a week for the rest of the summer. I had this job in London maintaining an old lady's garden and before I left I had to pick enough flowers to fill her downstairs. I really got into flower arranging and not just for the obvious reasons. You come up with all sorts of lovely flower combinations that you'd never have thought up just staring at the soil. The crambes are in full flower across the long borders. It is really their moment, but I'm afraid these winds will knock them flat. If they survive, I'm going to steal Russ's (researcher for Carol's strand) trick and grow some morning glory up their stalks.
This week the weather is brought to you by Kirsty McCabe.
The great British summer continues this weekend with much of England and Wales set for showers or longer spells of rain, some of the rain quite heavy through Saturday night. For Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, Saturday should be dry and bright but Sunday will bring showers or longer spells of rain. Brisk winds across the UK on Sunday. Temperatures near normal but feeling cool in the rain, 17 to 21C (63 to 70F).
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~58~RS~)
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Delighted to hear about elderflower cordial. Can you post the recipe, please? The one's I've found and tried have far too much sugar, which made them all undrinkable!
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Alys, I just got back from a specialist plant fair at Gilbert White's House in Selbourne, which was gorgeous, amazing...
While I was there I bought a guide to the garden, which includes the tantalising fact that in 1758 White organised a "Canteloupe Feast for 14 people in the hermitage".
The romantic nature of this summery-sounding event really appealed to me. Please can you organise a Canteloupe Feast? Just so I can find out what it was, apart from anything else...
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here is a recipe for elderflower cordial which I,m pretty sure is the one Alys used except she added strawberries !
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3pt water
3lbs gran sugar
4oranges
1 lemon
2 oz citric acid
30 head of elder flowers
dissolve sugar in 2 pt until clear then cool.
into large pan combine all 3pts together with chopped fruit, citric acid and elderflowers leave for at least24 hours, strain through muslim, you need to experiment with the sugar, try 2lbs, I often use more lemons. In plastic bottles it freezes very well. liz
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Dear Emma,
I spent a lot of time around that part of the world as a teenager. I have fond memories of brambling on the hills behind his house.
I'm pleased to note that we have our first melon. So I have canteloupe but no hermitage (or hermit). Perhaps it is a good excuse to build something. By the size and fit of this summer I say we'll be eating melons by the end of August. Therefore consider this an invitation. There will be a feast in the last week of August and I'll work on the location.
A
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It is the most beautiful spot. I'm really really impressed by the melon, I loved watching the bed getting built.
I've just realised that having a massive St Petersburg palace full of priceless works of art called 'the Hermitage" is quite funny. Don't feel you have to go to those lengths...
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