More Elderflowers

It is that busy time of year for me again, especially with regard to wild harvests.  Last year I did not get to do my Elderflower preserves as we were away in the caravan so I was very keen to get some put up this year.  I am sorry if I am driving you all batty with this, but I am very passionate about preserving things and putting them to use in my household.  It varies from year to year as to what I actually make and preserve, and it also depends on whether Nature's Larder provides those ingredients so that you can.  In year's where there is no abundance of wild foods nothing gets made.  Sometimes I therefore put up extra just in case the next season is not going to be so fruitful.  I have along the way found many recipes and preserves that work for me, but each of us is different at the end of the day as are our tastes.  Therefore household to household is going to be totally different.

Over the course of the next few days I shall be gathering more Elderflowers.  I have only been gathering a few each day in order that I get my tasks that I have set myself done and I am using the Elderflowers as fresh as possible.  I would also add that I am not picking off the same bush.  There are loads of Elderflowers where we walk her Ladyship and I only take a few at a time.  I will also be going to other areas to pick, as we also want the Elderberries in the Autumn.

There are still many things that I wish to make including my standard makes of Elderflower Wine, Elderflower Champagne, Dried Elderflowers as if  you dry plenty of these you can indeed make cordial out of the dried flowers as you can the wine.  I am therefore keen to get as many of the Elderflowers dried as well in order that I do have the option of making wine out of season when I am less busy.  All part and parcel of my thinking forward policy in any event.  If you do not give yourself the option or opportunity of doing something later in the year to replenish stocks, then unless you can source dried Elderflowers you are slightly stumped.  Now only if I had a still room that would be magic.

My Dressers have suffered a lot of stick over the years from cats, dogs, children and they are not in the best condition really need sanding, ring marks removed, new handles, refinishing. I  have had them from new for about 40 years so they really do deserve a makeover.  Will have to wait for that for a little while but it is something I am considering doing as well as with the Dining Table.

I have used the Dressers consistently for drying things on,  through all the years I have owned them drying, chillies, bay leaves, Sweet Woodruff, autumn leaves etc.  Tonight I have popped up the first batch of Elderflower heads to dry in readiness. Not drying these in the Dehydrator as they dry quite well off the Dresser.   All I do is use a couple of drawing pins and a length of string and drape it from one side of the Dresser to the other.  This time as I could not locate my pegs, I used bag clips to hold the stems of the Elderflower.  However I have also been known to string stems with a separate bit of string onto the draped main string. I have also used little bunches of Bay leaves with the stems wrapped with string and then a hanging string as well.  Chillies I tend to sew with a bodkin and some string spacing them out a little so that they can dry properly. If you do this though, make sure to wear some disposable gloves so you do not end up burning yourself from the capsaicin contained in the chilli.  Believe you me, it burns horribly for quite a while. 

I do need quite a substantial stock of dried Elderflowers this year though as I have a few projects in mind that need dried Elderflowers as a starter.  The Dresser also holds a lot of my storage jars of useful items that I cannot get into the Pantry at all.

I must say that every time I pass by the Dresser I am getting a gentle waft of sweet Elderflower.  This is only the first batch to dry as I do need quite a few more for supplies for making wine and cordial during the winter months, as well as vinegars, hand lotion, using them in fresh desserts.  However, if you have the cordial inhouse you can make lots of lovely things from that, add to drinks i.e. Gin, to cakes, making a Lemon and Elderflower Drizzle cake, jelly, sorbet, Granita, ice cream.  There is so much you can do with them.

The Elderflowers have now been stripped from their stalks for the second batch of the Elderflower Cordial which is currently steeping and will be finished off this evening.  I do choose my days! 

I will then have to  bottle the Cordial using my Baby Steriliser.  It is after all a hot water bath that sterilises baby bottles.  I process sterilised bottles, fill them, seal and then bring them to boil, and then process for about 10 minutes or for the processing time in  your recipe.  It keeps for a long time.  Ideal for small to medium bottles, but also saves waste by processing like this.  I would rather open several small bottles and not waste any of the cordial rather than waste any of it. Bigger bottles take forever to process in a deep stock pot to water bathe them.

I have Elderflower Vinegar to make from more fresh flowers  and Elderflower Oil for toiletries to be made from dried Elderflower to make for a specific project before it can be made.  The reason for using the dried Elderflower for this is because it reduces the risk of mould forming in the oil.  Oils are very volatile in storage and can quickly go off.  In my opinion I really need a Preserving fridge to store produce that is preserved in oil that is unless you have a cold cellar.  The oil in itself can go off quite quickly so best made in small amounts.

If we go out with the dog today (it is more than a bit hot for her) 26 degrees as we speak.  If we go, I will be taking a carrier bag with me as I want to start the Elderflower Champagne off.  I forgot to take my foraging kit with me yesterday.

I also want to make some Elderflower purely for hair vinegar for rinsing and lightening my hair in.   The vinegar is a natural softener and I am hoping it might control my frizzy hair as well as lighten it up a bit.  I am fair and my hair always goes darker during the winter months.

Will see how I get on as loads to do at this time of year as  usual.  All about pacing myself to get things done.

Hope you are having a lovely day.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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