It’s Elderflower time

As I look out of the window beyond the garden fence, the Elderflowers are just coming out. These are perfect for Grandma’s recipe for Elderflower Cordial. It's a refreshing summer drink to dilute or to enhance fruit salad.

Elderflower Cordial

2 dozen (24) elderflower heads (remove the stalks)

2-3 lemons (use the lemon rind, juice and cut the lemons into slices)

2 oz (50g) tartaric acid or 1 oz (25g) citric acid

3 pints (1.5 litres) boiling water

2 ½ lbs (1.1kg) sugar

Place everything in a large bowl or saucepan and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Cover with a cloth. Leave for 2 days. Stir from time to time. Make sure the sugar has dissolved then strain through a muslin cloth and bottle into sterilised bottles. The cordial can then be diluted with sparkling water, soda water or lemonade.

Grandma cutting her 90^th birthday cake 

21 June (the longest day) was Grandma Abson’s birthday so it's always a poignant time. She was born in 1886, the second eldest in a family of ten, in a two-up two-down terrace on Ladycroft, Bolton on Dearne.  In her later years, we loved to celebrate her birthday, often with a cake and a party in the garden as the weather was usually glorious sunshine. 

Grandma has a recipe for Elderflower Sparkling wine and soothing Elderberry Syrup for sore throats which are also very easy to make. 

Have you tried making any other fruit cordials?