Wednesday 8 June 2011

Elderflower Factory and piggie update...

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 I feel like I'm working in an Elderflower processing factory at the moment.  The gorgeously scented buckets of brewing flowerheads are everywhere, scenting the house in a lovely natural way....who needs plug in air fresheners when you have Elderflowers.
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I have managed to make 17.5 litres of Elderflower Champagne and up to now I have 10 bottles of Elderflower Cordial, we've drank the other two already!  I'll put the recipe below for the Champagne as a few people have expressed an interest in it, I can't vouch for it yet though as I have to see if it gets its fizz over the next week or two.  I've been warned about exploding bottles so I'm going to put them all in a nice safe place where I can keep an eye on them and release some pressure if necessary
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Elderflower Champagne

Approx 20 heads of Elderflower
900g Sugar
Juice and zest of two Lemons
1 tablespoon of White Wine Vinegar
14 litres of Water

Dissolve the sugar in a bowl of hot water.  Add the lemon juice, zest and vinegar, stir well.  Pour contents into a large sterilized bucket that has a tight fitting lid, add the Elderflowers, give it all a good stir and then pour over the cold water.  Stir again and then leave for 3 days.

Strain the liquid through muslin and then pour into sterilised bottles.  These should be either plastic pop bottles or the strong bottles with the metal clasp tops.  And then all you have to do is be patient, check the bottles daily for excessive build up of gas, and remember.....store them in a cool, safe place (just in case they do explode!!).
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Piggy Update
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Martha our HUGE Middle White sow has had her piglets, unfortunately she is not being a very careful Mum and has managed to squish 5 of them during the night, I've been a busy girl today trying to keep the other 7 safe. It's heart stoppingly scary watching a huge mummy pig move around while tiny hours old babies try to keep out of the way, some of them have now learnt the safe parts of the farrowing ark and are keeping out of Mums way....thank goodness.
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I'll try and get some photos tomorrow, but for now I am leaving them alone to bond and for Mum to get a good sleep, judging from the snores coming from the ark last time I nipped over she's doing just that!!
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Sue xx

7 comments:

  1. Oh dear Martha, such a lot to get used to when you only have instinct to go with I guess.

    Am going to walk the dog with an Elderflower hunting head on tomorrow, seems wrong that I cannot think where any is in our hedgerows, I do have my eyes open when I am out, promise!! Also need to figure what to use for my bucket plus lid...... Thanks for the recipe

    Sarah x

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  2. Woohoo, did it - commented at last!!!!

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  3. Our cordial did not turn out well.

    Oh well.

    Sft x

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  4. Poor little piggies, I hope the rest of them have a better start in life.

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  5. thankyou for the recipe - I am wondering though how come no preservative (citric acid) like was in the cordial? I do have a large collection of bottles so am thinking to give it a try. thanks for sharing, Bettyx

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  6. I've no idea why there's no preservative Betty, I guess it's mainly because you have to drink this within weeks of making it (otherwise it continues to ferment).

    Mine seems a bit 'flat' at the moment, but it did taste slightly yeasty before being bottled so hopefully it will spring into life soon!

    If you can find some more elderflowers have another go Sft, I wonder why yours didn't work? You've got me puzzling it over now.

    Sue xx

    Sue xx

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  7. hi Sue, I didn't get your email
    Pennysteel@talktalk.net
    elderflower chamers loks yummy. Sorry to hear abut the little piggies

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