I don't know about you, but when out shopping I love bagging a bargain. That habit also happens when I am out on my bike or walking, so I am constantly scouring the hedgerows of Lymm for free food. We are well into spring now, and consequently there are lots of white flowers around. At about hip height you will see cow parsley. At about eye height in the hedgerows there are tiny hawthorn flowers (occasionally they will be pink too). In among the hedgerows or perhaps above them are some slightly untidy looking small trees with upturned clusters of creamy white flowers on pale green stalks. These are likely to be elderflowers. They smell divine - a sweet, musky aroma which makes me think of far more exotic locations than Lymm!
Cordial
These elderflower blooms can be made into cordial. All you need is some of the flowerheads, lemons, oranges, sugar and sterilised bottles. It is a lovely thing to do with children. Just pick the flowers while out and about...there are even some in Ridgway Grundy park next to the skatepark or on the canal towpath between Lymm bridge and the chipshop. On your return follow this recipe:
http://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/elderflower-cordial/
Basically, it just means steeping them overnight with the fruit rind, draining it, then adding sugar and simmer for a few minutes. It really is that simple.
Alcohol and other friends
This all sounds like just a pleasant thing to do on a warm day, doesn't it? Wait though, because it gets even better...you can add a dash to cava to make a fabulous tipple. The musky aroma really comes through into the flavour. I also use it drizzled onto fruit or ice cream, and when the local gooseberries become ripe at our local pick-your-own farm very soon (http://www.kenyonhall.co.uk/) I will stir it through some stewed goosegoggs.
Fizz
It is possible to make elderflower champagne too. If you do fancy having a go at the champagne, a good friend tells me to use 2 litre pop bottles because they hold the pressure better than a glass one. You can use champagne yeast to get the process going or my friend tells me that the most fragrant blooms are more likely to have captured naturally occurring yeast.
Berry Cordial
Don't take all of the flowers where you are picking. Leave some behind and you can return when the flowers give way to berries to make an autumnal elderberry cordial with cloves.
WARNING
If you ever intend foraging, particularly with children, always be absolutely certain that what you are picking is edible. I usually print off pictures from the internet to take with me.
Lisa Reid
