Raising elderberries
- Thread starter She-ne
- Start date
yellowsprings
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elderberry recipes - how to eat and drink
Elderberries are especially high in Vitamin C, calcium, potassium and iron content, and have a tart, rich flavor. Usually they are cooked into jelly, pie, vinegar or made into wine although some people like to eat them right off the bush when they're completely ripe. They're rather seedy, but the seed is edible.
They can be used much in the same way as blueberries. We freeze them, dry packed, in plastic bags, and add a handful to pancake or muffin batter. We also freeze a juice concentrate and throughout the winter drink it "straight" on the rocks, or dilute it with a bit of water, club soda, or orange juice.
elderberry juice
Prepare the berries as for jelly, by removing large stems from ripe elderberries. Crush them in a saucepan and place over low heat until the juice begins to flow. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes. (Add a small amount of water if you want a less concentrated juice.) Strain it through a jelly bag. If you wish, add honey to taste, and perhaps a bit of lemon juice. Chill, and either use right away or squirrel into the freezer.
elderberry muffins
2/3 cup honey )
2 ½ tablespoons shortening ) cream together
3 cups flour )
2 tsp. baking powder ) sift together and set aside
pinch of salt )
1 egg - add to creamed mixture
1 cup milk - add to creamed mixture alternately with dry ingredients
1 cup elderberries - add to batter
Pour into greased muffin tins (yield 12 muffins), and bake in 350 degree oven approximately 20 minutes.
elderberry pie
1 cup sour cream )
2/3 cup honey ) mix together
2 tablespoons flour )
2 cups elderberries, all stems remove. Add to mixture. Place filling in 9" piecrust, add top crust, and bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes.
the flower
The flowers of the elder may be used for such diversities as champagne, pickles, wine, jam, vinegar, strewn in salads, and dried for teas. To date, we've sampled them only in "blow" and fritters, and found both delicious.
Elderberry blow
Place a couple of blossom clusters in a gallon of cold water in a glass jar. Add one lemon, cut into 4 pieces, 2 tbsp. vinegar, and 2/3 lb. of honey. Set the concoction in hot sun for a day, joggling it occasionally as you walk by. Strain, bottle, and use in about 3 weeks, chilled, over ice.
Elderberry fritters
Make a batter: ½ cup flour, ½ cup milk, 1 egg, ½ tsp. honey, ¼ tsp. salt. Holding the stem, dip the flower into the batter and fry in deep, hot fat until light brown. Sprinkle with cinnamon and honey. A favorite delicacy for tea in some parts of Germany.
Elderberries are especially high in Vitamin C, calcium, potassium and iron content, and have a tart, rich flavor. Usually they are cooked into jelly, pie, vinegar or made into wine although some people like to eat them right off the bush when they're completely ripe. They're rather seedy, but the seed is edible.
They can be used much in the same way as blueberries. We freeze them, dry packed, in plastic bags, and add a handful to pancake or muffin batter. We also freeze a juice concentrate and throughout the winter drink it "straight" on the rocks, or dilute it with a bit of water, club soda, or orange juice.
elderberry juice
Prepare the berries as for jelly, by removing large stems from ripe elderberries. Crush them in a saucepan and place over low heat until the juice begins to flow. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes. (Add a small amount of water if you want a less concentrated juice.) Strain it through a jelly bag. If you wish, add honey to taste, and perhaps a bit of lemon juice. Chill, and either use right away or squirrel into the freezer.
elderberry muffins
2/3 cup honey )
2 ½ tablespoons shortening ) cream together
3 cups flour )
2 tsp. baking powder ) sift together and set aside
pinch of salt )
1 egg - add to creamed mixture
1 cup milk - add to creamed mixture alternately with dry ingredients
1 cup elderberries - add to batter
Pour into greased muffin tins (yield 12 muffins), and bake in 350 degree oven approximately 20 minutes.
elderberry pie
1 cup sour cream )
2/3 cup honey ) mix together
2 tablespoons flour )
2 cups elderberries, all stems remove. Add to mixture. Place filling in 9" piecrust, add top crust, and bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes.
the flower
The flowers of the elder may be used for such diversities as champagne, pickles, wine, jam, vinegar, strewn in salads, and dried for teas. To date, we've sampled them only in "blow" and fritters, and found both delicious.
Elderberry blow
Place a couple of blossom clusters in a gallon of cold water in a glass jar. Add one lemon, cut into 4 pieces, 2 tbsp. vinegar, and 2/3 lb. of honey. Set the concoction in hot sun for a day, joggling it occasionally as you walk by. Strain, bottle, and use in about 3 weeks, chilled, over ice.
Elderberry fritters
Make a batter: ½ cup flour, ½ cup milk, 1 egg, ½ tsp. honey, ¼ tsp. salt. Holding the stem, dip the flower into the batter and fry in deep, hot fat until light brown. Sprinkle with cinnamon and honey. A favorite delicacy for tea in some parts of Germany.
I have a large steam juice maker t hat goes on the stove, 3 compartment I think. I justput the fruit in the very top compartment, water in the bottom I think and the juice and only the juice comes out the middle. All the pulp and seeds stay in the top compartment. I just fill the Qt. jars directly from the tube spout attached to the middle compartment. Been a while since I have used it, obviously.
Gingergirl
Veteran Member
goatlady2
A steam juicer would make me a very happy homemaker!!!
A steam juicer would make me a very happy homemaker!!!
Gingergirl, They are really neat to use. I used to use it to make all my juices for the kids, apple, grape, tomatoe, whatever. It always comes out of the pot clear as a bell which makes it useful also for making jelly juice. Just throw the left over pulp on the compost pile. I think they run about $35 now days.
The flowers and fruits of all true elderberries - genus Sambucus - are edible, however they should NOT be eaten fresh (raw).
The leaves, bark, roots, stems and unripe fruit of Sambucus contain cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids and can be poisonous, causing diarrhea, vomiting, etc. I know of a young dog who became very ill after merely playing with a green elderberry stick for a few hours.
By the way, some very effective anti-viral remedies can be made from the elderberry plant - similar to the "Sambucal" remedies found in health stores.
The leaves, bark, roots, stems and unripe fruit of Sambucus contain cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids and can be poisonous, causing diarrhea, vomiting, etc. I know of a young dog who became very ill after merely playing with a green elderberry stick for a few hours.
By the way, some very effective anti-viral remedies can be made from the elderberry plant - similar to the "Sambucal" remedies found in health stores.
rb.
Membership Revoked
She-ne, as Snaffle mentioned, there is an elderberry that works wonders on viruses. I've been buying the extract at the health food store and giving it to my kids when they started getting sick this past winter. Works great. They get a much more mild case of "whatever" and get over it much faster. Elderberries Good.
Gingergirl
Veteran Member
goatlady2
The only ones I've seen have been around $150 -$200.
Tell me where!
I totally believe in the benefits of elderberries. To me, they are a miracle cure for colds and viruses, and it takes a lot to convince me.
We have so many elderberries, I want to can an abundance this season. I can't wait to try some of the recipes posted by Yellow Springs, more especially the muffins.
We have so many elderberries, I want to can an abundance this season. I can't wait to try some of the recipes posted by Yellow Springs, more especially the muffins.
Gingergirl, I'll do some checking and get back to you. It may take me a few days though. Quicker than I thought. Go here
http://www1.shopping.com/xFS?KW=steam+juicer&GKW=Garden+Way+Carts&ATV=&RST=DN-&FN=Garden&FD=80 they have 6 listed starting at $46.00. Very similar to but nicer than the one I have.
http://www1.shopping.com/xFS?KW=steam+juicer&GKW=Garden+Way+Carts&ATV=&RST=DN-&FN=Garden&FD=80 they have 6 listed starting at $46.00. Very similar to but nicer than the one I have.
Gingergirl
Veteran Member
Goatlady2
Many thanks! I hadn't looked for a steamer in years. Such good prices now. I've already ordered one. Can't believe how much easier my syups will be now. I may even start making jellies instead of only jams and preserves. I' m excited!!!
Thanks again.
Many thanks! I hadn't looked for a steamer in years. Such good prices now. I've already ordered one. Can't believe how much easier my syups will be now. I may even start making jellies instead of only jams and preserves. I' m excited!!!
Thanks again.
I pick them by snipping the whole head of berries, then back at home I use a fork to "de-berry" the heads. Clean well but a bit gingerly, then cook down and run through a food mill for juice and pulp. I've got a Kitchen Aid attachment and a Foley-type hand cranked mill, both work but the hand mill takes a bit of cussing 
I made tincture last year which was easier, just put clean berries into a quart jar and cover with grain alcohol, shake every now and again for a month and then strain the resulting liquid into a smaller jar. Absolutely the cure for the common cold and flu.
Susan4
I made tincture last year which was easier, just put clean berries into a quart jar and cover with grain alcohol, shake every now and again for a month and then strain the resulting liquid into a smaller jar. Absolutely the cure for the common cold and flu.
Susan4