Elderflower Cordial

The beginning of Summer is here in Devon and the froth of Elderflowers cover the hedgerows. We have had such a cold Spring that the flowers are about 5 weeks later than normal.

You would be amazed at the lovely things you can make with these pretty flowers, including cakes, biscuits, fritters, elderflower sugar and of course delicious  Elderflower Cordial. So I have been out harvesting the blooms to make cordial, a favourite with my family. Mixed with ice cold, still or sparkling water, Elderflower Cordial makes the most refreshing thirst quencher or freeze it to make ice pops.

The left over flowers I have mixed with sugar and will make little elderflower cakes.

Inspired, I was doodling in my sketch book and ended up illustrating the recipe, which you can find They Draw and They Cook. All in one weekend!

wendy howarth©

Elderflower Cordial Recipe

20 - 30 freshly pick heads of elderflowers
zest from 3 lemons
juice from 4 lemons
1 1/2 kg sugar
1 teaspoon citric acid (optional but it helps to keep longer.)

Shake the eldeflowers to remove insects
Put the elderflowers in a large pan
Add the lemon zest
Cover with boiling water
Leave overnight
The next day, strain through a cloth, squeeze all the juice out
Add the sugar, lemon juice and citric acid
Heat until the sugar has dissolved
Once cool strain again through a cloth and pour into sterile bottles

Easy!

Cornish rock

 

The colours and textures of the rocks in Cornwall were wonderful. Even the hole we dug and lined with stones created a fascinating tactile thing! But wow! the ancient walls built from Cornish slate are stunning!

Cornish Camping at Keveral Farm

At the risk of sounding smug we have just spent a blissful week camping in Cornwall U.K. We stayed at Keveral Farm Campsite. It literally is off the beaten track, on a 40 acre farm of mostly fruit trees and veggies. It's so quiet and mellow, a reflection of the lovely enigmatic host Oak who looked after us and runs the camping and firewood side of things.

Not many campsites allow fires but here we had this one to toast our marshmallows.

 

And at this time of year there were pink campions, buttercups and wild garlic.

 The walk down the ancient path to the beach was stunning, I even found time to fiddle in my sketch book.

I have a strange preoccupation with seaweed. This is Bladderwrack otherwise known as Fucus Vesiculosis.

 This beautiful beach is part of the National Trust at Lansellos, and I couldn't resist a pic of the fishing village, Polperro.