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Farm Kitchen:  Why didn't someone tell me?!?  |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 26 2011 : 8:43:06 PM
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I can't believe I have lived in the south forever, where elderberry grows in every ditch and fence row, and no one ever told me how absolutely positively with out question how wonderful elderberry jam is?
I am so in love with it! It is truly a gift of the land. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I made it. Love it way better than blackberry. Blueberry is not even on my radar any more.
Does anyone else make it? Was it such a pleasant surprise for you too? Or were you lucky enough to have someone tell you about it or better yet share some with you?
Tomorrow I'm going out to pick again to make syrup.
Anyone have any good recipes that use elderberries?
Can you tell how excited I am?
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4196 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4196 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 04:42:53 AM
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make a juice out of them. We are harvesting right now.
the juice is excellent for fighting colds and flu.
Michele |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 06:07:53 AM
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i would love to see a jam recipe-maybe sugar free? i know to use sf pectin if needed...
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 09:23:05 AM
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Hey Michele-When you make the juice do you add sugar? I've seen some recipes that use cloves in them. Is "juice" really just a thin syrup? I've heard about the medicinal value in fighting colds and flu and want to stock up for that.
Margo- I'm no expert but if I wanted to make a sugar free jam I would try using the sf pectin recipe for blackberry jam. Just know that elderberries are NOT sweet on their own. I'm not sure it would work but if it failed you could always re process it using sugar and pectin and eat a little less. ( Not sure that is possible!) We ate half a jar between two of us on english muffins.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 7:12:39 PM
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Hummmm wine! I have no experience in wine making. That may be a project for the future. But I do know some folks that make wine. I'll see if they would be interested If I picked the berries. Would't that be a treat!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 7:36:13 PM
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Around here we have elderberry vineyards. Anything Elderberry can be very expensive! As it's touted as being so good for so many illnesses.
I personally used elderberry wine for the wine at my wedding. We didn't have much alcohol, in fact the elderberry wine was the only alcohol there. I used of course the elderberry wine from our local vineyard.
The extract and syrup though is sold very very expensively here!
We all (around here) like to add the extract to 7 up or sprite, etc when we are sick.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 7:51:18 PM
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And it is so healthy for you! Very good for the immune system.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 8:21:40 PM
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My sweetie and I took a drive today and hunted more elderberries. Got enough to make a batch of syrup and juice I think. I can't believe they are growing in plain site and no one has harvested them. The birds have eaten quite a few but I have seen no evidence of people gathering them. They are more work to process than other berries but my goodness are they worth it!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1403 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2011 : 8:37:52 PM
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If you like elderberry jam, you will go crazy for elderberry wine.
Betty in Pasco |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4196 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4196 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2011 : 05:01:45 AM
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I have a steam juicer, and do not add sugar. You could. But I usually mix the juice with kool aid, adding sugar to taste.
Michele |
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nin1952
True Blue Farmgirl
269 Posts
Donna
Cedartown
GA
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2011 : 11:36:39 AM
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I'm from the south too and have lived ib the same town all my life. So what do elderberries look like? I've probably seen them but didn't know what they were.
Donna Farmgirl Sister #1487
Wheather therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
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Edited by - nin1952 on Aug 28 2011 11:39:07 AM |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2011 : 5:37:01 PM
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I picked some from a friends yard last week and they were dry enough today to take off the stems. I got about a half a cup. I had some from this past winter so added them and made my cough and cold syrup minus the cinnamon sticks. I have felt a cold coming on so wanted to hurry and make it so I can start taking it already. I love that stuff and it kept me from getting that awful sore throat I get every winter.
I have had my eye on alot of the bushes from spring. But when I went past most of them they are down in the ditch with tall grass and weeds all around. I am not going to get any from there. I guess I will have to order some like I did last year.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2011 : 9:10:58 PM
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Sounds like I need to get a hold of some elderberry wine. I feel pretty sure I'll like it. Not only am I in love with elderberries my favorite wine is merlot. Sounds like a match made in heaven!
Donna- I'll try to remember to take my camera with me next time I go foraging and get some pics for you. They are easily ID'd once you know what you are looking at!
Kris- You are so right. There have been some very tempting berries in the weediest, deep ditches. I'm not that brave either. I'd be sure to get chiggers even if i didn't step on a critter with no legs or shoulders. UGH! I think I will try to get my hands on one of those grabber things on a pole. There are just to many just beyond my reach! You said you dry yours? I have been taking them off as is. Tell me do you just let them air dry? If I keep finding them and can dry them I'll send you some if you like? I have my eye on a spot that is not ripe yet and should yield enough for both of us if I get there before the birds. Let me know. Also, how do you make your cough and cold syrup?
Heather-What a wonderful thing for a wedding! When I first tasted the jam my thought was "Nectar of the Gods" That wine was a blessing on your marriage. I've decided the taste is a blend of berry and floral. Just lovely. I like the idea of putting the juice in a lemony drink that would be a perfect complement. With a three year old in the house we are sure to get some kind of upper respiratory bug this winter.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2011 : 10:32:09 PM
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Yes I really like wine the plus I liked that I was able to have something local.
As for the lemony drink, mainly people put it in the soda as the extract is VERY bitter, and concentrated. But, kids will drink it in the soda. lol Some people just add water though as well. It's great for the upper respiratory stuff! For little kids you may want to look up how much to give, when sick and giving the extract/concentrate you have to be kind of careful how much you give children as it can cause diarrhea but I think that's the worst side effect, I don't think it would hurt them much beyond that.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
Edited by - MagnoliaWhisper on Aug 28 2011 10:32:46 PM |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2011 : 10:44:40 PM
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LOL I don't think her dad will let me treat her with my "weeds". He still looks at me funny when I come dragging things in from the woods and fields. I'm giving him time, he will get it some day. The plantain I put on his wasp sting impressed him. He is letting me put stuff on him but still won't let me put stuff in him! LOL Can't wait to see if he will eat the jam. His loss if he won't. More for me!
I'm hoping to keep us healthy despite all the bugs she brings home from daycare. 'Bout killed me earlier this summer with a bacteria she gave her daddy and me. I'm exaggerating of course but I was really sick and thought it was viral so I didn't go get treated till I had been sick so long I had to do something. Found out I needed antibiotics. Felt great in 2 days. Looking forward to the immunity boost these berries will give me.
Connie
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2011 : 06:52:34 AM
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Connie, I would love some more of you can get them. I just put the ones I got in a cardboard box in the very hot laundry room for a week to dry out. And even then some weren't all that dry. Then I gently take them off the stems trying to not get stems in with the berries, which is not easy. Then I just brush through them to get the little stems out. I have read that the stems are poisonous.
Tp make the syrup, take 1/2 cup of dried berries, 1 cinnamon stick, 5 whole cloves and grate 5 tablespoons of fresh ginger. All these things have healing properties. Add 1 cup water and bring to a boil, then simmer til reduced a little. I will do this for 20-30 minutes, covered. Then allow to cool a little and strain. Add 1 cup of honey and bottle in dark bottles. Refridgerate. Take a tablespoon every day. And if you feel like you are getting a cold or sore throat, take at least 4-5 times a day. I always have doubled this recipe.
I give some to my grands to take and they did not get sick last year at all.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2011 : 11:01:57 AM
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Kris-Great! I think I can manage that drying process. : ) I'm careful about those stems too. Sweetie wants to help but isn't aware his eyesight isn't as sharp as it used to be. I just tell him I enjoy doing it, smile and then mutter to myself that it is a pain in the rear. LOL But so worth it. Your recipe sounds really good. I had read some with cloves or cinnamon but not the ginger. I think I would like that. Good for your tummy. Honey rather than sugar also makes me happy. Not a thing in there that isn't for a purpose. So cool.
Thanks for the info. I'm going picking again on Wed. The patch I'm watching still isn't ripe. I think it is shaded part of the day. I'll let you know when i have some drying for you!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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Farm Kitchen: Why didn't someone tell me?!? |
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Why didn't someone tell me?!?
