Elderflowers

The first batch of elderflowers are now steeping, to be made into cordial as soon as I've sorted out the lemon zest and juice to join them. J and I mostly just dilute it with tap water, and J sometimes improves her apple juice with it too. P likes it with lemonade or sparkling water, and I occasionally love adding a dash to (cheap) dry white wine for a summer evening aperitif. We have our own plentiful supply of elderflowers in the garden and the hedgerows around the orchard, and after several batches of cordial there are still plenty of berries for the birds. I sometimes make a rich, dark red spiced cordial with the berries too - it's supposed to be an excellent winter tonic to avoid colds, and can be mixed with blackberries or any other autumn berries. These mixtures also make good jelly or jam.