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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Jun 4, 2016 7:50:52 GMT
The kids want to make some elderflower Cordial, I'm guessing that elders should be in flower about now, but I can't find any. There's plenty of cow parsley and whatnot, but can anyone post me in the direction of some elderflowers?
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 4, 2016 11:42:53 GMT
They grow on treees. Might be a few about south of the county but I've not seen any flowering around here just yet. Usually start blooming as the Hawthorn is fading. Traditionally you're advised to pick the flowers at midday, they're open then and give up more flavour. A walk along the cut from Norton to Endon will reap rewards. Especially in the rough ground opposite SB Pumping station. Dunner take them all!
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Post by Skankmonkey on Jun 4, 2016 11:55:25 GMT
I haven't noticed any yet. Why do some smell of cat piss?
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Post by nik80 on Jun 4, 2016 12:04:45 GMT
Bunch of woofters. I didn't get where I am today knowing what an elderflower smells like
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Jun 4, 2016 12:06:26 GMT
They grow on treees. Might be a few about south of the county but I've not seen any flowering around here just yet. Usually start blooming as the Hawthorn is fading. Traditionally you're advised to pick the flowers at midday, they're open then and give up more flavour. A walk along the cut from Norton to Endon will reap rewards. Especially in the rough ground opposite SB Pumping station. Dunner take them all! Cheers Cheese, I knew you'd come through! On another note, the recipe I have, uses citric acid, (as well as lemon), and I had to order it from the chemist, as it's restricted for some reason.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Jun 4, 2016 12:36:08 GMT
Depends how much Citric Acid you need. Wilkinsons stock it in 50gs.
link
Or Graham at the Jolly Brewer, Kidsgrove is probably cheaper if that's closer.
Jolly Brewer
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Post by Billybigbollox on Jun 4, 2016 12:56:14 GMT
I haven't noticed any yet. Why do some smell of cat piss? Blurtonboy has probably been along there.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 4, 2016 13:17:40 GMT
I haven't noticed any yet. Why do some smell of cat piss? S'pose we all have a different take on smells, but I get what you're saying. I find the whiff from Elderflowers quite pleasant after the acrid stench of Hawthorn/mayflower has subsided, that really does smell offal. I've always presumed it's the trees trick of getting the pollenating flies and stuff to take an interest. (Only my theory.}
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Post by Skankmonkey on Jun 4, 2016 13:25:04 GMT
I haven't noticed any yet. Why do some smell of cat piss? S'pose we all have a different take on smells, but I get what you're saying. I find the whiff from Elderflowers quite pleasant after the acrid stench of Hawthorn/mayflower has subsided, that really does smell offal. I've always presumed it's the trees trick of getting the pollenating flies and stuff to take an interest. (Only my theory.} To me it seems to vary from tree to tree. Most are sweet smelling but some bloody reek. I haven't used any for a while. I bet Graham has got a boxfull of dried somewhere in that backroom of his.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 4, 2016 13:27:30 GMT
They grow on treees. Might be a few about south of the county but I've not seen any flowering around here just yet. Usually start blooming as the Hawthorn is fading. Traditionally you're advised to pick the flowers at midday, they're open then and give up more flavour. A walk along the cut from Norton to Endon will reap rewards. Especially in the rough ground opposite SB Pumping station. Dunner take them all! Cheers Cheese, I knew you'd come through! On another note, the recipe I have, uses citric acid, (as well as lemon), and I had to order it from the chemist, as it's restricted for some reason. I've never done the cordial. Done loads of wine and beer {Elderberry wine is particularly good.} Picking can be fiddly but you don't need many. I'd take the whole flowerheads and pluck/de-stalk them at home. I think the citric acid restriction is to do with it's connections to 'cooking' H. On a side note, while you're messing about under Elderflower trees keep a look out for these.... Funky finely chopped in a beef stew.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Jun 4, 2016 13:36:53 GMT
I seem to remember that old recipes used white wine vinegar to boost the acidity beyond the lemon.
EDIT. No that's elderflower champagne. Der..
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 4, 2016 13:40:56 GMT
S'pose we all have a different take on smells, but I get what you're saying. I find the whiff from Elderflowers quite pleasant after the acrid stench of Hawthorn/mayflower has subsided, that really does smell offal. I've always presumed it's the trees trick of getting the pollenating flies and stuff to take an interest. (Only my theory.} To me it seems to vary from tree to tree. Most are sweet smelling but some bloody reek. I haven't used any for a while. I bet Graham has got a boxfull of dried somewhere in that backroom of his. I'll pay attention this time around, I hadn't noticed such a phenomenon. Having wiki'd it says that foliage and immature blossom smells 'fetid'. You've perhaps got a finely tuned nose for ripeness. Or it's as BillyBB suggests, you've been walking in the footsteps of Blurtonboy.
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Jun 4, 2016 13:49:32 GMT
Cheers Cheese, I knew you'd come through! On another note, the recipe I have, uses citric acid, (as well as lemon), and I had to order it from the chemist, as it's restricted for some reason. I've never done the cordial. Done loads of wine and beer {Elderberry wine is particularly good.} Picking can be fiddly but you don't need many. I'd take the whole flowerheads and pluck/de-stalk them at home. I think the citric acid restriction is to do with it's connections to 'cooking' H. On a side note, while you're messing about under Elderflower trees keep a look out for these.... Funky finely chopped in a beef stew. What am I looking at here, Cheeese, it looks like a bisected embryo?
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 4, 2016 14:04:02 GMT
Here you go Rich. It's fungus. Looks like ears stuck on dead/dying branches. They grow all year round, but tend to be best a day or so after a downpour. They prefer Elderflower trees and take on the colour and taste. Unmistakeable, you can't pick the wrong thing. They are a touch rubbery/slimy, so best chopped into v.small pieces. BBC Food website 'Jew's ear mushroom recipes' These look like a series of shallow oval cups, rather like ears. Generally only available dried, they need soaking for about 30 minutes in warm water before use. They have a crunchy, yet gelatinous texture and delicate flavour, and are good with chicken and pork dishes. {{{{{{{If your kids are young enough tell them they're Elves Ears!!!!!!}}}] it has worked.
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Post by harryburrows on Jun 4, 2016 16:40:43 GMT
They grow on treees. Might be a few about south of the county but I've not seen any flowering around here just yet. Usually start blooming as the Hawthorn is fading. Traditionally you're advised to pick the flowers at midday, they're open then and give up more flavour. A walk along the cut from Norton to Endon will reap rewards. Especially in the rough ground opposite SB Pumping station. Dunner take them all! Cheers Cheese, I knew you'd come through! On another note, the recipe I have, uses citric acid, (as well as lemon), and I had to order it from the chemist, as it's restricted for some reason. Is that as ascoric acid powder ( vitamin c ) I used to buy it from boots in a small orange tub
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 4, 2016 16:59:43 GMT
Been having a look around today Rich. There's a few just starting to blossom. I reckon you can get at it next weekend around hereabouts.
You can pm me if you're struggling to find any.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 17:54:58 GMT
The kids want to make some elderflower Cordial, I'm guessing that elders should be in flower about now, but I can't find any. There's plenty of cow parsley and whatnot, but can anyone post me in the direction of some elderflowers? Where do you live? And how posh are your kids?
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Jun 4, 2016 20:36:03 GMT
The kids want to make some elderflower Cordial, I'm guessing that elders should be in flower about now, but I can't find any. There's plenty of cow parsley and whatnot, but can anyone post me in the direction of some elderflowers? Where do you live? And how posh are your kids? When I'm in Stoke, people think I'm from somewhere else, as soon as I leave Stoke, people know exactly where I come from... My kids are a bit strange, I blame the milk man.
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Jun 4, 2016 20:37:41 GMT
Been having a look around today Rich. There's a few just starting to blossom. I reckon you can get at it next weekend around hereabouts. You can pm me if you're struggling to find any. I'm going to work with the tip you gave earlier, if not, I'm sure I'll find some, somewhere. What I was not sure about, was whether I had missed the flowers or not.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 20:54:37 GMT
Where do you live? And how posh are your kids? When I'm in Stoke, people think I'm from somewhere else, as soon as I leave Stoke, people know exactly where I come from... My kids are a bit strange, I blame the milk man. Are you sure it wasn't the Alpine pop man? Although the most up market drink I remember him doing was American cream soda
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Jun 5, 2016 15:53:09 GMT
When I'm in Stoke, people think I'm from somewhere else, as soon as I leave Stoke, people know exactly where I come from... My kids are a bit strange, I blame the milk man. Are you sure it wasn't the Alpine pop man? Although the most up market drink I remember him doing was American cream soda I blame the Alpine man for making cream soda, green. For years I thought it was called "Green Soda".
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Post by felonious on Jun 5, 2016 17:32:10 GMT
I've got a few Elderflower bushes growing in the garden. About half the flower heads are out with the rest just about to follow there must be hundreds of them.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Jun 5, 2016 19:22:18 GMT
I've got a few Elderflower bushes growing in the garden. About half the flower heads are out with the rest just about to follow there must be hundreds of them. Elderflower fritters it is then! A light tempura style batter made with fizzy spring water or light beer. Dusting of vanilla sugar. Bob's yer uncle. Yum.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 20:17:44 GMT
Are you sure it wasn't the Alpine pop man? Although the most up market drink I remember him doing was American cream soda I blame the Alpine man for making cream soda, green. For years I thought it was called "Green Soda". It was horrendous stuff anyway. Cherryade and Dandelion & Burdock were my favourites
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 18, 2016 8:57:04 GMT
Any luck with the Elderflowers Rich? Blooming.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 21, 2016 0:05:46 GMT
I haven't noticed any yet. Why do some smell of cat piss? I've been doing some populus research and whilst I'd never experienced/noticed this phenomenon, I thought it was a question of ripenesss, the foragers I've canvassed reinforce your assertion. Speaking to a country boy earlier he agreed with you. He said some smell of dog piss, though offered no reasoning as to why. He quoted an old book on country wines that attests to it. Pick the right trees. My mate says the smell carries through to the brew if you pick from a wrong un. Sweet towards Wetton Mill, sour from Horton up towards Biddle Moor says he. There'll be an answer. I've always been lucky on this front.
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Jun 21, 2016 5:48:14 GMT
Still not collected any yet, but at least I've been spotting them all over the place, now I know what I'm looking for. Something else I've learned, is that they should be picked and a bright, warm and sunny day, as that's when they have the best flavour/smell.
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Post by felonious on Jun 21, 2016 6:31:46 GMT
One of my near neighbours was picking them from the field opposite his house last week. Picked as the sun was out early in the morning to provide a cordial to go with the gin
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Post by Skankmonkey on Jun 21, 2016 9:54:51 GMT
I haven't noticed any yet. Why do some smell of cat piss? I've been doing some populus research and whilst I'd never experienced/noticed this phenomenon, I thought it was a question of ripenesss, the foragers I've canvassed reinforce your assertion. Speaking to a country boy earlier he agreed with you. He said some smell of dog piss, though offered no reasoning as to why. He quoted an old book on country wines that attests to it. Pick the right trees. My mate says the smell carries through to the brew if you pick from a wrong un. Sweet towards Wetton Mill, sour from Horton up towards Biddle Moor says he. There'll be an answer. I've always been lucky on this front. Yes you can smell it in the brew. I perhaps shouldn't have mentioned it mate. It can be a fairly subtle thing and you can start to question your judgement when picking. I'd just stick to the trees you know. They don't change characteristics year to year as far as I know. The "wrong uns" are the same ones year in year out in my experience.
I'm a bit late starting brewing this year. I had a load of wine to bottle from last year. I've ordered some EKG hops and I'll be starting a pale ale for late summer once they show up.
I was foraging up beyond Butterton the other week and came across a few patches of watercress in that big brook that runs into the Manifold (forgot the name now!). That seems to be making a comeback. I've noticed it in a few places recently. It's a bit risky for eating as it can carry liver fluke so I don't bother with it. I upped the Vitamin C in a risotto with a few handfuls of cleavers, nettles and ramsons though. Yum.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 21, 2016 14:24:26 GMT
I've been doing some populus research and whilst I'd never experienced/noticed this phenomenon, I thought it was a question of ripenesss, the foragers I've canvassed reinforce your assertion. Speaking to a country boy earlier he agreed with you. He said some smell of dog piss, though offered no reasoning as to why. He quoted an old book on country wines that attests to it. Pick the right trees. My mate says the smell carries through to the brew if you pick from a wrong un. Sweet towards Wetton Mill, sour from Horton up towards Biddle Moor says he. There'll be an answer. I've always been lucky on this front. Yes you can smell it in the brew. I perhaps shouldn't have mentioned it mate. It can be a fairly subtle thing and you can start to question your judgement when picking. I'd just stick to the trees you know. They don't change characteristics year to year as far as I know. The "wrong uns" are the same ones year in year out in my experience.
I'm a bit late starting brewing this year. I had a load of wine to bottle from last year. I've ordered some EKG hops and I'll be starting a pale ale for late summer once they show up.
I was foraging up beyond Butterton the other week and came across a few patches of watercress in that big brook that runs into the Manifold (forgot the name now!). That seems to be making a comeback. I've noticed it in a few places recently. It's a bit risky for eating as it can carry liver fluke so I don't bother with it. I upped the Vitamin C in a risotto with a few handfuls of cleavers, nettles and ramsons though. Yum.
Glad you mentioned it. I'm looking into it. I like a nature riddle. Do you do all that 'sparching' etc Skanks? I've grown and dried my own hops and sprinkled a few in the initial fermentation for good measure, never made one from base, sparching/mashing etc. For beers I use a kit. Geordie generally and 'enhance' it. I'm starting one off this weekend all being well. Water cress. I've always been told to avoid it where sheep are grazing, they pass on the fluke. It's a danger in the wild because you don't know if there are sheep higher up stream etc. A lot of the land where I live was part of an old nursery, there was a properly constructed traditional cress bed closeby. {Sheep free} fresh stream into it, unfortunately the new owners have filled it in/diverted the stream. I checked the other day, sadly the cress is no more. I did try to get some going in me pond to no avail. So I'll keep me eyes peeled while I'm out and about. Never found a way to properly enjoy nettles. Too irony, but I do keep giving them a go. Best use was a kind of nettle and tater rosti concoction. Foraging points for using Cleavers. Legiminous.
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