Elderflower Cordial

One of the many things I love about this time of year is Elderflower, a pretty white star shaped flower that is everywhere and free! You can make all kinds of things with it like this delicious elderflower cordial I made this week and it's a great family activity to go out and collect it. Here's the recipe...

Elderflower Cordial

30- 40 Elderflower heads 

1 kg Sugar

1.5 Litres of boiling water

4 Lemons

2 oz citric acid 

• Place the sugar into a large saucepan. Pour the boiling water over and stir until all the sugar has dissolved and leave to cool.
• Grate the rind of the lemons, add to the sugar water.
• Slice the lemons and add to the water. Add the citric acid and stir, then finally add the flower heads to the water and stir again.
• Cover with a clean cloth and leave to steep for 48 hours.
• Strain through clean fine muslin cloth (I didn't have anything like this so i just used a sieve which is ok but you might just get a few bits) into a clean bowl and pour into bottles.

Once I made the cordial, I was then able to use some of that to make Elderflower Cupcakes.

75g butter

150g  caster sugar

1 egg

125ml whole milk

175g self-raising flour

1 ½ tsp baking powder

5 tbsp Elderflower Cordial

1 tsp vanilla essence

• Cream the sugar with the butter using a spoon and beat in the egg.
•  Next sift the flour and baking powder, and fold the mixture until mixed then add the milk (but don’t over mix). 
• Add the Elderflower cordial and vanilla. 
• Divide into bun cases and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 18-20 minutes. 

Enjoy x 

Yummy Strawberry Scones Recipe

Yummy Strawberry Scones

I have been looking for a delicious scone recipe for ages and today I found it! Made with flour that I bought from the Bakers because believe it or not there are no independent shops in Otley which sell flour!! Please excuse the picture, I am no photographer but I like to put a little picture of what I made on here for you to see! 

Ingredients 

•  1/2 cup diced fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons double cream
• 2 Cups plain (all purpose) flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup diced fresh strawberries

Glaze

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon water  

1) Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets, or a full-size or mini-scone pan.

2) To make the scones: In a blender or food processor, process 1/2 cup of the strawberries with the sugar and half & half or cream until the mixture is smooth. Set it aside.

3) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.

4) Work in the butter, using a mixer, your fingertips, a fork, or a pastry blender; the mixture should be unevenly crumbly.

5) In a separate bowl, whisk together the strawberry/cream mixture, the egg and the vanilla extract

6) Add this mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until the dough just barely starts to come together.

7) Add the 2/3 cup diced strawberries, gently folding them in; the dough will be quite sticky.

8) Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto threpared baking sheets; each scone should be about the size of a golf ball. A tablespoon cookie scoop is exactly the right size for this task.

9) Or divide the dough among the compartments of the scone pan of your choice.

10) Make the glaze by stirring together the sugar, water, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle some atop each scone.

11) Bake the scones until they're just beginning to turn golden brown around the edges, 15 to 16 minutes (on a baking sheet or in a mini-scone pan), or 18 to 20 minutes (in a standard scone pan). Break one scone open, just to be sure; they should be moist (but not gummy) at the center.

12) Serve scones warm. Or allow them to cool completely, and store airtight at room temperature. Just before serving, reheat very briefly in the microwave, or for 5 to 10 minutes, tented with aluminum foil, in a preheated 350°F oven.

Yield: 8 to 18 scones, depending on size. 

Enjoy x 

Strawberry and Banana Ice Lolly Recipe

Since we started shopping local, there have been a few our favourite treats that we have been unable to get from independent retailers. So I have been making them myself which has a number of benefits. Firstly I know what is in it, I know where the ingredients have come from and I know there are no additives! Secondly it's really satisfying watching Bear enjoy something I have made myself. So here is a recipe for Strawberry and Banana Ice Lollies which Bear LOVES and I know he's eating lots of yummy fresh fruit!

Strawberry and Banana Ice Lollies 

1 ripe banana (good way to use up those bananas)

1 cup chopped strawberries

1 cup milk

1/2 cup double cream

1 tbsp sugar (use a little more if the strawberries aren't too sweet)

Put all the ingredients into a jug. Blend for a minute or two. Pour into molds and stick them in the freezer for a few hours or if you don't have any of these, pour the mixture into disposable paper cups  and put in the freezer, once they have started to freeze 

(but not completely) pop a lolly stick in and leave in the freezer for a few more hours.

Enjoy!

Reviewed and approved by Bear

Mum's Homemade Fruit Cordial

Mum's Homemade Fruit Cordial 

When I was little my mum would make her own fruit cordial. Now I have my own family and in an effort to live more frugally, I decided to ask her for the recipe and make some of my own. 

Here's the recipe

3 Lemons

3 Oranges

1 1/2 Lbs of Granulated Sugar

Heaped tsp Citric Acid

Heaped tsp Tartaric Acid 

Heaped tsp Epsom Salts

1 pint of boiling water

1. Combine the rind and juice of the lemons and oranges. 
2. Add the sugar, citric acid, tartaric acid and epsom salts. 
3. Pour in the boiling water and stir until all the sugar is dissolved. 
4. At this point I let the mixture cool before straining to remove all the bits. 
5. Then pour into bottles and dilute to taste...Voila! 

The recipe makes approximately 1.5 Litres of cordial and can be made with any combination of citrus fruits.  

Enjoy x