I made both Elderberry Liquer and Elderberry & Lime Jelly yesterday. The Liquer has to set in a dark place for at least 6 months. I always store such in the Cubbyhole under the stairs where there is a constant coolish temperature. If anyone is interested in this excellent liquer, say so and I'll post the recipe. The same goes for the Elderberry Jelly & Lime Jelly. I've been on a ginger and a lime thing this year, have been adding one or both to various recipes, and getting even better results all round.
Sorry I've not got back until now. I'll post the recipes tomorrow, I'm not at home at the mo so don't have them to hand.
Elderberry Liquer 2 L. juice juice of 2 lemons (I used lime this time) 600g white rock sugar 2 vanilla sticks (I don't always use them) (about a 1" piece of ginger root, used first time this time) - boil all together until the sugar is disolved - add 1 L. 54% rum and mix well - fill into sterilized bottles - store for at least 6 months It really does get better with age, so do wait.
Elderberry Jelly 1250 ml juice 500g 3:1 preserving sugar * boil for 4 minutes as instructions say add 1 TBL lime juice at the end and stir well bottle hot in the usual way * We can get this special sugar everywhere here but it is not to be had in GB, I did ask the makers here. They sent me an address you can write to in England, think I posted it under my plum jam recipe. If you can't get it, then you will have to use regular castor sugar and boil it for 20 minutes or so, until it thickens some. It is worth going out and picking these berries, just see you don't pick them on busy roads. I remember always seeing a lot of the trees in England during the autumn. Both the jelly and liquer are really something else. I'd be interested to know if anyone does try the one or the other out.
