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Recipes
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
Since ancient times the elder tree's ability to recover when damaged has made it a symbol of regeneration. It supports the body in healing sadness, grief and depression and helps release our hold on the past preparing us for change. It's truly a tree for our times.
The elder is more of a bush than a tree. In early Summer it is awash with thousands of tiny white flowers, followed in Autumn by drooping bunches of purple-black berries. It grows in abundance all over the British countryside. More than any other tree the elder has always been considered sacred and magic. Legend has it that the elder tree is the home of the elder mother and embodied in the tree is a powerful female energy of great wisdom. There are very strong superstitions about cutting the elder tree down, traditionally permission should be sought first and not until consent has been given from the elder mother, by remaining silent, may the tree be cut down.
For thousands of years all parts of the tree have been used medicinally, the benefits are so varied and valuable that the elder has been called 'the medicine chest' tree.
A soothing and protective ointment is made from the green inner bark of the elder branches and is useful for skin conditions such as eczema. A homoeopathic remedy is made from the fresh inner bark of the younger branches which acts especially on the respiratory system. Warm green leaves laid on the temples can be used to relieve nervous headaches and they are a useful first aid for cuts, bruises, sprains and swollen joints.
A hot infusion of elder flowers is a wonderful remedy to take at the first sign of colds and flu.
Elder flowers stimulate the circulation and cause sweating, helping to bring down fevers and cleanse the system. This soothing drink is a useful remedy for hay-fever, sinusitis, and catarrh. Elder flower water is a traditional remedy for skin blemishes and sunburn.
Gathering armfuls of fragrant flowers is part of the magic of Summer. Pick the creamy blossom heads on a sunny day. Dry some by spreading thinly in an airy room until dry and crumbly. Rub and shake to separate the flowers from the stalks, then store the petals in an airtight dark jar and use to make infusions. Turn the rest into delicious drinks and puddings.
When you harvest the blossoms, don't pick them all or there will not be any berries in the Autumn. Elder berries are rich in anti oxidant vitamins A & C, iron and potassium and make a potent syrup for coughs. They make rich pickles, preserves, cordials and wine and of course they are important food for birds.
Sambocade
This is an adaptation of a recipe found in The Forme of Cury a manuscript compiled by the master chefs of King Richard II around 1390.
1½oz (40g) butter
6oz (175g) sweet biscuit crumbs
6 eggs, separated
6oz (175g) sugar
1½ lb (700g) cream cheese
2 heads of elder flowers in full bloom
10" spring release tin without the base
12" oven proof plate
Oven 150°C
Serves 8
Lightly oil the plate and set the lightly oiled tin on top.
Melt the butter in a small pan and add the biscuit crumbs, stir well to make sure all the crumbs are coated with butter. Tip into the tin and press down well to make a base for the cheesecake. Beat the egg yolks, cream cheese and sugar together. Carefully strip the white blossoms from the green stalks of the elder blossom heads and gently fold into the cheese mixture. Whisk the egg whites until firm, gently fold into the mixture, then pour into the prepared tin and bake for 35 minutes or until set. Cool to room temperature before running a palette knife around the edge of the mould and removing.
Elderflower and strawberry pancakes
10fl oz (275ml) milk
2 eggs
4oz (110g) wholemeal flour
16 strawberries
4 tablespoons of elderflower syrup
8 elderflower heads
1 lemon
Serves 4
Mix the flour, eggs and milk together to make a batter, pour into a jug and leave to stand for 1 hour.
Slice the strawberries, place in a bowl and pour over the elderflower syrup.
Carefully remove the white petals from the elderflower heads and add to the pancake mixture. Make 4 pancakes in a very lightly oiled frying pan. Put each pancake on a warm plate, spoon a pile of strawberries onto each, fold up each pancake, squeeze a little lemon over the top of each and serve.
Elderflower syrup
2¼lb (1kg) sugar
1¾pints (1 litre) water
20 heads of elder flowers
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
Put the sugar and water in a pan and dissolve over a gentle heat, bring to the boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
Put the elderflower heads into a bowl with the lemon juice and zest.
Pour over the boiling syrup, cover and leave to infuse for 24 hours.
Strain and bottle. The syrup will keep in the fridge for 3 months. Mixed with water it makes a delicious refreshing Summer drink.
Gooseberry and elderflower fool
1lb (450g) gooseberries
3oz (75g) sugar
5 tablespoons elderflower syrup
7fl oz (200ml) double cream
Serves 4
Top & tail the gooseberries, put in a pan with the sugar and elderflower syrup and cook gently until they begin to burst. Leave to cool then crush with a fork. Whip the cream into soft peaks, and then gently fold in the gooseberries. Pile into 4 glasses and chill for an hour before serving with elderflower shortbread.
Elderflower shortbread
4oz (100g) caster sugar
7oz (200g) plain white flour
4oz (100g) rice flour
7oz (200g) soft butter
2 elderflower heads petals removed
1 lightly buttered shallow baking tray approx. 7" x 10"
160°C, gas 3
Put the sugar, flours and petals into a bowl, gently rub in the butter until the mixture coheres and forms a soft ball. Put the dough into the baking tray and with the palm of your hand flatten the mixture until it fills the tin, alternatively you could roll the mixture flat with a small jar. Neaten the edges then run a sharp knife through the dough cutting into 14 biscuits.
Bake for 15 -20 minutes until golden brown. Cool before removing from the tin.
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