Elderflower & Lemon Cordial

A beautiful summer drink to be diluted with water, so it will last. Tall glass, diluted cordial, sprig of mint & ice cubes, Mmmmmmmmm

This recipe was given to me by Katie Dixon, a lovely Facebook friend. Thank you Katie xxxxx

20 Elderflower heads
Juice of 6 lemons
1.5kg Sugar
1.2ltr (2.5 pints) Boiling water

In a large bowl (I used a bucket) put the elderflowers squeeze the juice of all the lemons & add the grated rind if you like. I added the rind it gives a lovely zing. Mix in the sugar.
Pour over the boiling water & stir till the sugar has dissolved. Skim of scum if needs be & cover with a clean cloth.
Stir the mixture twice a day for five days.
Strain the mixture through a muslin cloth, (be careful not to spill it as its very sticky, into sterilised bottles & refrigerate. You can freeze it in plastic bottles too.
Dilute with water add ice cubes a slice of lemon & sprig of mint & enjoy on hot summer days :D

Vine-Ripened Tomato Cologne

Any idea what this is?
OK, I guess I gave it away with this post's title.
It's a little experiment.  Homemade cologne.  Made with tomato leaves.  And lemon zest.  And basil.  And mint (shown here).  Put the first four ingredients in a clean jar, pour in some vodka (and glycerine, if you have it), shake gently and let sit, mysterious, in a darkened, cool spot for a couple weeks until it's time to strain it and and come up smelling beautiful.
At least that's the hope.
VINE-RIPENED TOMATO COLOGNE
4 T. fresh tomato leaves, chopped
1 T. fresh lemon zest
1 t. fresh basil leaves
1 t. fresh mint leaves
1 c. vodka
1/4 t. glycerine (I don't have any of this, so I'm hoping it won't matter that I've omitted it, especially since it's such a small amount. Glycerine is "a clear, odorless, sticky liquid" that "attracts moisture and keeps products from drying out," according to author and the source of this recipe, Janice Cox, in her book Natural Beauty from the Garden.)

I just made this, so I won't know the verdict for a couple of weeks.  But I stuck my nose in it just a minute ago, and it smells pungently, wonderfully lemony.

Do you ever make your own beauty products?  Feel free to leave a link if you've found a great recipe.

Lemon Drizzle Muffins

A nice refreshing muffin for summer, something a bit different & just as popular as the fruit ones.

250g Plain flour

100g Sugar
3 tsp Baking powder
Grated zest 1 lemon
1/2 tsp Salt
180 ml Milk
80 ml Veg oil
1 Egg

Drizzle
Juice 1 Lemon
2 oz Sugar
Heat oven to 200c (180c fan)
Mix together well flour, baking powder, sugar, salt & zest. In a seperate bowl mix milk, oil & egg.
Add the flour mix into milk & fold till flour just moistened.
Spoon into cases & bake for 20 - 25 mins till risen & golden.
Cool on a wire rack
While muffins are cooling make drizzle
Mix juice into sugar & heat till sugar is dissolved. Poke holes into cooled muffins & spoon drizzle over.
Store for 24 hours in airtight container so muffins can develop their texture & flavour.

Fresh Cherry Muffins

Its cherry season here & one of the wonders of fresh cherries, apart from eating them by the handful, is what lovelies we can make with them.

These muffins are gorgeous but please make them a day before you want to eat them as they get their muffiny texture & the flavours come out better. So no cheating (Libby) or you will miss out big time :D

225g Plain flour

3 tsp Baking powder

100g Sugar

75g Margarine

225ml Butter milk (milk mixed with lemon juice)

4oz Cherries washed stalks & pips removed & quartered

1tsp Vanilla essence or sachet (Bulgaria)

12 muffin cases

Heat oven to 200c

Cream sugar & margarine together. Add the flour & baking powder, dont beat it. Add vanilla, stir then add milk, fold in to just moisten Fold in the cheries & spoon imediately into the muffin cases

Bake for 20-25 mins till risen & golden. cool on wire rack then store in airtight container for 24 hours.

Olallieberry Cake

Ooh la la,  olallieberries.

After the jam

and before the syrup

came the cake.

Dense and rich and studded with berries, this cake is a winner.  Even though it's topped with a powdered sugar glaze, I believe you can still sneak a piece and call it breakfast.  It has fruit in it, for heaven's sake. 

That totally counts.

OLALLIEBERRY CAKE
2 c. sugar
1 c. butter
4 eggs
1 c. buttermilk (I use regular milk and squeeze in the juice from one or two lemon wedges; stir and let sit a few minutes before using)
1 t. vanilla
4 3/4 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 c. fresh (or frozen) berries

GLAZE:
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar, sifted
1 T. (plus more, as needed) milk

In large bowl, cream sugar and butter.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. 
If you're using this substitute for buttermilk, measure out the milk now and squeeze in the lemon juice.  Add vanilla and set aside.  
In separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.  To the butter mixture, add some of the flour mixture, then some of the buttermilk, stirring well after each addition.  Alternate adding the dry and liquid ingredients until all have been incorporated into the batter.  Fold in the berries. 
Spread in greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes.  Cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove from pan.  Cool comletely.  (I can never make myself wait, but diligent student that I am, I pass on the wisdom anyway.) Stir together powdered sugar and enough milk to make a drizzling consistency and drizzle over the cake.  Delicious.

This recipe was clipped from a magazine; my guess is it was from Better Homes and Gardens.

Any berry picking going on in your neck of the woods?



Norwegian Rhubarb Soup Revisited

Turns out you can make Norwegian Rhubarb Soup in California, too. 
Though your meringues might bear a strong resemblance to amoeba.

Or maybe that's just me.

Low Fat Pork Pot

A easy cook itself one pot dish, very tasty & colourful

500g Pork chunks
Garlic x 3 cloves
Onion
2 x Peppers red or green
Mushrooms
Oxo cube
2 x carrots
2 or 3 tomatoes
1 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Basil
New potatoes
Cut all visible fat from pork & cut into small chunks. Spray a pan with frylight & brown in open pan or dry fry in covered pan. While browning the pork Peel crush & chop the garlic, chop onion, peel & chop mushrooms then add to pan fry for a few mins. Add a little water & oxo cube, then chop tomatoes into mix.
Peel & julien the carrots, add to pan. Add ginger Basil & fresh ground pepper. Add 1/2 pint of water, or more, Wash & cut the potatoes & add to pan, don't peel unless you dislike them this way.

Cook covered for 30 mins or until potatoes are tender.