Homemade with Love and Flowers

This past weekend our Irish friend, Ciaran, came by for brunch and like a very lovely guest he brought us a little gift.  Two bottles of his brother and sister's homemade Elderflower cordial.  

I have heard of Elderberry, but have never consumed any products containing the berries, or the flowers for that matter. Elder exists in the US, but is native to Europe and very common here in Ireland. The flowering season is short, typically late May through June; but by making enough of this cordial you can stock it away and enjoy it year round!  

The cordial is made by steeping the flowers in a solution of sugar, water, lemons, and citric acid for a day or two, and then it is simply strained and bottled.  Berries can be added to the steeping process for a little variety!

A small amount of cordial mixed with still or fizzy water over a bit of ice makes for a wonderfully refreshing drink.  Additionally it makes a great mixer when it comes to cocktails!

If you're interested in making your own Elderflower cordial, recipes abound on the web. You can also follow this link to www.cullyandsully.com. This duo from Cork serves up locally sourced meals on the grocery store shelves here in Ireland and know a thing or two about cooking!