Elderberries To The Rescue

Last week, we went over to our friend's house in the south of Belgium. They live in a small valley, and have woods behind their huge backyard. It was supposed to be the height of the Leo Perseids meteor shower/show. But it was cloudy and rainy all evening and all night. So that ended that.

That didn't stop us from having a barbecue (corrugated metal covered the large grill), while various salads and vegetable dishes (using Olive Oil they got from a friend in Provence) were prepared. It was a cozy evening with good friends, good food, and loads of laughter.

The next morning we woke up and noticed that in most of the elderberry trees were ripening or fully ripe. So, I asked. And they said, of course! It was still drizzling/raining, but we picked from branches we could reach by pulling down the flexible branches, and soon I had a full bag.

And I have FINALLY gotten to all those berries taking up a whole shelf in the fridge.

It is picky and time-consuming work. Next time I do this, I am enlisting help. Because you have to make sure you get all the spidery thin stems and twigs removed. When cooked, they are poisonous (raw too, actually). And then I had this huge bowl to contend with.


But after debating between jelly or syrup. I decided on both. Well, actually a jam (which is jelly, but with skins and seeds - because I didn't feel like straining out the seeds and skins, again! There are only so many pots in our kitchen). And so, I ended up with 5 1/2 jars of Elderberry Jam and one litre (quart) bottle of Elderberry Syrup. I did a mix of recipes and methods. And because I don't have a kitchen scale, I guessed the amounts of everything. But here are basics:
Elderberry Jelly
Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry Jam


So, here we are Elderberry Jam and Elderberry syrup. The Syrup (and the jam too!) is very good for preventing the onset of a cold or for any throat infection/virus. A couple of teaspoons a few times a day, will keep you in good health. This morning I used those couple of teaspoons over yogurt and sliced apples. The taste was amazing! Next time an elderberry-apple jam/butter! They really complement each other so well.

So why is it "Elderberries To The Rescue"? Not only because I have a bit of a cold coming on that I plan to make disappear, but also we keep getting these apples, and I am getting sorely tired of coring, peeling, or mushing for an apple pie/crumble, or whatever. Now I can just slice and top with elderberry syrup or elderberry jam, on yogurt, on bread with butter (for the Europeans) or peanut butter (for the Americans). I can even have a refreshing drink in this glorious summer heat by adding some cold sparkling water!


That deep velvety luxurious red deepening to purple.