Elderflower champagne is my generic term for a sparkling elderflower wine. But it could be a “beer,” too. I walk you through how to make your elderflower drink at home, with lots of variations depending on your preferences. Regardless, this is a perfect summer spritzer.
elderberries
Elderflower Cordial
Elderflower cordial — really a syrup — is a classic use for these incredibly aromatic flowers of spring. Use this to make homemade soda, add it to gin, or make it into a sorbet whenever you want to remember the first warm breezes of the year.
Elderberry Ice Cream
Elderberries are in season here in California, and one of my favorite ways to enjoy them during our hot summers is in ice cream. Here’s how to make it.
Duck Breast with Wild Rice Pilaf
Fall has finally hit, and I find myself in the Upper Midwest: wild rice country. It seems amazing that after all these years, I don’t have a recipe pairing wild rice and duck, which is a classic. Well, better late than never.
How to Make Elderberry Wine
If you want to make your own fruit wines – wines worthy of the snootiest wine snob – this is how to do it. I’ve been making fruit wines for 20 years, and here is my method. It requires some special equipment, a lot of patience, and a little math. But the result is more than worth it.
Elderflower Fritters
Elderflower fritters are wonderful, but most recipes for them have a serious flaw: They simply dip the flower heads in batter, leaving the toxic stems attached. How to fix that problem? Make a beignet instead.
Elderflower Cordial
Elderflowers have arrived in NorCal, and the first thing I make with them each year is elderflower cordial. I use this sweet-smelling syrup as a base for cocktails and soft drinks.
How to Make Elderberry Syrup
It’s elderberry season, and making elderberry syrup is the first thing I do once the berries turn ripe every year. After all these years running this blog, I thought I’d finally write down the recipe.