Notes from a beautiful place on the planet: part of the driftless area of northwestern Wisconsin at Lake Pepin, where the Mississippi winds beneath limestone bluffs and the night sky is unobscured. Thanks for visiting! ~Uri

July 17, 2008

Elderberries in Bloom!

One beautiful elderberry bush stands in the meadow this year...a new resident.

The white flowers can be brewed into wines and champagne, or you can lightly batter and fry into fritters, or try stirring them into pancake batter!

The ripe berries, cleaned and cooked, can be made into wine, extracts, syrups, pies, and jams.  I made elderberry wine in the old days, my mouth waters to think of it.  I used a Foley food mill to separate the seeds from the pulp.  If you make elderberry wine and need someone to test it, I stand ready.