Talkback: Cooking elderberries

oldchippy

Halo Kate,There is an abundance of blackberries this year,I keep going home with blackberry stained fingers from the golf course when I take the dogs up there for a walk,also the elderberry trees are hanging with fruit, it looks like there be will plenty of sweat chestnuts as well this year,not a good start to the year but a good ending,Oldchippy.

fidgetbones

Don't forget elderberry wine, and elderberry vinegar as an old cure for colds.

oldchippy

Halo Kate,There is an abundance of blackberries this year,I keep going home with blackberry stained fingers from the golf course when I take the dogs up there for a walk,also the elderberry trees are hanging with fruit, it looks like there be will plenty of sweat chestnuts as well this year,not a good start to the year but a good ending,Oldchippy.

happymarion

Hello, Kate, yes loads of elderberries, which I put in with the puree I make from Bramley fallers and freeze for pies, crumbles, sponge puddings quickly made in the microwave - all comforting food in the winter.

mikemove

slightly related subject everyone, maybe you could help please-?

Some idiot has managed to trample all over my "this season planted" sambucas last night while relieving themselves on the way home from the pub in an area of may garden which has open public access!

ive tidied up the plant this morning, cutting back the trampled sections with nice clean cuts... but I'm looking at whats broken and left over, and it seems such a shame to just ditch these healthy stems to the compost heap... is it too late to make softwood cuttings from the remnants, and if not... how do I do it? I love the foliage of this plant and would certainly find other places in the garden it could be used.

flowering rose

elderberries must be removed from the stalks and be made into pies and juices.

Tam Martin-Kessell

I grew up in (very rural) Central New York State. Across the road was an Elderberry bush. My Grandmother and I had a deal... I'd pick the berries each year and she'd bake 2 pies, 1 for her and Grandpa to share, the other for me and my Father. They were so delicious! I will always remember the taste of those pies! I live in the desert now, (Arizona) and just found out recently that Elderberries will grow in my plant zone! I have nearly 2 acres here and have already decided that anything I plant will be something that bears edibles... fruits or vegetables! I'm ready to take on the challenge of growing a prosperous garden and mini orchard in the desert!

fidgetbones

Good luck Tam.I dont know whether you can get some of the varieties we have here, such as Sambucus Black Lace,  but there are many elderberries that are decorative as well as productive.

greenjude

I cook elderberries with a chopped, slightly overripe banana for 2 minutes in the microwave. The banana is very sweet so no extra sugar necessary. Great fresh and warm or cooled and mixed into yoghurt, with maybe a bit of cinnamon.

I also freeze the berries for winter use.

greenjude

Hi mikemove

At this time of year you could start taking hardwood cuttings - just stick the pieces in the ground and leave them to root. They should be ready next autumn. Sambucus roots very easily like this.

lasso a train

I am a little confused the elderberry's or at least what we call elderberries in California do not grow in the autumn but in summer. they are very small and look more like a small bunch of grapes not at all like the picture in this article. is there different types of elderberry's ? I mean I would not like to get everyone sick . and as for the comment left down below from mikemove all I can think of to say is put up an electric fence and hide the wire out of site down low and your problem will be solved guaranteed and in addition might be very entertaining .