Tis TM 8 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 .... going to have a crack at champagne this year, and cant wait!!!! Anyone else giving it a go? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clover 0 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 .... going to have a crack at champagne this year, and cant wait!!!!Anyone else giving it a go? We're planning to - but no sign of the elderflowers yet My partner got his hopes up then realised that it was the hawthorn then the rowan blossom Any good recipes? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tis TM 8 Posted June 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 .... going to have a crack at champagne this year, and cant wait!!!!Anyone else giving it a go? We're planning to - but no sign of the elderflowers yet My partner got his hopes up then realised that it was the hawthorn then the rowan blossom Any good recipes? Hi!!! My hubby did EXACTLY the same thing with the hawthorn, hehehe. We have a few tree's nearly in full bloom, but I was just going to wait till next week when I can go and get the propper stopper bottles, as they get quite lively apparently. We are going to use the HFW recipe... http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs...recipe_p_1.html Hope all you and yours are ok, and you got through the calving unscathed xx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jasper65 6 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 we knocked up some Elder flower Cordial the other year which was well tastey but the Champagne sounds good! Didn't that Hugh whats his name make some Champagne in his series? Jasper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tis TM 8 Posted June 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 we knocked up some Elder flower Cordial the other year which was well tastey but the Champagne sounds good! Didn't that Hugh whats his name make some Champagne in his series? Jasper Yep, thats the HFW I was talking about and have linked too Cordial sounds good, but I'm going to plump for the champagne first, ... one of my weeknesses!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
farmerrich 1 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I made some elderflower cordial last weekend and it was fantastic. 3 litres of the stuff and half is gone already!! Whats this elderflower champagne? definitley going to try that if I can get some decent bottles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clover 0 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Hi!!! My hubby did EXACTLY the same thing with the hawthorn, hehehe. We have a few tree's nearly in full bloom, but I was just going to wait till next week when I can go and get the propper stopper bottles, as they get quite lively apparently. We are going to use the HFW recipe... http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs...recipe_p_1.html Hope all you and yours are ok, and you got through the calving unscathed xx Hi All fine here. Calving mainly went well - sadly lost one, first time that's happened But the rest have done well - in fact almost too well, we need to sell a few. Maybe I should advertise on here Lambs are looking chunky - almost time to put some in the freezer My new dog arrives on Thursday, so that's going to keep life interesting :) I'll send you some pics when he's settled. We're a bit behind up here (1000 ft up) on the elderflower front. We were going to have a try with Hugh's recipe - watched his TV series and it looked GOOD! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
desertdog 149 Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 me and me old mate are going off today to start with the elderflower, and make some bubbly, i tried some he made last year, well all ican say is it was a long walk home, :alcoholic: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
liongeorge 7 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Just bottled 5 gallons of champagne in plastic PET bottles that I normally use for my cider. Fingers crossed we don't get any explosions! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SPOTTY BACKED BIG RACK 90 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 made some cordial last year will be making some again this year Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tis TM 8 Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Just bottled 5 gallons of champagne in plastic PET bottles that I normally use for my cider. Fingers crossed we don't get any explosions! 5 gallons!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tis TM 8 Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 What I cant get over is how simple the cordial and champagne is to make... For those that cant be botherd to google, here's the cordial recipe: Ingredients 20 heads of elderflower 1.8kg granulated sugar, or caster sugar 1.2 litres water, 2 unwaxed Lemons, 75g citric acid 1. Shake the elderflowers to expel any lingering insects, and then place in a large bowl. 2. Put the sugar into a pan with the water and bring up to the boil, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. 3. While the sugar syrup is heating, pare the zest of the lemons off in wide strips and toss into the bowl with the elderflowers. Slice the lemons, discard the ends, and add the slices to the bowl. Pour over the boiling syrup, and then stir in the citric acid. Cover with a cloth and then leave at room temperature for 24 hours. 4. Next day, strain the cordial through a sieve lined with muslin (or a new j-cloth rinsed out in boiling water), and pour into thoroughly cleaned glass or plastic bottles. Screw on the lids and pop into the cupboard ready to use. And here's the champagne: Ingredients About 24-30 elderflower heads, in full bloom 2kg sugar 4 litres hot water Juice and zest of four lemons 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar A pinch of dried yeast (you may not need this) Method: How to make elderflower champagne 1. Put the hot water and sugar into a large container (a spotlessly clean bucket is good) and stir until the sugar dissolves, then top up with cold water so you have 6 litres of liquid in total. 2. Add the lemon juice and zest, the vinegar and the flower heads and stir gently. 3. Cover with clean muslin and leave to ferment in a cool, airy place for a couple of days. Take a look at the brew at this point, and if it’s not becoming a little foamy and obviously beginning to ferment, add a pinch of yeast. 4. Leave the mixture to ferment, again covered with muslin, for a further four days. Strain the liquid through a sieve lined with muslin and decant into sterilised strong glass bottles with champagne stoppers (available from home-brewing suppliers) or Grolsch-style stoppers, or sterilised screw-top plastic bottles (a good deal of pressure can build up inside as the fermenting brew produces carbon dioxide, so strong bottles and seals are essential). 5. Seal and leave to ferment in the bottles for a further eight days before serving, chilled. The champagne should keep in the bottles for several months. Store in a cool, dry place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
liongeorge 7 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Just bottled 5 gallons of champagne in plastic PET bottles that I normally use for my cider. Fingers crossed we don't get any explosions! 5 gallons!! Had a 5 gallon bucket and 25 bottles so I thought why not only had to go down the shop and get some sugar, the kids can't get enough of the stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
redfox 0 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 I intend making some but word of warning. Use plastic bottles. Its volatile stuff! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yokel Matt 918 Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 (edited) The whole house smells of socks as we speak I am popular with the Mrs!! Edited to say did anyone else notice a shitload of greenfly larvae on the heads... or am i just unlucky? Edited June 9, 2009 by Local Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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