Monday 8 June 2009

Today at Heartshaped towers.........

I have started a batch of Elderflower Champagne (recipe from the tinterweb - courtesy of Hugh Fearnley Whatsisbob). I made this last year and it is the most gorgeous summer beverage ever. Be warned if you make it though. It gets VERY explosive VERY soon. My first bottle emptied itself all over my kitchen ceiling after only being bottled for 1 day!!! This year, I am going to try not screwing the caps on the bottles until the day before I want to drink it. I'll let you know how I get on. I am making it in my Grandads "pantion" (I think that is how you spell it). I have to say that this does get used lots in my kitchen. The concoction makes the whole house smell divine. As soon as I have finshed this batch, I will make some Elderflower cordial - an essential ingredient in my summer G&T.


Recipe here - http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/elderflower-champagne-recipe_p_1.html


I am also sprouting beans. I have always sprouted seeds and beans to use in salads since I discovered Alfafa in Cranks Covent Garden in the early 80's, but I often found it difficult to find affordable seeds and beans to sprout. Last year in ST Ives I discovered the wonderful Living Food shop, so this year I stocked up again. They do mail order (and I believe they don't charge p&p either) http://www.sproutingseeds.co.uk/ This week I am doing Mung and Aduki beans. Delish!

I am growing baby salad leaves and have raised them off the ground along with a courgette plant in an attempt to stave off slug attack.

I am also making heart shaped ice cubes for my G&T courtesy of the lovely Lisa . May thanks Lisa, but you are really naughty - you shouln't have.




And I am going to take this great bag to bits to make a pattern. My daughter bought a dress in Penzance and they put it in this fabulous bag made from recycled newspaper. If I can figure it out, I will save a load of money and also save the world at the same time. I did bring "Le Monde" Newspaper home from France last year, so a few french paper bags will look really different.






11 comments:

The sewing room said...

wow youy have been busy your recipes sound very tasty and l would love to have a go but l don't even know what elderflower looks like,silly me. have a good week hugs Pat

Rosie said...

I love all the bits in this post - elderflower champagne sounds good - our friends make elderflower cordial and give us a bottle or two - last year I made gooseberry jam and added elderflower cordial - it's lovely. Gosh, remember Cranks restaurants - I still use their cook book although it is dropping to pieces. Lke the idea of the sprouting beans. A slug has had one of our courgette plants :( A Le Monde newspaper bag would be great:)

noelle said...

how productive are you! I have felt rough all week so i haven't done anything really. The bags are great , what a good idea. oh, back to rain in St. Ives this week, you picked a good one to visit:) Have a great week Diane x x

Beki said...

Let me know when the champagnes done, I will pop round 'hehe', sounds lovely!
Love the newspaper bag!
((hugs))
Beki xxx

Lisa said...

You are more than welcome!
Yummy elderflower, how delish on a hot summers day.
Love the newspaper bag, hope you can figure the pattern out.
Lisa x

Gilly said...

Must try to find a recipe for elderflower champagne - never made it before. The cordial sounds a good idea, too.

You are very productive. All I have managed so far is some smallish radishes, and some lettuces that aren't big enough by a long way, yet.

And my carrots are still the teeniest you have ever seen!

Caroline said...

Oooh elderflower cordial... elderflower anything come to think of it... I love the stuff. Curiously enough we do not have any parks around here with elderbushes, otherwise I would have some brewing...
I know of a few gardens though... although, that is probably one stage too far even for me. Jealous of yours though, enjoy it when it is done.
The bag is fabulous!!! Sometimes it is so fun to save the world, I think a French bag will be very sophisticated.

Anonymous said...

Elderflower champagne! I am going to make some of this (hopefully) when I get the time to go gathering some elderflowers. I have been looking forward to the summer for this reason, I'm itching to make some kind of drink from elderflowers.Last autumn we made elderberry wine, and it really was delicious. xxxx

The Ample Cook said...

Ooooh that champagne sounds wonderful. I've just ebjoyed my first lot of salad leaves - you're right I had to keep them on the table outside as the slugs are persistent little critters. They can strip a plant in one night.

Julia said...

Oh it all sounds so divine! Exploding champers etc, just love it! Isnt it grand being self sufficient? Thanks for the link to the seeds etc, very interesting that Im going to chase it up!

Sending love
Julia xxx

Bumble Bee Cottage said...

Hi Diane, I am a Hugh fan too; I have all his DVDs – sad but true. I will be very interested to see how your champagne turns out. Please post your elderflower cordial recipe with all the instructions, being and Aussie I have never made anything like it before and I would love the chance to try before the elderflowers have finished flowering. If you work out how to make that nifty bag please post about that too – I’m just full of requests today aren’t I! Only one more, have a lovely weekend.