Cherries

[SueSteve]

I am now foraging for Cherries, I have found a couple of great trees, dripping with cherries that are ripening very quickly.
I made Elderflower cordial last weekend (and wine) but I am wondering if I can make cherry cordial, I have found a recipe for one made ith brandy, but was hoping to do to teh cherries something like I did to the elder. (which was melt sugar in water, pour over the flowers, add citric acid and lemon juice)

I also plan to make cherry wine, jam, crumble, cherry brandy. But tehchildren get through a lot of squash, so I though cherry cordial would be a great idea!

[SueSteve]

I have been told it is a greek drink called Vyssinatha, so will have a search for this later...

[battybird]

Looked up cherry syrup/cordial in my book and found this recipe for preserving them too...."the easiest preserve in the book"; makes 750ml apprx.
450g ripe cherries pitted, pack into sterilised wide neck jars layering fruit with sugar (75g total) now and again. Spoon all remaining sugar over top when packed full. Pour over 500ml eau de vie (or brandy??) filling jars to top, and seal. Store jars for at least 6 wks shaking from time to time to help syrup to develop.
Wish I had loads of cherries left...ate them all!!
My Cordial revipe is a basic one for all soft fruits;
Use overripe for best results.
put fruit in bowl and break up with a spoon add only minimal amount of water (if any). Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and heat throughto extract all the juice. Put into jelly bag and leave to drip overnight.
Add 350g sugar for every 500ml juice and stir together on a low heat until dissolved. DONT BOIL!! Strain into clean bottles filling to within 1" of top. Cork securely or use ceramic stoppers and wires. Now need to sterilise so they keep a long time.In pan cold water nearly to top off bottles. stand them on newspaper or trivet and simmer for 20 mins. OR (Easy option..if you have electric!!) freeze cordial in suitable containers!
There does not seem to be a mention of citric acid and lemon juice on any soft fruit recipes..only in elderflower recipe.
Good luck!

[SueSteve]

Thanks Ruth, that's great. Hope to get round to it tomorrow.
:-)

[Odsox]

Looked up cherry syrup/cordial in my book and found this recipe for preserving them too...."the easiest preserve in the book"; makes 750ml apprx.
450g ripe cherries pitted, pack into sterilised wide neck jars layering fruit with sugar (75g total) now and again. Spoon all remaining sugar over top when packed full. Pour over 500ml eau de vie (or brandy??) filling jars to top, and seal. Store jars for at least 6 wks shaking from time to time to help syrup to develop.

This is the recipe for cherry brandy that I regularly make, as you say very easy and foolproof and makes wonderful cherry brandy. Best made with the sour Morellos.
Also it's pretty much the same recipe for sloe gin, except er ... make it with sloes and gin instead.

Eau de vie IS brandy, by the way ... water of life, very true.

[SueSteve]

Thanks! I made blackberry vodka, mixed fruit rum, sloe brandy and blackberry brandy last year.

[battybird]

Tony, as Eaux de vie is a light fruit brandy, I thought it would be good with a more regular brandy as an option. The nice thing is you can eat the cherries too! Sloes are not quite as appetising! I am trying making the elderflower cordial tomorrow...I make the champagne but it does not keep very long. There seem to be soo many elderflowers this year! looking forward to the berries...any tried and tested recipes for them?

[benner]

soo many elderflowers this year! looking forward to the berries...any tried and tested recipes for them?

Wine!!!!!!!!!

Equal quantities of elderberries & blackberries

Ben

[frozenthunderbolt]

soo many elderflowers this year! looking forward to the berries...any tried and tested recipes for them?

Wine!!!!!!!!!

Equal quantities of elderberries & blackberries

Ben

Seconded, one of the best i've made. consistently.