Entente Cordial

Well, I don't know where that fortnight went to! We have been busy, busy, busy, as usual and have been making lots of Elderflower cordial while the flowers are so lovely. My Trev took some beautiful pics of the flowers in our garden - they really make a stunning show at this time of year. We have also made some Lemon Cordial which is so delicious - I don't like squash or lemons very much, but this is so refreshing. It looks great in our swing top bottles. We diluted it with sparkling mineral water but I can just imagine it as a gin and tonic as well! Email me if you want the recipe. We've also been making Mediterranean Chutney with lots of lovely peppers and aubergine, good old Piccalilli and tomorrow we are going to devise a recipe for a barbeque sauce. I think I'll have to go and lie down for a bit.

River Cottage

Hurrah! Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is back with a new series of River Cottage in the UK - tonight at 8pm, Ch4. I just set the recorder - I think he is going to be doing a lot about cordials and sauces - it's all about using the best of the Spring and Summer produce anyway. I'm all ready with my jars and bottles, and I've just managed to find citric acid, a natural preservative for fruit juices and cordials, which I wasn't able to track down last year so my elderflower cordial was rather short-lived! The elderflowers are just coming into bloom so I hope we don't get the torrential rain that has been forecast . . .

There are lots of other recipes for fruit juices and cordials and they are delicious diluted with sparkling mineral water for a real fresh, summery drink. Much healthier too - have a go, they are really easy to make.