Summer's Sweet Perfume: Capturing Elderflowers' Fleeting Fragrance
I don’t recall when I realized that elderflowers could be eaten, but I remember that my introduction came in the form of fritters. The idea was to take a whole cluster of flowers, dip it in batter and fry. But the fragrance was what captivated me when I first harvested them—and battering and frying the flowers smothered it. So I left the flowers to ripen into elderberries for jelly and juice.
Several years later I encountered a recipe for elderflower syrup. The description included mention of that esoteric fragrance, and I knew I had to give it a try. I grabbed my scissors when I noticed the blooms mid-June and selectively snipped flower clusters in my neighborhood.
Try this syrup in soda water or sparkling wine. Or use it in mixed drinks with gin, vodka or rye whiskey, lemon juice and other fruit juices or mixers.
Elderflower Syrup
Cheese Board with Edible Flowers
Try edible flowers on your next cheese board. Select a variety of hard and soft cheeses to accompany flowers from your garden or the farmers market. Or try these suggestions from Oh Mamma’s on the...
Floral Jelly
This floral jelly is a delightful summer treat that's simple to make and easy to love. Start the night before by brewing floral tea using whatever flowers you like. Illustration by Carrie Joy Beachey.
Spiced Cupcakes with Milkweed Blossoms
The flowers of a common “weed” make for gorgeous edible toppers on these ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon cupcakes.
Salad with Blueberries, Nasturtiums, Kohlrabi, and Lemon Vinaigrette
This salad showcases the beautiful colors of midsummer eating. Enjoy the sweet, sour, crunchy mix of these ingredients for an appetizer or as a side dish.
