Elder Flowers
Of course, Elderberries are great later in the season. In spring, the flowers are a delicacy breaded and fried. Be careful not to harvest much though, as doing so will deprive you of berries. Traditionally, many cordials and cocktails have been made with Elder Flowers. Essentially, these are either just made of the flowers steeped in wine, or a syrup is made of elder flowers just as you would Dandelion flowers. The syrup is then combined with wine or liquor. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, especially when it comes to alcoholic beverages. I like to steep flowers like Elder in vinegar and then use it to make salad dressings. You can also flavor sugar with Elder flowers, by mixing the dried flowers into sugar and just letting it sit for a while, in a closed container. Honestly, I don’t often harvest Elder Flowers; I would rather wait for the berries and make wine.
Elderberry wine is very good for the immune system and has anti-viral properties… but, it is also just darn tasty! There is no need to give a true recipe for Elderberry wine, as, “wine makes itself” as I always say. Simply crush the berries and mix in sugar and water to your taste - too much sugar will slow fermentation prematurely, resulting in a very sweet wine. You don’t even have to add water and sugar, at all. If you have enough berries, you can just use the juice, but most times we need to stretch it a bit. Press and strain off the skins – also optional as the skins give good flavor and color if you don’t remove them for the first month or two of fermentation. Either add yeast or hope some wild yeast from the skins and in the air will start the fermentation – and, it usually will. Then, it is just a matter of keeping the outside air out of whatever jug or bucket you are fermenting in, in a way that lets the carbon dioxide inside gas that's inside off. I use old 5 gallon water bottles called carboys and fermentation airlocks, but any contraption you come up with will do… and I have used all kinds of crazy set ups. If protected from the outside, bacteria containing air, the yeast will convert the sugars into alcohol and in about a month the wine will probably stop bubbling. Pour or siphon the wine off of the sediment in the bottom, into a clean container. Loosely seal the new jug in case it starts bubbling again… a sealed jug can explode or overflow. You can drink the wine at any time after it clears. Or, you can age it as long as you like if you keep it in a cool, dark place. That is up to your tastes. Nature does the work of making wine; we just ensure its success with our minimal effort and ingenuity.
Erodium Cicutarium
This plant goes by so many common names that I chose to list it under the Latin name. I always knew it as Storksbill. But, Storksbill is also the name of wild geranium and that confused me for several years. Both plants are widespread, and the seed pod is similar. But, the leaves are very different. It is important to know which Storksbill we are discussing, because both have poisonous look-alikes in early spring. Erodium can look similar to poison hemlock. Wild Geranium can look similar to Aconite (Wolfsbane or Monkshood). Those two poisonous plants are among the most deadly known to man! So, you may call Erodium Storksbill, Alfilaria, Filaree or something else. But, you must be sure of your identification.
Because they overwinter, they are an important food and vitamin source when few other things are growing. In fact, this plant is native to the Mediterranean – it was likely brought to America by the Spanish as an edible and medicinal plant. Used as a tea, it is one of the best remedies for diarrhea due to its astringent properties. It can also help with menstrual bleeding, colds, flus and many other common ailments.
The tender Storksbill, in spring, makes a very nice potherb. The plant is bitter, but some say it is a good salad green. I like a bit in a salad, but I wouldn’t want a whole plate of it. Simply cooked in some pork fat or olive oil and topped with hot pepper vinegar, it is quite good and somewhat like Dandelion. Generally, I would include it in a mix of wild greens, along with a few leaves of more mild vegetables. It mixes very well with tender sorrels and Solomon’s Seal. A sort of hash made with bitter greens like Storksbill, potatoes, onions and carrots, all cooked, chopped up and mixed together is very good – season to taste. You can either scoop it out or form patties and fry along with bacon or sausage into crispy, browned cakes. I’m sure it would be good with fish, as well, but I tend to think of such hash recipes as a brunch recipe to be enjoyed with scrambled eggs, cured pork and a cocktail, such as a bloody Mary, a glass of wine or, especially, a good dark beer.
This article is an excerpt from
The Spring Foraging Cookbook: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-spring-foraging-cookbook.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRP63R54
Also, I am back on Youtube. Please subscribe to my channel: @judsoncarroll5902 Judson Carroll - YouTube
PS. New today in my Woodcraft shop:
Toasted Holly Cooking Spoon
https://judsoncarrollwoodcraft.substack.com/p/toasted-holly-cooking-spoon
Read about my other new books:
Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and Permaculture People: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html
Available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09HMWXL25
Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS
A Daily Catholic Devotional Reflections on the Daily Mass readings July-December, 2025
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-daily-catholic-devotional-reflections.html
Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/confirmation-autobiography-of-faith.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
and
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide
Read about Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6: by Judson Carroll
Visit my Substack and sign up for my free newsletter:
Read about my new other books:
Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS
The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html
Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6
and
Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/04/growing-your-survival-herb-garden-for.html
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LYV9R
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Bitter Herbs: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-encyclopedia-of-bitter-medicina.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5MYJ35R
and
Christian Medicine, History and Practice: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/01/christian-herbal-medicine-history-and.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09P7RNCTB
Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs
Blog:
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/
Free Video Lessons: Herbal Medicine 101 - YouTube
Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment