Elderberry recipes and ideas needed

I planted four elderberry bushes this spring after seeing my neighbors 12 foot tall elderberry next door. Last night I filled two 5 gallon buckets full from the neighbors bush and I am wondering what should I make first? Does anyone have any favorite recipes for Pie, Jam or anything else? I'm a little overwhelmed with how many berries are coming off just one bush. I usually buy an elderberry pie every year so I'm excited to make my own.

When we started making elderberry jam 10 years ago, We just folllowed whatever recipe was on the internet. We used the one with the least sugar. It worked fine. There are a couple of things to know. You've got to cook them. Don't eat the red ones. You will be cooking them for like 30 minutes and it just seems to sit there. But right about that time it will thicken up and that's when they're done. We have overcooked them and they were like hard taffy.

Did you know that elderberry is an effective cold and flu fighter? They've done studies in Germany , where the government helps the people instead of the pharmaceutical corporations. That's mainly when we take it, in the winter virus season. Many , many times, I'm coming down with a cold or flu. If I get elderberry fast enough, they just go away. Some people make tinctures with alcohol, although we haven't.
John S
PDX OR

Did you know that elderberry is an effective cold and flu fighter? They've done studies in Germany , where the government helps the people instead of the pharmaceutical corporations. That's mainly when we take it, in the winter virus season. Many , many times, I'm coming down with a cold or flu. If I get elderberry fast enough, they just go away. Some people make tinctures with alcohol, although we haven't.

it's true! My favorite is ELDERBERRY SYRUP....I am going to scan in my notebook page rather than type, hope you can read it OK.

I love the handwriting! It's like rediscovering a lost love letter from grandpa to grandma.

The syrup may be less llikely to burn than the jam, too.
John S
PDX OR

Thank you for the advice John and Judith! My wife is home making four pies so we can share with the neighbors tonight. I am going to try and make the jam and the syrup this weekend.

It is a little late for this year, but try it next year:

Elderberry Sirup,

You need:
20 clusters of flowers - (best collected in the morning)
1 lemon
1 kg of sugar
15 g citric acid
1 l water

use only the nicest, freshly opened flower clusters. Clean them (without water), cut the lemon in slices, add it to the flowers and add a liter of water.
Put this in the fridge and let it soak for at least 1, but maximum 2 days.
remove flowers and lemon slices from the water, add citric acid and sugar and cook the solution until it boils. Keep it boiling for 2 minutes.
Bottle the sirup when still hot.

This sirup can be diluted with water (1 part sirup, 5-8 parts water (sparkling if you like)) - drink cold
You can also use champagne instead of the water, or use the sirup as top dressing over ice cream.

I bet, you will soon develop your own recipes to use this sirup - i promise
Ludger

Thanks Ludger, I marked on my calendar next year to watch for the flowers so I can give this a try.

Speaking of elderflowers, I made the best elderflower champagne/wine this year (I picked some random internet recipe). It is so fragrant and refreshing!

I've also made elderberry wine, but no one in the house seems to like it much. I think it might be good mixed with something else though, cocktail style.

We use elderberry syrup for staving off illness too. The simplest recipe we use is equal parts berries and honey, simmer for a while and strain.

For extra cold fighting power we add chopped ginger root and peppercorns.

A friend's mother has shingles and the syrup seems to help with that too.

One of my favorite sayings is "the best medicine is the one you take" and my family takes elderberry syrup! They love it. Nothing like when I used to try to get them to take goldenseal root tincture.