Burping Flowers

A little bit of summer preserved and dispensed on a winter day, provides brightness to a palate in the darker months. Instead of just seeing your breath, you can also exhale with a pleasant, floral twist. Elderflower Presse added to vodka is one way to enjoy, using it in ice cream is a real treat too, you will see another idea below.


Elderflower comes in tree and shrub forms. Aside from the flowers, or ripe berries, the other bits are poisonous in accumulated amounts.
I waved my *Elder Wand and created Elderflower Fromage Frais Panna Cotta w/ Crumbled Hob Nobs.

I used 3 small sheets of gelatin to 1/2 cup Elder Presse and 1 c. sweetened **fromage frais. Pour the mixture into chosen forms, then pop in the frig and allow to set. Turn out onto a plate and sprinkle with Hob Nob crumbles. This dessert is pretty healthy as desserts are concerned, low fat and the biscuits are made from rolled oats. I think even the ***Elder Mother would approve.



* Elder Wand
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Elder_Wand

**Fromage Frais
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/glossary/f.shtml?fromage_frais


*** Elder Mother
http://www.druidry.org/obod/trees/elder.html

Like the willow, it seems to have strong feminine associations. In Denmark, peasants would not cut down an elder for fear of Hyldemor, the Elder-mother, who dwelt in its trunk. This belief is also found in Eastern England. In Lincolnshire until quite recently, it was important to ask permission of the "Old Lady" or "Old Girl." The correct way to approach the tree was to say: "Old Woman, give me some of thy wood and I will give thee some of mine when I grow into a tree." If this Procedure was not adopted. ill-luck could befall.