Birdies Peas

Post by **emanday** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:29 pm

Russell wrote:if someone offers you home made elderberry wine don't overdo it. It can be powerful stuff. Tasty though.

There's a farm in Dorset where they make wine from all sorts of things. While there on a caravan holiday with my daughter and son-in-law a couple of years ago, we bought a couple of bottles of the Elderberry wine for later that evening.

We went to bed very cheery that night and all agreed it was the best night's sleep we'd ever had

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:31 pm

Hi Russell

Thank you for the explanation of Molasses, I myself still eat treacle, I was brought up on treacle "pieces" amongst other things.
I know what you mean about the price of swede, that's why I grow my own, maybe not to EU standards, but they taste good!
Elderberry wine!! sounds good.

Ann

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:38 pm

Home made wine can be terrific but its an acquired taste.
Brambles make a rich, fruity, heavy brew.
Rose hips need some raisins added to give it some body.
Elderflower is pure nectar.
Parsnip & banana comes out like a light sherry
Rhubarb is so sharp that it claps in your jaws. It needs chalk added to reduce the acidity. Best blended with another variety.

Strawberry wine tastes nothing like strawberries and was quite disappointing.

This has fair put me in the notion to set up my bottles and flagons again. Fruit season is just coming in and greenery is fresh. Nettles leaves are too old now though.

Russell

Post by **emanday** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:50 pm

One of my neighbours in Argyll used to make Bramble wine. Delish!

Och, look! I'm going to have another year missing bramble picking round the side of the wee-est loch on a very remote side road in Argyll. She took me to it and, every time we went there, came back with the boot loaded and the suspension groaning.

The wine didn't last long, but the jam kept me going till the next season

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:12 am

Nettles leaves are too old now though.

THe nettles are too old for soup now too - one of the great treats of spring is nettle soup. Wonderful!

Best wishes
Lesley

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:37 am

And here was me, stuck with nothin' but a bowl o' chicken broth.

Life's no fair but my mother telt me that 60 odd years ago.

Russell

Post by **Anne H** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:42 am

Can't help with the "Birdies Peas" but what an education you get on TS...I love it

I don't know much about the homemade wines you're talking about, but I used to love the ginger wine my Dad always used to make around Christmas and New Year....mmm, I can taste it right now

I think he also made blackberry (or maybe it was blueberry) but I liked the ginger wine best

I don't recall getting a good nights sleep after drinking it though...the homemade wines you're talking about must have been a wee bit different

Regards,
Anne H

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:43 am

Hi Russell
Due to spending far too much time at my PC and other related pursuits, my garden has abundant nettles to pick come the spring! (I leave them deliberately, or at least that is my story - there are also various butterflies who rely upon nettles, so I feel like I'm doing my bit for the wildlife.... I think it's also known as "cannie be bothered gardening..."

)

Best wishes
Lesley

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:06 am

Nah Lesley

Its 'Cannie' gardening. Saves the back, avoids weedkiller and encourages the wildlife. I used to enjoy a bit o the wildlife but I've tobered down as I got too old to keep the pace up. Now its probably a pacemaker instead.

Anne

Ginger wine should really be called ginger cordial. Its non-alcoholic. Ginger beer on the other hand is a light form of beer since it ferments just enough to develop a bit of a head when you pour it.. We used to make it in a ginger bottle under the sink then split what was left with a pal as a starter for the next batch.
I don't think parents knew that it could make you slightly tipsy.

Oh! The carefree days of childhood. Now its a case of "Whats its sell by date?" "What E numbers does it contain?" "Will it make ma wee Johnny hyperactive?" (He was actually an over-indulged spoilt wee brat to start with)

Russell

Post by **Anne H** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:20 am

Ahh, Russell. It was probably ginger cordial...whatever it was, I loved it!

Russell wrote:

Oh! The carefree days of childhood...

Now those are the good old days I wouldn't mind getting back

Regards,

Anne