FLORIDA BOTANICAL BASKETS RECIPES
ELDERBERRY CHAMPAGNE
1/2 C sugar
Lemon,2 sm. or 1 lg.
Elder blossoms, 4-5 lg. umbels in full bloom.
2 T white vinegar
5 liters cold water
METHOD
- In large crock, Disolve sugar in small amt. of warm water- let cool.
- -Squeeze lemon juice into sugar solution.
- Cut lemon rind into small pieces and add to crock.
- Remove large stems from elder blossoms and add blossoms to crock.
- Add vinegar and cold water.
- Mix well -let stand for 4 days to ferment.
- Strain through muslin.
- Bottle in screw-top bottles.
- Will be ready in 6-10 days
CATTAIL CORN ON THE COB
Look for green flower spike. It comes wrapped in its inner sheath, like corn on the cob.
- Feel for the lump in the cattail spike before the brown cattail develops.
- Pick them early while both parts are still green.
- Peel off the wrappings.
METHOD
- Add spikes to salted water.
- Boil 4-5 minutes.
- Butter them and nibble buds off of wiry cob.
PINE NEEDLE TEA
- Pick a few fresh young tender needles.
- Cut needles into small pieces
- Pour boiling water over them
- . Let steep, strain and drink.
- Add sugar and lemon to taste.
BEAUTY BERRY JELLY
- 1 1/2 qts.beauty berries, washed
- 2 qts. water
- Boil 20 minutes and strain to make infusion.
METHOD
- Bring 3 cups of infusion to boil.
- Add 1 envelope Sure-Jell
- Add 4 1/2 C sugar.
- Bring to second boil and boil 2 minutes.
- Remove from burner and allow to stand until foam forms.
- Skim off foam.
- Pour into sterilized jars and cap.
WILD RADISHES (Florida Betony)
The edible part is a crispy, white, crinkly-shaped underground tuber.
They are like radishes without the hot taste.
New tubers are best in March and April and are good through May.
METHOD
Eat them raw in a salad.
PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS DRINK
Pick Prickly Pear Cactus fruit in February. Red Pears will drop off when grasped when they are ripe.
METHOD
- To remove tiny spines, wash pears in screen box with a high pressure hose.
- Handle pears with tongs while cutting fruit lengthwise.
- Add pieces to 5 qt. sauce pan.
- Add 2-3 cups of water and simmer 20 -30 min. until pears become mushy.
- Mash pears with potato masher.
- Lay double thickness old pillowcase in stainless steel bowl.
- Put cooked fruit into pillow case in the bowl.
- Tie up corners of pillow case.with mush in it....
- Hang over bowl and let it drip.
- Add 2 cups water to 2 cups of juice.
- Add Honey or sugar to taste
- Orange or lemon juice can also be added.
- SUMAC iNDIAN LEMONADE
Small dark red Sumac berries are ripe when you can touch your finger to the berries and then lick your finger. There will be an unmistakable acid taste.
METHOD
- Collect berry clusters after a dry spell by clipping them off the branches.
- Remove stems from berries.
- Soak 2 C. of berries in 2 liters of hot water from the faucet. (Don't use boiling water.)
- Soak berries for half an hour stirring occasionally.
- Strain juice to get rid of the hairs through old pillowcase.
- Strain a second time through a coffee filter.
- Add sugar or other sweetner and enjoy.
