Elderflower Cordial

Once you have gathered all your flowers, here is what to do with them:

1kg/1lb3oz sugar

12 large elderflower heads (or 24 small ones)

40g/1.4oz citric acid

1 lemon

650 ml boiling water

(This makes about 1 3/4 wine bottles-worth)

Put the sugar in a large bowl, pour over the boiling water and stir until dissolved.  This takes quite a while.  Add the citric acid and stir until dissolved.

Peel the zest from the lemon and add it, along with the lemon juice.

Place the elderflower heads in the bowl, pushing the flowers under the liquid but leaving the stems out.

Cover with a tea towel and leave overnight.

It makes the whole house smell like summer.