Apple and Elderflower Fritters

I finally managed to coincide some sunshine, some spare time and some elderflower all on one day, so I made the most of it, hopped on my bike and whizzed off to raid the park.

Whilst rummaging in the hedgerows I also found some roses that had escaped from someone's allotment.

They were proper ones with thorns and they smelt absolutely heavenly.

 There was also masses of honeysuckle adding its scent to the elderflower and roses to create a sweet heady essence of summer wafting about in the breeze.

I made several batches of elderflower cordial on my return home.

As the sun stayed out the next day and we were pottering about in the garden I decided we needed a summery afternoon snack to keep us going.  These fritters take minutes to make and taste like crisp little bites of summer.  They are just the thing to accompany a cool drink, some dappled shade and a comfy seat.  They must be eaten freshly cooked and piping hot.

4oz plain flour

pinch salt

80ml water

60ml milk

2tbsp elderflower cordial

2tbsp elderflowers picked off the stalks (optional)

1egg white

4 eating apples

Whisk together the flour, salt, water, milk, elderflower cordial and flowers until there are no flour lumps, just flower lumps.

In a separate bowl whisk the egg white until it forms peaks - you should be able to turn the bowl upside down without anything moving.  Add this to your batter and carefully fold in using a metal spoon.  Don't over-mix as this will knock the air out of your egg white.

Cut the apples into quarters, remove the core and cut each quarter into three.  (You could also remove the centre of the apple with a corer and slice the apple horizontally to make round fritters)

Heat about 1cm thick of oil in a frying pan.  Drop the apple segments into the batter, coat them and carefully place them in the oil.  Fry until golden, then turn and fry the other side.

Remove to a plate covered with a couple of pieces of kitchen towel for about a minute and then to a serving plate.  You can dredge or toss them in sugar if you want to be extra naughty, but to be honest they don't really need it.

Now all you need to do is fix yourself a drink, find a quiet spot in the garden and stuff yourself silly!