Wild Strawberry Cordial Food

SUMMER STRAWBERRY SYRUP WITH CANNING INSTRUCTIONS

Steps:

• Instructions1. Wash and hull your strawberries. Cut large berries in half. Add the strawberries, sugar and lemon to a saucepan. Stir to combine.2. Bring the mixture to a boil and let simmer for five minutes. Turn off the heat. Let the mixture steep in the pot until cooled. All of the colour should bleed out of the berries creating a bright red syrup.4. Strain the strawberry mixture through the cheesecloth and strainer or jelly bag. Don't push or squeeze the mixture or you will end up with a cloudy syrup. You can gently stir the mixture once or twice to help release the liquid. To get them most syrup let this sit for at least one hour (overnight is ideal) to allow the liquid to drain from the berries.5. Once drained you can bottle the syrup and store it on the refrigerator. It will keep for a couple of weeks. For longer storage you can process it in a hot water bath. Follow your canners instructions to process. Sterilise your canning jars and supplies. Bring the syrup to a quick boil, ladle into sterilized jars, seal and process for ten minutes.6. Serve your syrup over ice cream or pour a splash into your summer cocktails.

STRAWBERRY WATER (OR STRAWBERRY CORDIAL)

Steps:

• In a large pan over a low flame, dissolve the sugar in the water.
• Increase the flame and bring the liquid to a boil, then plunge in the strawberries, put a close-fitting lid on the pot and turn off the heat.
• Leave the pan undisturbed for at least an hour to infuse.
• Dampen a piece of muslin cloth (or a jelly bag), and strain off the liquid into a large bowl or jug. Leave the pulp to drip until all the liquid has been collected - do not press the strawberry pulp, or the liquid will turn cloudy. In my experience, the drained pulp is very popular with passing children, despite its rather anaemic appearance!
• Chill the beautiful ruby-red strawberry water, then serve over ice. You may need to dilute it with water, to taste.
• Alternative serving suggestion - pour a little of the chilled strawberry water into a wine glass, then top up with chilled sparkling wine.

STRAWBERRY CORDIAL

Steps:

• Clean berries without washing; set aside in tall half-gallon jar.
• Mix sugar with 1 cup water and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.
• Increase heat; bring mixture to boil and set aside to cool.
• Mix cooled syrup with vodka and pour over strawberries.
• Cover tightly and store in a cool, dark place for 1 week.
• Pass liqueur through a fine mesh strainer (eat berries :-)).
• Strain again through coffee filter into a bottle.
• Note: The reason for the double-straining is to eliminate the tiny strawberry seeds that inevitably fall off the fruit into the liqueur. The fruit can be cut into smaller pieces if very large, or left whole.

WILD STRAWBERRY CORDIAL

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, then decrease the heat to low and simmer for about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Strain out the lemon zest and vanilla bean and pour into a store-and-pour container. The cordial will keep for 7 days, refrigerated. Keep refrigerated until use. Fill a labeled squeeze bottle for easiest use.