Eating In

Elderberries (still on stalks)
Sugar
Cloves

Pick the fruit on a dry day and stew with the stalks in a large stainless steel saucepan, with just enough water to cover. Strain through muslin squeezing to get all the juice. To each pint of juice add 1 lb (450g) of white granulated sugar and 10 cloves. Boil for 10 minutes. Allow to cool and bottle in sterile bottles with good quality plastic screw-on tops making sure you distribute the cloves evenly amongst the bottles (they act as a preservative). The cordial can be used immediately, and will keep well for a year or two.
Taken with hot water it is renowned as a guard against colds, and a glass a day through winter is a wise precaution.