Elderflower Picking and a Summer Tradition

Running off to the mountains and foraging for the edible gifts of wild nature has come to be one of my favorite things to do. Early July is just perfect to go hunting for one of our favorites - elderflower. We did it last year and I was excited that that time of year has come again.

Elderflower blooms somewhat later in the high mountains, but we patiently wait in order to get to the most fragrant flowers, blooming away from the urban impurities. M. is already used to enjoying the refreshing syrup we make from the flowers - he says that it is second only to water. 

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Uvijek se radujem ideji bjega u planine i potrage za jestivim plodovima divlje prirode. Rani juli je savrsen za branje zove koja u to doba cvate u planinskim dijelovima. Njeni cvjetovi su veliki i bijeli, cesto tesko dostizni. Brali smo je prosle godine i sa radoscu smo docekali (i planirali!) i ovaj put. M. je vec navikao da se osvjezava sokom od zove u vrucim ljetnim mjesecima. Po njemu je sok od zove, nakon vode, najukusnije pice. 

I thought to play around and use the syrup to flavor some mini cakes. I found and worked around a lovely, simple recipe for elderflower flavored mini cakes. I separated about four large flower heads and mixed them in a tightly closed jar with 500 g of sugar. I let it sit for a couple days, removed the flowers and was left with elderflower-flavored sugar to use in cooking. 

Most of the cake flavor comes from adding the elderflower syrup into the mix (you used way too much, M. said with a pretend frown). But, he loved the cakes. Honestly, I was unsure if he would like the subtle elderflower aroma in a cake, but he said that they were perfect! The cakes are very soft and buttery, while the cream cheese and elderflower syrup in the icing provide for a sweet and citrus-like, cooling combo. I often mention that he lacks the sweet tooth, so I get very excited when he gets very excited over something sweet I made.

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Nekoliko dana prije nego cemo ici da beremo zovu, nasla sam i prilagodila jednostavan recept za tortice sa okusom zove. Odvojila sam i cetiri velika cvijeta zove i cvrsto ih zatvorila u teglu sa 500 g secera. Nakon dva dana izvadila sam cvjetove i dobila secer sa blagom aromom zove koji cu koristiti u pripremi kolaca. 

Veci dio arome zove u torticama dolazi od dodavanja u smjesu sirupa od zove (previse si potrosila, rekao je M., djecije se mrsteci). Srecom, bio je odusevljen torticama. Nisam bila sigurna kako ce se konzervativcu kao sto je on dopasti okus zove u kolacima, ali on je rekao da su savrseni! Tortice su mekane i rahle, a kombinacija krem sira i sirupa od zove osvjezavala je i hladila. Vise puta sam pisala da on nije ljubitelj kolaca, tako da se svaki put odusevim ako njega odusevi neki kolac koji sam pravila.

The nature was lovely, and our elderflower picking turned into a leisurely walk through the peaks and valleys of Bjelasnica. I was yet again amazed at the incredible richness of nature's beauty. The same valley will look completely different in a different season, even at the different times of a day. Different flowers bloom, different animals are heard and/or seen (we spotted an eagle!), and sun and the shadows play its own game. There is always, always, something new to be seen.

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Priroda je bila ocekivano divna, i nase branje zove pretvorilo se u opustajucu setnju brdima i dolinama Bjelasnice. Jos jednom me odusevila raskosna ljepota divljine. Jedna ista udolina izgledat ce potpuno drugacije u razlicitim sezonama, cak i u razlicitom dobu dana. Drugaciji cvjetovi ce cvjetati, druge zivotinje se se oglasavati (ovaj put smo vidjeli orla!), a sunce i sjenke vodit ce neku svoju igru. Uvijek, uvijek, moze se vidjeti nesto novo.

This time, it was the smell of freshly cut tall grass and meadows in full bloom, and the sight of villagers working hard in small groups to build haystacks. Everyone smiles, everyone says hello back. We carry our paper bags filled with elderflower heads back to our car, stop many times on the road back to admire the sight of a shepherd, his dog, and several sheep, grazing at the edge of the hill, take in the beauty of the yarrow field, and laugh at a lone donkey moving funny next to a single tree on a steep, green hillside.  

July, we are looking forward to you, again.

Ovaj put, bio je to miris svjeze pokosene visoke trave i livada u punom cvatu, te prizor seljaka koji su napornim radom u malim grupama pravili plastove sijena. Svi se smijese, svi toplo uzvracaju na nase pozdrave. Mi nosimo vrecice napunjene cvjetovima zove natrag do automobila, zaustavljamo se na putu za grad diveci se prizoru pastira, njegovog psa i nekoliko ovaca, koje pasu na samoj ivici brda, uzivamo u bjelini polja kunice, i smijemo se smusenom magarcu koji luta zelenom padinom u blizini usamljenog drveta.

Juli, vec ti se, opet, radujemo.

Elderflower mini cakes (makes 12)

Ingredients

175 g butter (room temperature)

175 g elderflower or regular sugar

175 g plain flour

3 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

5 tbsp elderflower cordial

1/8 tsp salt

Method

Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F). Cream together butter and sugar (around 5 minutes if the butter has softened). In a different bowl, gently combine the eggs and the elderflower cordial. Add one tablespoon of flour to the butter and sugar mixture, while mixing on low, and then add the eggs and cordial mixture while mixing constantly. Slowly add the remainder of the flour sifted with the baking powder and salt. Mix until incorporated.

Fill the muffin/cupcake tins about 2/3 full and bake for 18-20 minutes, until the cakes are golden on top and they bounce back when touched. Serve dusted with sugar or decorated with icing (recipe follows).

The Icing

Ingredients

110 g softened, unsalted butter

200 g icing sugar

2 tbsp elderflower cordial

50 g cream cheese

Method

Cream butter and icing sugar for around 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and elderflower cordial, and beat by hand until the mixture is incorporated. Decorate the cupcakes.

Tortice sa aromom zove (za 12 tortica)

Sastojci

175 g maslaca (na sobnoj temperaturi)

175 g zovinog ili obicnog secera 

175 g brasna

3 jajeta

1 kasicica praska za pecivo 

5 kasika sirupa od zove 

1/8 kasicice soli

Priprema

Zagrijte pecnicu na 180 C (350 F). Mikserom umutite maslac i secer (oko pet minuta). U odvojenoj zdjeni, lagano rukom umutite jana i sirup. Seceru i maslacu dodajte jednu kasiku brasna, a zatim jaja i sirup,  muteci konstantno. Postepeno dodajite ostakat brasna koje ste prosijali sa praskom i soli. Mijesajte dok se smjesa ne sjedini.

Napunite kalupe za tortice do 2/3 i pecite 18-20 minuta. Tortice ce biti zlatnozute boje i mekane na dodir. Servirajte posuto secerom u prahu ili ukraseno kremom (recept ispod). 

Krema (Icing)

Sastojci

110 g omeksalog, neslanog maslaca

200 g secera u prahu

2 kasike sirupa od zove 

50 g krem sira

Priprema

Mikserom mutite maslac i secer u prahu oko pet minuta, dok smjesa ne postane prozracna i blijedozute boje. Dodajte krem sir i sirup od zove, te mutite dok se smjesa ne sjedini. Ukrasite tortice po zelji.