Gooseberry and Elderflower preserve

I came across this recipe on Delia's website, a great idea to mix this classic combination in a preserve which can last the whole year.

We are very lucky here to have a farm shop with it's own pick your own fruits. We collected our gooseberries after school and I was able to whip this up the next day when both boys were at school.

Recipe taken from Delia's website

Ingredients:

900g Gooseberries
4 tablespoons elderflower cordial
900g granulated sugar
2 small plates placed in the fridge

Method

First of all take a large, heavy saucepan and smear the base with a little butter as this will help prevent the preserve sticking at a high temperature. Then top and tail the gooseberries into the pan and add 5fl oz (150 ml) water. Next bring up to simmering point and simmer very gently until the fruit is tender – this will take about 15 minutes.

After that add the sugar and stir well, then, keeping the heat low, wait for the sugar to dissolve completely (about 15 minutes), testing the liquid with a wooden spoon to make sure that there are no little granules of sugar left. Now turn the heat up to its very highest setting and let the preserve boil rapidly for 8 minutes, then take it off the heat to test for a set.

Spoon a little of the preserve on to one of the cold saucers from the fridge, and let it cool back in the fridge. You can tell – when it has cooled – if you have a 'set' by pushing the mixture with your little finger: if it has a really crinkly skin, it is set. If it is not set, boil for 5 more minutes and repeat until the preserve is set.

When set, stir in the elderflower cordial and allow it to settle for 15 minutes before pouring it into warmed sterilised jars. Seal with waxed discs, put the lids on and label when cold.

Natalie