Linden Tree Blossom Tea

This time of year the wonderful yellow fragrant blossoms hang from the linden tree turning it into an extraordinary sight. The blossoms are full of the heavy scent of lime and melon and attract insects and honey bees from miles around. The linden tree in our garden has supplied us with tea blossom for many years. Not only is it a lovely fragrant tea, but it does have health attributes too. It is said that drinking this tea can lower blood pressure,calm the digestive system,relieve headache, boost the cardiovascular system and induce a good night's sleep - not bad for a nice cuppa. No wonder the Celts and Greeks raved about the tree in olden days!

Linden Tree Blossom Tea

Ingredients for making a pot of tea

15 blossoms and young (new)leaves.
Boiling water.


Method

Boil the water and heat the pot. Once warmed, place a handful of linden blossom in the pot and fill with the boiled water. Replace the lid and pour remaining hot water over outside of pot. Place a tea cosy over the pot to retain heat. Leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Serve through a strainer without milk or sugar.

You can also make linden tea cordial by following the exact same recipe as for elderflower cordial but using linden blossom instead of elderflower (see previous blog.

Summer cooking courses - 2009

Monday
We start at 10am with introductions, course programme, safety issues (use of knives etc).We discuss each menu daily before we commence preparation and actual cooking.

Lunch

Bruschetta on toasted bread
Salmon fish cakes on a garden salad with home-made sauce remoulade
Selection of French cheeses

Dinner

Gazpacho
Langoustine stuffed chicken leg with chive sauce
Cheese: Selection of French cheeses
Panna Cotta with fresh summer fruits

Tuesday

Lunch

Artichoke in a citrus soup
Turkey breast marinated in soya, ginger and chilli served on a salad with toasted pine kernels
Selection of French cheeses

Dinner

Grilled scallops with endive sauce and chives
Slow roasted lamb with oven baked vegetables
Selection of French cheeses
Australian lemon cake (a la Keogh)

Wednesday

Lunch

Small tomato pizza
Poached fish on a salad with watercress mousseline sauce
Selection of French cheeses

Dinner

Grilled Langoustines with garlic butter
Thai style beef with ginger and baby vegetables
Selection of French cheeses
Caramelised strawberries served with cinnamon and a vanilla ice cream parfait

Thursday

Lunch

Visit to local food market followed by lunch in a traditional Briton restaurant

Dinner

Asparagus risotto
Pan fried skate wing with lemon, capers, parsley and new potatoes
Selection of French cheeses
Chocolate fondant with fresh fruit culis

Friday

Lunch

Mussel soup with saffron
Caesar Salad
Selection of French cheeses

Dinner

Lobster bisque
Veal fillet with port wine and mushroom sauce, crème fraiche potatoes and rosemary roasted
vegetables
Selection of French cheeses
Poached peach with a sabayon sauce and fresh raspberries

Elderflower Cordial

It's that time of the year again and we are busy making elderflower cordial. It is so simple to make and so nice to drink that I make enough for the whole year ahead!

Take 30 elderflower petals, 2 organic lemons, 1 lt water, 1 kilo of cane sugar, and 2 ts of citric acid. Boil the water in a large saucepan. Add the sugar, citric acid and sliced lemons to the boiling water and then add the elderflower petals. Allow to cool and store in a refrigerator for 4 days. On the fourth day, strain the juice from the pulp and pour the syrup into sterilised bottles. Keep in a cool place.

Serve 1 part elderflower to 5 parts water. A wonderful refreshing natural drink for the whole year ahead. We also use it in gin instead of tonic and also as an addition to sparkling wines!!