Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Confession: I plan more projects than any 2 people could accomplish in one lifetime!

One such project was making elderberry syrup before Abigail was due to arrive...

which didn't happen, obviously!

And now since all 3 little Ms are battling a cold and

 I'm on the tail end of "Larynyitis", I finally got this project completed...

hopefully better late than never:/

What is elderberry syrup?  

This is a great post about elderberry & it's many attributes- 

key benefits: fights multiple strains of flu and builds immunity support- yes, please!

Elderberry syrup can be purchased but it's pricey, hence why I opted to make it:)

I started with organic dried elderberries (Amazon)...

...measured out 1/2 cup of the dried elderberries 

and added to 3 cups of boiling water in a saucepan...

...after simmering for 30-40 mins, there should be approx 1 1/2 cups of elderberry juice- 

allow this to cool and strain...

...and then add 1/2 cup honey.

TIP: Raw honey is recommended but local works too!

Ta da!  Now your elderberry syrup is ready to use- store in the fridge for 2-3 months.

Dosage:

Preventative: 1 Tbsp/daily for adults & 1 tsp/daily for children over 1 year

Illness: 1 Tbsp/2-3 hrs for adults & 1 tsp/2-3 hrs for children over 1 year.

How does my homemade version compare in price?  

About a tenth of the pre-made price tag!  Well worth the few minutes to make:)

Coincidentally, the kids love this as it's so sweet:)

Get well soon,

Tiffany

The Buzz About Costco Honey!

  

 I recently came across an article in the Costco Connection that laid out some exciting news about honey that I wanted to share, in case you missed it!

First, let me say that I saw some of the Kirkland brand honey when I was last shopping in Costco and immediately thought, "It's probably not the best quality so I'll skip it...".  This article changed my mind and will likely change yours too!

Kirkland Honey is traced back to the hive, meaning they're part of 'True Source' helping to sustain family beekeepers (huge plus for me!) and attain a net-zero impact on the environment- it's also 100% U.S.grade A!

"True Source has pledged to protect its customers & consumers, as well as the global reputation of honey products, by ensuring to its utmost ability that honey is ethically sourced in a transparent and traceable manner from known beekeepers; that honey moves through the supply chain in full accordance with U.S. law; that it carries truthful labeling as to its source, has been tested to ensure quality has been handled in a safe and secure manner from hive to table," says Shauna (Costco).  "Members will find the True Source label on all Kirkland Signature honey."

Honey Facts:

"A honeybee makes one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her entire lifetime.  It takes 60,000 bees collectively visiting more than 12 million flowers to gather enough nectar to make just one pound of honey."  I was stunned!

 

"The color, thickness, flavor and even aroma of honey depend on which flower the honeybees visit.  Color varies from nearly colorless to dark brown, consistency from runny to thick or partly to entirely crystallized.  Flavor & aroma range from mild to bold.  (Lighter colored honey is usually but not always milder in flavor.)  Varietal honeys, such as clover or lavender, like varietal wines, are affected by temperature and rainfall.  A hot or cold summer can alter flavor.  This is why the same type of flower may produce slightly different nectar and therefore slightly different honey year after year.  Clover is the most common nectar-producing honey plant.  Clover honey varies in color from water white to extra-light amber and is among the most delicately flavored honeys, making it ideal for use on the table or in a cake."

Kirkland Signature honey is clover & "great care is taken to ensure that the flavor profile remains consistent from one productions run to the next."

 The Importance of Bees

"According to the USDA, honeybees pollinate 80 percent of our flowering crops, which constitute one-third of everything we eat.  May plants are entirely dependent on particular kinds of bees for their reproduction.  In recent years commercial honeybee hives have suffered from colony collapse disorder, which, for unknown reasons, has left as many as 30 percent of bee boxes empty of bees.  If honeybees disappear, say experts, they could take most of our insect-pollinated plants with them, potentially reducing mankind's diet to little or no fruits & vegetables.  With that in mind, Costco, along with many growers across the country, is contributing to research into the reasons behind colony collapse disorder and to help reverse it.

Want to add more honey into your daily routines?  Check out the National Honey Board (www.honey.com) for recipe ideas on food, beverages, beauty treatments & more.  And here are a few ways we love to use honey: "boo boos", granola bars, as well as drizzled in smoothies, on cereal, rice pudding, savory pan sauces etc...

Would love to hear how you like to use honey:)

Tiffany