This year has so far been a top year for berries. My strawberries have produced a bumper crop of delicious deep red fruit. However…just as they were 1 or 2 days away from perfection, something began to ‘nibble’ them. And after a close inspection I found a mouse hole, right in the middle of the strawberry patch! A great home indeed! Lovely warm straw, and plenty of fresh berries on the door step, well I couldn’t blame them really!
But, I wasn’t going to leave the remaining crop to the greedy mouse, so I picked every ripe berry and had enough to have with meringues and make a summer cordial too.
Paired with my last remaining rhubarb, this is summer preserved in a bottle.
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Makes 1.5 litres
300g strawberries, roughly chopped
3 sticks of rhubarb, washed and chopped
300g caster sugar
2 lemons, juice and zest of
1 liter water
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Tip the fruit into a heavy-based pan alongside the lemon zest and pour over the sugar.
Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes or until it has just begun to soften. Pour over the water and lemon juice and turn the heat up to medium.
Boil for a further 15 minutes then remove from the heat.
Strain the fruit using a sieve, pressing down well with a wooden spoon. Pour into sterilized glass bottles.
The cordial will keep for 3-4 weeks in the fridge.
To serve, dilute to taste, with either still, sparkling water or maybe serve with vodka as an aperitif.
Camera & Clementine 
Looks amazing. Bet it taste wonderful too. A strawberry mouse….I see a childrens story here lol xx
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2014 14:41:25 +0000 To: trinep@hotmail.com
You were lucky to get that many! I never have much luck getting a crop from our strawberries. Between the birds, the snails and little fingers that pick them just as they are beginning to ripen there never seem to be many left to play with.
INDEED – summer in a bottle!!! Beautiful!
Yes, it was a good crop this year, 🙂