Tuesday, February 15, 2011

E is for Elderberry

In keeping with my food theme, E is for elderberry. (It is known as "holunderbeere" in Germany and this I know because I served an elderberry pie for dessert once when a German friend was here.)

Across the road in my neighbor's yard are some elderberry bushes. Each August Bob comes knocking at my door to see if we would like some. I always say yes, though there was a time when I wasn't too sure. If I look a little unsure in the picture, it's because I wasn't yet sold on the idea.

Each year when Bob comes calling I gladly accept his offering. We pull the tiny black berries from their stems and fill up a big bowl. I measure them for pie filling, dump them into zip-lock bags, and toss them in the freezer.

Elderberry pie was always my dad's very favorite, but I don't recall Mom ever making it. I don't recall ever eating myself it until we moved across the street from Bob, and truthfully, at first I wasn't impressed, but my family liked it, especially with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Funny thing, I've come to think of elderberry pie as one of my favorites lately too, and apparently it is highly sought after and rather hard to come by for some folks. (We found that out on our pie making venture this fall...)


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14 comments:

  1. Yummmm ~~ Love the picture of you..and that pie looks so good.

    I always think of "Arsnic and Old Lace" where the old ladies served the "spiked" Elderberry wine.

    I will post my E later, as today is Theme Tuesday w/Mr. Toast.

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  2. A large slice for me, please.
    Jane x

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  3. Super post, Martha. Wonderful your favorite is now the same as your dad's favorite.
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  4. I have never eaten elderberries, but they look good.

    An Arkies Musings

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  5. Is it sot of like a blueberry? I think it looks yummy but one has to pick a lot to fill a pie. They seem very tiny.

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  6. Looks delicious. Great choice for E this week. Any pie is good with ice cream in my opinion.

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  7. I always think of WINE when I think elderberry.
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  8. Elderberries are cut down by the cluster making them fairly easy to pick. They are not good eaten alone and taste nothing like blueberries.

    Jane, I'll save you, richies, and Carver a piece of the next one. :)

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  9. Yummmm Martha,
    You are so blessed to live is a place where there is such an abundance of produce. Seems that you may be an expert pie maker ;).

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  10. I didn't know the correct name, thanks for sharing!Hmmm looks delicious, you are very talented!
    Léia - Bonjour Luxembourg

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  11. Lovely elderberries! My mom had a tree and I loved all stages of it. The flowers are gorgeous and make good pressed flowers. Not to mention the medicinal uses for fighting off the cold and flu (the berries).
    Lucky you to live to one so close!

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  12. I really enjoyed your E post. And aren't the plants lovely to watch through the seasons?
    Nicely done!

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  13. the pie looks so good...fresh from the oven....yum!
    Check out my ABC Wednesday entry as well. Much appreciated!

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