Homemade Elderberry Syrup

I mentioned yesterday that Phil had gathered a bunch of elderberry, which grows everywhere around here. I finally got the syrup made this morning and I am so excited. Usually when fall starts I begin ordering immune supplements for the upcoming winter. This usually includes elderberry syrup, vitamin c, some immune boosting herbs and maybe a few homeopathic combinations.  It gets expensive and when you are sick a bottle of elderberry syrup doesn't last long.

Thank goodness my husband loves to point out various plants while we are driving or walking around. Recently he showed me that all along the roads and throughout the woods there are elderberry bushes.

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 I had about a cup and a half of berries once all the leaves and stems were removed.

I followed a recipe I found on a blog. Basically, I boiled the berries with about 4 1/2 cups of water

and then let them simmer for about 40 minutes.

I then mashed the berries in the water and strained them through a fine mesh sieve. I then mixed it with a little more than a cup of local honey (which contains many health benefits).

Then I put it into a few mason jars and will keep it in the fridge. Should last 2-3 months. It is recommended that you take a tablespoon once a day for preventative measures.

It tastes great and saves a lot of money!!