Katey’s Rosehip Syrup recipe

Ingredients:

* 4.5 pts of water (about 2 litres)
* 2 lbs of rosehips (1 kilo)
* 1lb of white granulated sugar (500grams)
You can use raw sugar, but it will effect the colour and taste though it’s healthier because it’s not bleached.

Method:

1. Top and tail the rosehips.
2. Bring 3 pts (1.8 litres) of water to the boil.
3. Mince the rosehips through a course profile mincer (or food processor).
4. Transfer the fruit into fast boiling water and bring to the boil again. Remove from heat and leave for 15 minutes.
5. Pour through a sterilised jelly bag/or muslin square (how do I sterilise a jelly bag or muslin square? See Tips and tricks below) and allow the majority of the liquid to drip through.
6. Return the pulp to the pan and add 1.5 pts (just under a litre) of fresh boiling water and bring to the boil. Remove from heat and leave for 15 minutes.
7. Strain through the jelly bag again. (we use a clean pillowcase).
8. Pour extracted liquid into a clean saucepan and boil to reduce the liquid to 1.5 pts.
9. Add the sugar and boil rapidly for another 5 minutes. Pour into small hot sterile bottles and seal immediately. (How do I sterilise bottles? See Tips and tricks below).

Tips and tricks:

* Use small bottles, could use jars instead (we use recycled vinegar bottles) as it only keeps for a week or so once opened. If you don’t want to use bottles the syrup can be frozen in cubes.
* How do I sterilise a jelly bag/pillow case or muslin square?

Both can be scalded with boiling water. If you are using a clean muslin bag or square you can iron them with a hot iron. This also works with tea cloths.

* How do I sterilise bottles?

The sterilising method that we used is simple. Just before making the syrup, I quickly wash and rinse the bottles and place them upside down in a cold oven. Set the temperature to 160 (140 fan-assisted). When the oven has reached the right temperature I turn off the heat. The bottles will stay warm for quite a while. sterilise the lids by boiling these for a few minutes in water.

hattip://The Cottage Smallholder.