Brimming with Vitamin C...

Now is the time to get out there and forage for rosehips. Pick a beautiful sunset evening and the well-being moments are priceless. I headed out with my pal, Amanda, with scissors and my favourite little upcycled basket. We filled a basket while chatting about all manner of things and appreciating our beautiful surroundings. Remember to leave enough hips for the birdies. 

Next job... wash and remove prickly bits.

Next up, pop into a container and freeze overnight. The reason for this is that the freezing process mimics a frost. This is good as it gets the rosehips all nice and squashy ready to be whizzed up in the blender. 

After a good whizz put the gooey pulp into a saucepan, cover with water, bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Leave to cool.

Next up, strain the mushy liquid through a muslin. Some people say to do this straining process twice but mine worked fine with one strain.

Now is the time to add the sugar- work on 60g of sugar per 100ml of liquid. To be fair I found this a tad sweet so next time I will go a bit lower with the sugar but of course, it's a very personal thing. 

The final step is to simmer again until the sugar has dissolved & scoop off any scum that has formed on top. Leave to cool fully before decanting into sterilised glass bottles. 

Now the true fun begins.... pour over ice cream or yogurt or add to your favourite cocktails or experiment, as I did. I found about one to four parts rosehip syrup to bubbly was the perfect deliciousness. Take with you to a party to be guaranteed a  bunch of new best friends. 

Some suggestions for how to use rosehip syrup:
Rosehip syrup is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different ways. Here are some ideas on how you can use it:

• Add it to your morning smoothie or yogurt.
• Use it as a sweetener for your tea or coffee.
• Pour it over pancakes or waffles for a tasty breakfast treat.
• Mix it with lemon juice and sparkling water for a delicious and healthy drink.
• Use it as a glaze for meats or vegetables.

Packed full of Vitamin C, this is my regular health kick (never mind the sugar!)

Watch the process in action with Lisa & Amanda in our IG reel here..