Natural Red Winter Cordial
10
Autumn and winter are like my children. I am absolutely incapable of picking favourites. I just love them both. The seasons, I mean. Sydney is a good place to be in winter, especially. Because it never gets too cold. When the sun is out, which it usually is, it is glorious. It fans everything that is a bit nippy with its warm, misty breath. The puffs of wintery smoke curling from your lips early in the morning, disappear for the rest of the day as you peel your onion layers and revel in the delicious warmth.
And because of the warmth and cheer, I associate winter in Sydney with bright, warm colours. With its sea of preppy Sydneysiders walking around in mostly neutral coloured attire, you will find an abundance of accessories in loud, cheery colours. With Inca print mustard and green scarves, neon pink shoes, flourescent orange stockings, cornflower blue parkas with stripey fur trim to red and yellow beanies; everything is about celebrating the season of the cool and injecting a bit of good natured warmth in it.
And that is why I am calling this little concoction I cooked up in my kitchen, A Winter Cordial. Because it was made from seasonal fruits and vegetables, because it is bright and cheerful and loud, because it brings warmth, because it was made in winter. It cannot get any simpler than that. It would be great for any season really, depending on what you did with it. I left out the ginger when I first made it. When I made this again, I grated a tiny tiny bit of ginger in it and it was beautiful and warming. Perfect for those sniffles and red noses. You could reduce the amount of sugar the recipe calls for, but I find that a good amount to give a lovely syrupy liquid.
NATURAL RED WINTER CORDIAL
A healthy homemade cordial made with rhubarb, strawberries and lemon to perk up your lemonade or cup of hot peppermint tea.
Preparation Time – 30 Minutes
Cooking Time – 20 Minutes
Makes – 2 cups
Ingredients
1 bunch rhubarb, stalks trimmed, washed and cut into 1cm pieces
1/2 cup strawberries, trimmed, washed and halved
2 cups water
2 cups raw sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
juice of half a lemon
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger (optional)
Method
Combine rhubarb, strawberries, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Toss to coat fruit and vegetables with sugar. Set aside for 20 minutes.
Add water and ginger (if using) to the rhubarb and strawberry mixture. Simmer on the cooktop at low-medium heat for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring ocassionally until the fruit has broken down and is mushy. Remove from heat.
Using a fine sieve or cheese cloth, strain the mixture. Discard the solids. Stir the lemon juice through the strained liquid. Fill in a clean and dry glass bottle. Store in refrigerator and use up within a week.
My Notes
Because it is so cold in the evenings and I often crave something sweet after dinner, I stir a tablespoon or two through a cup of brewed chamomile or peppermint tea.
Pictured above is a glass of lemonade spiked with the cordial and a glass of hot green tea with a dash of the cordial.
You can also drizzle it over your yogurt and muesli, make ice pops, make flavoured green tea or a fruit punch. You can add more red fruit and experiment with fruity herbs.
What a pretty cordial, I love the color!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)´s last [type] ..cantaloupe popsicles
Divine! What wonderful flavors.
Cheers,
Rosa
Wow, I want to Australia, your description is just beautiful. How cold does it get there?
I come from Poland, where both autumn and winter can be beautiful. Warm autumns, full of warm colours, beautiful light, rustling leaves. Cold winters with with blue sky and sparkling snow.
But most of the time is just cold, wet, dark and grey, so I would love to see all that colours. Well I may start add colours right now.
In Ireland where I am now the weather decided to be rainy, almost like autumn.
Magda (@Magda’s Cauldron)´s last [type] ..Easy peach muffins
[Soft laughter!] Am really not a cordial gal, but was curious what you meant, especially after those beautiful photos. Well, this cordial I shall make!! And experiment as you suggest
! Lemonade not being my drink, am certain to be delighted what this will do to my pedestrian green tea, muesli and yogurt! I can already see the concoction will have to multitask 
!
What a beautiful description of Sydney in winter. I feel the same way… a winter’s day in Sydney, with a high clear blue sky, a cool breeze and the heat from the sun, just can’t be beat.
SarahKate (Mi Casa-Su Casa)´s last [type] ..Fancy French food… bringing people together!
Oh yum, all those summery flavours in a Winter cordial – we are so blessed here in Australia, aren’t we? I love our winetr and your serving suggestions
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook´s last [type] ..Homemade Haloumi Cheese in an Hour
I like the idea of winter and autumn but I hate the reality of it, especially now that I’ve moved outta home and we don’t have central heating. Sometimes I put the oven on in the kitchen just to help warm it up a little
This cordial looks so vibrant! Love it!
Iron Chef Shellie´s last [type] ..{Thermomix Thursday} Eezy Peezy Crumpets
This looks tasty. Love your rhubarb banner. I have just made a rhubarb compote from REALLY long rhubarb stalks they must have come from your enchanted forest
I love autumn and winter too. Great recipe, I can imagine the mix of flavours yields a delicious result.
gaby @ lateraleating´s last [type] ..Holidays in Perú (4 July 2012, Puno)
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