Catkin & co.

Nettle and Elderflower Cake

You know, when you look at a patch of stinging nettles and a flowering hedgerow and thought, “That’s a cake, that is!”

It’s the cake of dreams with all green. Fresh elderflower brings a subtle floral sweetness, while the nettles add a lovely earthy flavour (and no, they don’t sting once blanched in hot water and definitely not once cooked!)

This is my kind of gardening.

Want help identifying wild edibles? Our Foraging ID Cards are available in the Catkin & Co online store..

Elderflower Curd

That sweet, summery scent of elderflower is drifting through the hedgerows, so I couldn’t resist making elderflower curd again.

Spoon it into meringue nests, sandwich it between cake layers, spread it on a crumpet, or just eat it straight from the jar.

For the best flavour, pick elderflowers first thing in the morning when the blooms are fresh and fragrant. Remember to forage responsibly by taking only what you need and leaving plenty behind for pollinators and for those flowers to become elderberries later in the season.

Looking for help with identification or more seasonal recipes? Our Elderflower Foraging ID Cards and recipe ideas are available in the Catkin & Co online store. Happy foraging!

Wild Green Soup - perfect for this cold Uk weather!

It’s mid May. Did someone forget to tell the weather? Didnt expect to be seeing the ideal meal as a warming soup, but there are lots of lovely wild greens to forage, so why not!

Basically this soup includes any wild greens you can find. We included dandelion leaves, nettles, garlic mustard, ground ivy, cleavers and wild garlic.
No real recipe other than fry some onions, add chopped potato, throw in your greens (washed) and add stock. Bring to boil and simmer 30 mins. Blend and then and add milk/cream if desired and continue on low heat, and season to taste.

Plus points:
Apparently full of tonnes of nutrients and ultra amazingly good for you.
Great use for ‘weeds’
Cheap
Catkin kids state - better if you add cheese.

Foraging cards in the online store and all that!

Woodland Animal Poo Kit - it’s my best seller! No surprise really is it - as what child is not fascinated by poo!
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The Poo Kit is more than disgustingly good fun, it’s packed full of learning opportunities.
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What’s in a Poo Kit?
-Set of animal Poo ID Cards
-Ingredients to make Poo Dough
-Textures to add to the poo
-Wooden rolling pin
-Wooden ruler
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The cards have lots of facts on the reverse including the size, shape, texture and smells of the animal poo you may spot. Perfect for helping you identify poo on your walks and explorations!
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In addition to the cards is the kit that includes all you need to make your own replica animal poo - endless fun and fascination for children (and adults) of all ages!

Beltane blessings… want to find out more about the Mayflower and its fishy smell? Not noticed? Have a sniff! In fairness, not all hawthorn blossom varieties are as pungent as others. Personally I can’t walk anywhere at the moment without catching a fishy whiff from a hawthorn tree!

Hawthorn blossom - the Mayflower… and for centuries it’s been at the very heart of May Day celebrations.

Traditionally, young people would head out at dawn to gather the blossom, weaving it into crowns for the May Queen and garlands to bring back into the home.

Hawthorn wasn’t just pretty. The scent. It’s a bit musky, a bit earthy… and basically fishy!

That’s because hawthorn blossom contains compounds that are also found in… well… the human body. More specifically, it’s often said to echo the scent of intimacy. As I tactfully put it ‘downstairs lady parts’. I didn’t say this on BBC Radio York this morning when they had me on talking about Beltane!

Beltane has always been a festival of fertility. So only bring it in or wear it with intention… as you never know! Also it is a thorn, so wear with care!!!!

Dandelion flatbreads 🌼

These were such a simple little make - “let’s just see what happens” recipes that turned into something the kids actually declared amazing… which doesn’t happen every day with teenagers! Sceptic 15 year old who initially stated ‘why?’ Since declared ‘who knew’ as she are her third.

We kept it really easy. Self raising flour, a slightly smaller amount of Greek yoghurt, a teaspoon of honey and a tablespoon of olive oil and then added the heads of around 15 dandelions (petals and trying to avoiding the green). Mixed it all together, then patted it out on a floured surface to about half a centimetre thick.Into a lightly oiled pan, gentle heat, about two minutes each side until golden.

We made a few mini ones too, perfect for dipping. Ours went into some wild green pesto we made the other week.

If you’re feeling inspired to get outside and try a bit of foraging with your family, there are lots of ID cards and ideas over in the Catkin & Co online store.

These biscuits are filled with cherry blossom jam, a spring time classic for me and the kids.
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The blossom itself is edible, and we make a light syrup first before turning it into jam. The colour comes with a little help from a raspberry or two to be fair, and the flavour has that soft, almost almond-like note that feels like spring.
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If you’ve ever been curious about foraging, this is exactly where it can begin. A handful of blossoms, a simple recipe, and something lovely to share at the end of it. As always, only take what you need and not too much. Flowers picked in the morning have more flavour.
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And if you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for yet, the Catkin & Co nature ID cards are a really gentle place to start. There are foraging sets, including edible flowers, that’s designed for families… although, honestly, it’s just as much for the grown-ups too.
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