Dogwood: health benefits and harms

Dogwood was called a medium-sized tree, which is attributed to the number of centenarians. Its structure is very similar to various shrubs, while the maximum height of the plant does not exceed 5 meters. However, cases have been recorded when wild dogwood, growing in natural conditions, reaching 8 meters in height. Today, botanists reckon about 50 species of this plant. Dogwood fruits have the appearance of scarlet berries with a very specific sour-tart taste.

What does dogwood look like and where does it grow

Dogwood is one of the undeservedly escaped attention of gardeners plant, which is able to grow in its place for 200 years. True, it begins to bear fruit quite late in comparison with other cultures, for this a pause of 10 years is needed. At the same time, the culture bears fruit for two-thirds of its life, going on vacation only in recent decades.

The presented plant tolerates the winter period perfectly, however, in regions where winter frosts exceed the -30 ° C mark, it is recommended to warm the culture for the winter. The main advantage of this variety of fruit and berry is the fact that the plant bears fruit every season. To improve fruitful qualities, it needs systematic watering and inorganic fertilizing.

Regardless of the species, whether it is a woody variety or bushy, at a young age, all plants actively surround themselves with new shoots that have a yellow-green color. However, over time, young shoots become covered with darker, gray in fissures bark, which later turns red.

The formed bush can take a rounded or pyramidal shape, and its leaves have elongated outlines with sharp ends. The upper part of the sheet has a glossy surface of bright green color, while the lower takes on a paler and matte tones. At the time of flowering, dogwood has a decorative outfit that is attractive. Inflorescences take the form of lush yellow umbrellas and look very impressive on branches with leaves that have not yet opened, since the moment of flowering occurs in early spring.

Under natural conditions, the perennial plant chooses warm climatic conditions, therefore it is widely found in the mountainous forests of the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Transcarpathia. In addition, a large number of wild dogwood can be found throughout the Crimean peninsula. These edges provide the most optimal conditions for the growth and fruiting of the culture.

The stable nature of the perennial allows it to be attached also to the surface of the rocks. Although such plants, as a rule, acquire an appropriate structure. For example, dogwood, growing on the territory of Armenia, has the form of a short-stem tree, located directly in the crevices.

On the territory of the Russian Federation dogwood is often planted as an ornamental plant that makes up hedges.One of the reasons for using this culture is the ability to tolerate winter frosts well. Nevertheless, the nuances associated with the growing season dictate certain rules when grown to produce high-quality and wholesome fruits.

The thing is that the flowering of the crop begins quite early, and the ripening period of the fruit reaches a 200-day mark, which requires certain conditions to be met. For this reason, in the middle zone of the Russian Federation they prefer to use dogwood varieties located to early maturity. This feature allows you to avoid damage to inflorescences by late frosts, and the fruit ripening period begins before autumn cooling.

Views

Cornel plants are a family of four genera and more than 50 species. These cultures prefer to live both in subtropical and in moderate climatic conditions. Such zones are found in the Northern Hemisphere, up to the Arctic regions, in the southern as well as the tropical part of the African continent and in Malaysia. However, species that can grow on the territory of the Russian Federation are presented for attention.

1. Present. This is the name of the European variety, which is also called turf. This plant has gained fame for a long time, since ancient times. The fruits of the presented variety are dark red in color and appear in early March, they have a sweet and sour taste and a specific smell. Life expectancy lasts from 150 to 200 years, and the size of the crop, starting from the age of 15, ranges from 40 to 80 kg. Cultivation does not involve the use of special equipment.
2. Drug. This plant is otherwise called "Cornus officinalis", it is included in the composition of the drugs used to treat the bladder or kidney disease. In addition, you can find Korean training, whose action is aimed at healing impotence. In addition, on the territory of East Asian countries, this variety of dogwood is used as an antidiabetic agent. Its main advantages are associated with resistance not only to arid areas, but also with the ability to tolerate winter frosts. Almost any soil is suitable for the growth of such a plant.
3. Swedish. This representative, belonging to the cornel family, is considered a group of herbaceous plants. Another name related to this culture is alpine. His homeland is the mountains of the European continent, where this dogwood is found most often. The plant has stems creeping on the soil and characterized by underground rhizoids. The growth capacity of such processes is 2 cm per year. High humidity conditions are required for growth. His preferences stop on peaty soils, characterized by high humidity, as well as a fair amount of acidity. As a rule, the culture is a groundcover plant, located near acidophilic shrubs.
4. Canadian. This type of dogwood is able to form thickets with dense density. It blooms in small inflorescences with small flowers that have a yellow-green color. They consist of a white wrapper in which there are four petals. The fruits of the plant are bright red and are collected in clusters. Such dogwood does not need bright sunlight and feels great even in complete shadow, creating a dense ground cover.
5. Flowering. This type of dogwood represents one of the most attractive varieties of American trees. It has the appearance of a tree reaching a height of 5 meters, with an oval leaf shape and bright white-green inflorescences. The flowering period lasts from April to May. The fruits of the culture are gathered in clusters with a red-orange color. The presented variety is actively used in landscaping, given the ability of a plant to form attractive trees with many fruits of a specific shape.Blooming dogwood is also popular in the Central Asian territory, where it has been known for over 200 years. The plant has excellent winter hardiness and feels great even in northern regions.
6. Nutalla. This variety is also called mountain dogwood. It is distinguished by bright inflorescences made up of many flowers that bind common petals in an amount of 6 pieces, painted with a pale pink or white color. The bright fruit has the shape of an ellipse with dimensions of 6 mm across and 10 mm in length. The flowering period begins in May. An ideal natural environment is the northwestern part of the American continent. The presented plant feels great in closed ground and is suitable for planting in wooden boxes.
7. Golovchastny. This variety also has a different name, otherwise it is called a strawberry tree. Its fruits are traditionally formed in clusters and acquire a bright orange color, and inflorescences are formed from about 30 flowers. Central China is considered the natural habitat of the plant, and it can also be found in the Himalayas.
8. Japanese. The second name for this variety of dogwood is the Japanese word "coase". In its inflorescences, bracts (spiky petals wrapping inflorescences) also form. Over time, adult plants acquire a soft pink hue, adding decorative qualities to the mind. The flowering period of this variety begins in June and lasts a month and a half.

Composition and calorie content

Since ancient times, dogwood has been used as a therapeutic agent. Among other things, there are mentions that in the Caucasus they baked special cakes from dogwood fruits, which were used to combat scurvy that appeared in the hunger years. This fact is fully confirmed by the high concentration of vitamin C in ripe fruits, which surpasses even blackcurrant berries.

100 g of berries contain the following elements:

• water - 85 g;
• vitamins (P, C, A);
• organic acids - 2 g (succinic, citric, gallic, malic, tartaric);
• ash - 0.8 g;
• minerals (magnesium, iron, sulfur, sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc), etc .;
• dietary fiber - 1.5 g;
• monosaccharides and disaccharides - 9 g.

The energy value of cornel berries per 100 g of product is 1 g of protein and 9.7 g of carbohydrates. Low calorie content is due to 43 kcal per 100 g.

Useful properties of dogwood

General benefit

Dogwood berries have multiple beneficial properties necessary for the human body. They are used both to increase appetite, and to stabilize the metabolism. In addition, they are recommended for use in the prevention and treatment of such a common disease as diabetes. Dogwood has the ability not to increase the concentration of glucose in the blood, but significantly increase the enzymatic activity in the pancreas, which improves the digestibility of food.

For women

Useful elements contained in the composition of dogwood, can provide invaluable benefits for the female body. Due to the richness of the vitamin composition and a high concentration of useful minerals, the systematic consumption of cornel fruit can improve the general condition of the skin. In addition, fresh berries are a low-calorie product, which is of great importance in the selection of diets for diets. In addition, they help to increase and stabilize the metabolism. Dogwood fruits are also actively used to remove toxins from the body and all kinds of toxins.

For men

Often, a man’s lifestyle is associated with hard physical labor, which affects the general fatigue of the body and lowers resistance to various disorders. The high content of useful micronutrients in the cornel makes it possible to replenish the vital composition, and a rich vitamin base will reduce fatigue, improve metabolism and activate the immune system.In addition, the fruits of dogwood contribute to the improvement of sexual function, which increases sexual desire and increases potency.

During pregnancy

Dogwood not only has no contraindications for pregnant women, but can also be recommended as a means of preventing the threat of miscarriage. It is recommended for use throughout the entire period of gestation (as an alternative to some medications). This is an effective tool that stimulates the proper development of the fetus and increases the body's resistance to the future mother. The composition of dogwood includes a large number of useful trace elements that are necessary for both the mother and the developing child.

When breastfeeding

For nursing mothers, there are no contraindications that would not allow this product to be included in the diet. Dogwood fruits contribute to the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract and have a positive effect on the mother's body. Nevertheless, the baby's stool should be carefully monitored for constipation, in which case dogwood consumption is limited or temporarily suspended. For this reason, it is advised to include in the diet not fresh berries, but fruit drinks or compotes made from juice.

For children

Full consumption of dogwood is allowed for children after the age of 3 years, when the stomach will acquire the ability to digest complex components. Up to this age, dogwood consumption should be strictly limited for each stage of development. After all, an excess of dogwood in the child's body can cause disorders such as severity of the stomach, constipation, gastric colic and general discomfort. In addition, berries can provoke nausea, accompanied by vomiting, poisoning and food allergies.

When losing weight

Dogwood fruits have the ability to have a choleretic as well as a diuretic effect. They influence the stabilization of the metabolism in the body and help in reducing the sugar content in the blood. Such qualities are of great value when using a diet for weight loss. In addition, cornel has the ability to lower fever and relieve inflammation, stabilize blood pressure and heal migraines, and actively resist skin diseases.

Dogwood jam: benefits and harms

If you properly prepare cornel jam, then it will retain a high content of vitamins in its composition. This will have a positive effect in the treatment and prevention of many diseases. For example, the high content of vitamin C in the composition of jam and some other components with antibacterial properties makes it easy to eliminate the symptoms of a number of colds. For this purpose, it is recommended to use jam with tea and other hot drinks, such as warm milk or warm decoctions of herbs, which will significantly speed up the healing process.

Dogwood berries, including jam, do not have harmful qualities that have a negative effect on the human body. However, the treat has a number of contraindications for some diseases, which causes the need to reduce or eliminate the consumption of the product completely. Thus, cornel jam is not recommended for patients with diabetes because of the sugar content in the composition. In addition, such a treat is contraindicated for people with high acidity or chronic constipation, since it can cause exacerbations.

What are useful dogwood leaves

In the content of dogwood leaves, there are about 14% of tannids. Infusions created from such raw materials are astringent and are used as a choleretic and diuretic. For use, it is enough to brew 1 tbsp. dry crushed leaves with one glass of boiling water to get an effective remedy that can relieve ailments. Take this tincture is advised 3 times a day for one fourth of a glass.

Are cornel bones useful?

Dogwood bones, as a rule, are not thrown away, they are collected for use as a means of treating a number of diseases. They are able to exhibit the following beneficial effects:

• anti-inflammatory;
• astringent;
• regenerative;
• antibacterial;
• healing.

In the bones there is a substance that allows you to narrow the blood vessels, which is of great importance in the formation of bleeding. In addition, they have tonic qualities that stabilize the basic functions of the body. This allows you to increase resistance to colds, reduce chronic fatigue, activate the immune system.

Dogwood Compote Benefit

In some cases, fresh dogwood berries are not recommended, for example, with breastfeeding or increased acidity of gastric juice. In this case, you can replenish the supply of vitamins and minerals in the body with the help of stewed fruit cooked. With proper manufacture, the drink retains a high content of vitamin groups. It is good for a weakened body.

The benefits of cornel juice

Dogwood juice is able to provide healing properties in case of gastrointestinal diseases, as well as bleeding and lesions of the oral cavity. In addition, cornel juice is an excellent tonic effect that can give the body vitality for a long time.

Dogwood juice is also used for the prevention of diabetes as a means that can reduce the concentration of glucose in the blood. The high content of vitamins in the presented juice allows you to replenish the vitamin balance daily. It is used in gastric disorders as a means of stimulating the enzymatic function of the pancreas.

The benefits of dried (dried) dogwood

When dried, the berries are not subjected to heat treatment, they are harvested at natural temperatures, which allows the fruits to preserve not only energy components, but also vitamin value.

It is important to note the increase in the energy value of the product, which excludes it from the list of dietary products.

Dried dogwood is able to almost fully maintain the high concentration of vitamins that the human body needs in the winter. It serves as an excellent source for restoring the daily balance of essential trace elements.

Dogwood in medicine

This plant has multiple medicinal capabilities that can save people from the development of various diseases. These include colds and viral infections, foci of inflammation and dysentery, disruptions in the digestive tract and impaired gallbladder activity. The healing plant will become not only an excellent preventive measure against these ailments, but will also render active assistance in their treatment.

With diabetes

This is a fairly common disease in which patients are forced to adhere to a strict diet. In this regard, people suffering from this ailment are not recommended to eat fresh fruits. The best remedy for them is cornel juice, which can stimulate the activity of the pancreas and digestive tract as a whole, as well as contribute to lowering the concentration of glucose in the blood.

In such cases, it is recommended to take 100 ml of juice immediately before meals. Provided that the body responds normally, the dosage can be increased to 200 ml. However, after 10 days of taking the product, it is recommended to take a break for several days.

Important: the glycemic index of dogwood - 25 units.

With gastritis

People with gastritis should consume cornel, especially in the form of fresh fruits, with great care. This is due to the fact that cornel contains a high concentration of various acids, which can cause exacerbations.

For this reason, patients with gastritis, to replenish useful trace elements, it is recommended to use derivative fruits in the form of fruit drink or compote.In these drinks, the concentration of acidic components is significantly reduced, and the vitamin base retains significant potential.

For the intestines

The presence of tannins in the cornel contributes to the creation of an astringent effect, due to which the fruits are used against various intestinal disorders. Tannins also increase appetite and stabilize metabolism.

Compote made from berries can not only replenish the body with useful trace elements, but can also be used as a tonic drink, equivalent to tea or coffee.

For constipation

The astringent effect, which is ensured by the composition of the cornel fruit, due to the presence of tannins in it, is contraindicated for people suffering from constipation. In such situations, fresh dogwood berries are recommended to be consumed with great restrictions, so as not to cause exacerbations. Nevertheless, people suffering from these disorders are recommended to use cornel fruit drink or compote.

With gout

Dogwood provides an uninterrupted exit from the body of both uric and oxalic acid, which makes it very useful for people suffering from gout, as well as metabolic disorders. In addition, dogwood berries have healing abilities for inflammation of the skin or eczema. At the same time, not only the fruits of the plant, but also the leaves, as well as the bark, have healing properties. A decoction of such raw materials is recommended for patients with rheumatism or polyarthritis.

For the liver

Dogwood fruits have an excellent hepatoprotective effect, which allows you to activate liver function, weakened by inflammatory processes or toxic hepatitis. It is actively used as a prophylactic that prevents liver disease. The ability to exert an antibacterial effect allows you to actively resist various inflammations, and the presence of pectins contributes to the release of toxic compounds from the body.

With hemorrhoids

Dogwood fruits are an effective way to cure this ailment. The easiest way to use them is to consume 15 pieces whole during the day, while fresh fruits can be replaced with jam. Alternatively, you can grind the bones into a powder and take a tablespoon three times a day.

Application in cosmetology

In cosmetology, dogwood is considered a very promising tool, which creates the prerequisites for its active use. The fruits of the plant provide an excellent basis for creating nourishing masks or scrubs. In addition, some treatment masks use cornel dogwood bark to counteract inflammatory processes.

There are many recipes that allow you to make practical masks at home. The pulp of the fruit serves as the basis for creating vitamin or moisturizing masks for the skin of the face, as well as improving the condition of the hair. Cornel seeds are used as a base in the manufacture of scrubs, used both for the face and body.

Masks and moisturizers created using dogwood extract serve as an excellent tonic, as well as a moisturizer for the skin. These products are used to clean pores, remove oily sheen and acne spots, and smooth wrinkles. Dogwood broth is used to rinse hair and as a means of eliminating dandruff and improving the structure of tissues.

For cleansing pores

A decoction of chamomile in a composition with dogwood pulp will serve as an excellent tool that allows for a long time to cleanse the pores of the face.For the manufacture, according to the recipe, it is necessary to prepare 200 g of dogwood, 50 ml of chamomile broth and 1 medium-sized potato. The mask is prepared in the following order: for starters, seeds are extracted from the washed dogwood and crushed with a blender. Then rub the peeled potatoes on a fine grater, add to the cornel and mix well. Lastly, infusion of chamomile is poured and brought to readiness with a blender.

Using the resulting mask is quite simple. To begin with, before applying the composition thoroughly clean the skin, and then apply a mask. On the face, the applied composition is kept for 20 minutes, and then washed off using cool water.

Anti wrinkle

Use a very simple, but quite effective mask. According to the recipe, it is necessary to prepare 30 g of cornel pulp, 30 g of mashed banana, 10 g of ground oatmeal and 10 g of starch. To prepare the mask, all prepared components are combined, well kneaded and left for 5 minutes to infuse. After time, the composition is again thoroughly kneaded and a mask is applied to the face for a period of 30 minutes. Finally, the mask is washed off with cool water. The procedure is allowed for daily use, and it is recommended to do it in the morning and evening. Subject to this condition, the first results of the anti-aging effect can be noted already on the 5th day.

If the skin is dry, then starch with ground flakes replace 1 tbsp. olive oil. Although in the original (if possible) it is better to use esters of grape, almond, rosehip or peach seed. Due to the high content of antioxidants and other trace elements presented mask accelerates the process of cell regeneration.

For oily skin

When preparing a mask for oily skin, use the following components: 2 tbsp. crushed dogwood pulp, protein from chicken eggs and ½ tsp starch. To prepare the composition, beat egg white well, mix with berry pulp, add starch and mix the composition again. The finished mask is applied to the face for a period of 30 minutes, after which it is washed off with cool water. The composition of this mask has the ability to remove greasy deposits and cleanse pores. At the same time, the pores on the face are narrowed, avoiding further filling with sewage, and the cells receive a fair amount of useful trace elements.

With problem skin

In order to make such a mask at home, you need 2 tbsp. puree of fresh dogwood berries, 2 tbsp. mineral water and 3 drops of lavender oil. Cornel puree is poured with mineral water and allowed to stand for 10 minutes, after which lavender oil is added and whipped until foamy. Before applying the mask, the face is thoroughly cleaned and steamed, after which the composition is applied in a thick layer. The exposure time is 20 minutes, and then the composition is washed off with cool water from the skin.

Such a mask has the ability not only to cleanse the skin, while removing toxic compounds from the pores, but also to eliminate inflammatory processes.

Universal

To prepare the mask, you need to prepare 1 tbsp. crushed cornel berries without stones, 1 tablespoon white clay and 1 tablespoon linseed oil. To obtain the composition, all components are combined and well kneaded to a pasty state. The finished mass is applied to the prepared face, rubbing with massage movements, and incubated for 15 minutes. After time, the composition is washed off with warm water. Such a mask is also suitable for hair care, but in this case the total amount of the composition is increased according to the proportion.

It is important to know that this composition has a short shelf life, so it is recommended to use it immediately after manufacture.

Harm and contraindications

The high content of various acids can cause relapse in people with high acidity, for this reason they need to use cornel with caution.

For people suffering from chronic constipation, fresh berries and juice from them are contraindicated, in this case it is worthwhile to limit yourself to the use of compote or jelly.

In addition, cornel has strong tonic qualities, which makes it not recommended for overnight use. Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised to use cornel with great care. Excessive consumption can lead not only to overexcitation, but also to insomnia.

Collection and storage

Harvesting begins in August and continues through September as it ripens. If dogwood grows in gardens under equal light conditions, then all the fruits ripen at the same time. For trees in natural conditions, where the degree of illumination can vary, the ripening time can fluctuate in the period up to 10 days. In addition, other factors, such as the abundance of watering, on which juiciness directly depends, can affect the quality of the fruit and the ripening time.

Dogwood fruits that have reached full ripening are not recommended for transport. If it is planned to transport the ripened crop over long distances in the future, it should be harvested in the phase of technical maturity. In other words, fully formed fruits should reach the half-color stage from a ripe state. In this case, technically ripe fruits must be hard. Their full collection can be done only manually.

At the same time, fully ripened fruits can be harvested by shaking, because at this time they are easily detached from the stalks. If the harvest is for processing, it is permissible to use fruits that have fallen from the tree. On the other hand, overdue harvest time is not recommended due to a number of reasons. Firstly, mature fruits are not able to linger on a tree and quickly crumble. Secondly, there are many feathered hunters among ripe fruits who can pretty much ruin the harvest. Thirdly, overripe fruits are more likely to disappear from fruit rot.

It is recommended to immediately process the harvested crop or send it for long-term storage, because in the normal state it can lie only 10 to 12 days at a temperature of no higher than 5 degrees.

For long-term storage, it is better to choose fruits that have been picked together with the stem. Berries should be stored in a freezer at a temperature not exceeding -18 ° C for 1 year.

Is it possible to freeze

Dogwood belongs to those berries that practically do not lose their valuable qualities in the process of freezing. The fact is that freezing does not have such negative consequences as heat treatment, allowing the fruits to retain most of their vitamin potential. Plus, in the process of freezing, the taste of dogwood is improved, so in this sense it will only benefit.

Before this, berries must go through a certain preparatory process, without which a significant part of the crop can be lost. One of the main conditions requiring strict observance when deciding to send fruits to freeze is the selection and preparation of berries suitable for the procedure. It is important to know that only completely ripe fruits are subject to freezing. If they have not reached maturity, they should be decomposed in a single layer and wait for full ripening, only after this you can begin to freeze. To determine the ripening of cornel fruit is quite simple in color and taste. Ripe dogwood acquires a bright red color and has a characteristic tart, and at the same time sweet and sour taste.

Another important condition is that you must not freeze fruits that have received damage. They are able to acquire negative taste shades, and to distinguish them in thawed form is quite difficult. As a result, you can lose the valuable taste of the entire frozen batch.

Is it possible to dry

The most preferred option for harvesting dogwood for the winter is to dry it, because in this way you can save useful qualities almost completely. The easiest way to harvest fruits using this method is to dry in an open space. However, it is much more convenient to use a special dryer. It will not only speed up the drying process, but also allow the fruits to retain their natural color.

For drying, the fruits of both wild and cultivated dogwood are equally well suited. Before drying, the fruits must be carefully sorted, first of all, separating all injured. Next, select the unripe berries and set them aside until they reach. Only from fully ripened fruits that have no damage can we get a high-quality harvest for the winter. Before drying, they are washed well in cold water with a small amount of vinegar, simultaneously separating all the stalks. Dogwood is dried without removing the seeds.

What can be prepared from dogwood: recipes

Dogwood has excellent fresh qualities, however, winter preparations from its fruits are no less attractive. Recipes are very diverse, but often dogwood is used in combination with other fruits that have less acid.

Dogwood can not only be dried and pickled, it is even salted. From the juice, which is boiled with sugar for this, an excellent sauce is prepared that is perfect for meat. Pita bread is made from mashed pulp according to a special recipe using wooden scones. Such dishes are very appreciated in the countries of the Middle East.

Jam

To cook cornel jam according to the classic recipe, it is necessary to prepare 2.3 kg of fruits, 2.6 kg of sugar and 0.8 l of water. First of all, the dogwood must be prepared, for this it is washed and the stalks are removed. It should be noted that any fruits are suitable for jam (solid or overripe - no difference). Moreover, if they are soft, then it is necessary to handle them carefully, if they are hard, several punctures should be made so that the juice comes out. For jam, bones from dogwood are not removed.

Next, make syrup, for this, the existing sugar is dissolved in the prepared water and put on fire until it boils. Harvested berries are poured into boiling syrup and removed from the stove immediately, cover and let it brew for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Jam

To prepare the jam, it is necessary to prepare the following components: 1 kg of dogwood, 0.3 liters of water, 0.4 kg of sugar. First of all, the fruits are washed, after which they are laid out in a pan and poured with prepared water. Then turn on the fire and cook for 10 minutes with the lid closed. After this, boiled berries are rubbed through a fine sieve. Then, the prepared sugar is added to the puree formed, slightly mixed and put on low heat for a period of 25 minutes, stirring regularly. After time, the hot jam is closed in a sterile jar.

Compote

In order to prepare compote, it is necessary to prepare 0.8 kg of dogwood, 2.8 liters of water and 1.5 cups of sugar. Prepared berries are washed under running water. Next, pour water into a pan and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, the washed dogwood is put into a 3-liter sterilized jar and covered with sugar. When the water in the pan boils well, it is poured into a jar of dogwood, corked and set to cool slowly under the covers with the cover down.

Wine

For such a recipe, you need to take 2.5 kg of dogwood, 4 liters of water, 1.3 kg of sugar and 1 tsp. yeast. The berries are placed in an enamel pan and knead well.Then 1 liter of water is boiled and 200 g of sugar is dissolved in it, after which cornel is poured with hot syrup, knead and wait until it cools completely. After cooling, yeast is added to the resulting composition, the pan is covered with a cloth and put in a dark place for two days.

After the time, all liquid is filtered out of the cornel through cheesecloth. The remaining water is boiled and the remaining sugar is dissolved in it. After complete cooling, the syrup is combined with a liquid expressed from dogwood, poured into a glass container and a water seal is installed. After the fermentation process is over, the wine is percussed and bottled.

Sauce

To prepare the sauce, it is necessary to prepare 0.5 kg of dogwood, 1 bunch of greens (according to preference), 2 pods of hot pepper, 1 tsp. hops-suneli, 5 cloves of garlic, 2 tsp sugar and 1 tablespoon olive oil. The selected dogwood is washed with cold water, poured into a pan and poured with water according to the level of berries. Next, bring the composition to a boil over very low heat and cook for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, greens are chopped very finely, and peeled garlic and pepper are also cut. After that, the prepared components are mixed and salted. After cooking, the dogwood is removed from the pan, separated from the seeds and chopped finely. At the last stage, cornel puree is poured back into the pan, combined with spicy dressing and boiled for 10 minutes.

Paste

For the recipe you will need 0.5 kg of dogwood, 0.3 kg of walnuts and a glass of honey. The overripe cornel fruit is washed and separated from the seeds, and the remaining pulp is wiped through a sieve. The resulting puree is transferred to a saucepan and allowed to simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes to evaporate the liquid. Next, a baking sheet covered with parchment paper is smeared with vegetable oil. The composition obtained after evaporation is laid out on a prepared surface with a layer of about 1 cm and dried in the oven for 2 hours, setting the temperature to 150 ° C.

Meanwhile, the prepared nuts are pounded, and when the marshmallow is dried, they sprinkle on top of them. On top of nuts smeared with honey. At the end, the pastille is rolled into a roll and the edges are trimmed.

Pickled dogwood

To prepare this treat you need to prepare 1.5 kg of dogwood, 2.5 cups of water, 1.5 tablespoons of salt, 20 pcs. cloves, 3 bay leaves, 1 tbsp. sugar and 100 ml of vinegar. Vinegar, salt and sugar are added to the prepared water, mixed and boiled marinade. Meanwhile, the washed dogwood is pierced with a wooden toothpick. The berries are placed in a sterilized 3-liter jar along with prepared spices, and poured with a cooled marinade. Sent for 12 days in the refrigerator, and then closed.

Is it possible to eat dogwood with bones

Oddly enough this sounds, however, swallowing cornel kernels is not only possible, but also necessary because of the high content of useful elements in them (no more than 10-15 pcs per day). In this case, cornel bones are able to dissolve in the stomach, so it does not matter at all whether they got there completely or in a crushed state. Dogwood bone contains a high concentration of fatty vegetable oils, which are required in the human body.

Interesting facts about dogwood

1. Dogwood is known in Christianity, because, according to legend, a cross prepared for the crucifixion of Christ was made of it. At that time in Jerusalem it was the largest tree. But then it became more like a bush.
2. In the traditions of ancient Rome, the founder of the great city Romulus outlined the original borders with a spear, which was made of cornel tree. After the work was completed, he stuck a spear into the ground, and then in the morning turned into a cornel tree.

Dogwood photo