MEADOWSWEET RECIPES

Steps:

• Combine beef, bread crumbs, onion, apple, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until evenly blended.
• Shape the beef mixture into a loaf and place on a large piece of aluminum foil. Fold the foil up and around the edges of the meatloaf, creating a makeshift loaf pan.
• Pour 1/2 cup water into a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and place the steam rack inside with the handles up. Place the meatloaf on top of the rack. Close and lock the lid; seal the vent. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 25 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Release cooker pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Transfer meatloaf, still on the rack, to a baking sheet. Broil meatloaf in the oven until browned, about 5 minutes.
• Combine ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar in a small bowl. Brush over meatloaf and broil again until caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes.

Steps:

• Mix honey with water into a stockpot over medium-low heat.
• Stir thoroughly until the honey dissolves fully.
• Using a funnel, pour the mead must into a one-gallon carboy.
• Add the juniper berries, hibiscus flowers, meadowsweet, yarrow, and raisins.
• Cover the vessel with an airlock half full of water inserted into a cork.
• Place the vessel in a warm, dark area to allow fermentation for at least one month.
• After a month, your mead will clarify but will still be too sweet and less alcoholic. To help continue its aging and achieve a more clarified mead with high alcohol content, rack the mixture into another container.
• Rack again at least two times, every two to three months, until you have a clear mead with minimal sediment on the bottom of the carboy.
• The next step is to bottle the mead. Typically, a one-gallon batch should be ready for bottling in about four to six months. For you to know if it’s time to bottle, drop a bit of sugar into the mead or stir it carefully. If it produces bubbles, then it means that the mead is still fermenting. You may also try to place a lid on the container and wait for a few days before gently opening it. If you hear any fizzing sound, the mead is still fermenting.
• Bottle the mead using wine bottles, beer bottles, or flip-top bottles with new caps. Let it age for at least six months to one year.