Saturday, July 16, 2011

DIY Ginger Syrup for homemade soda

My family has been trying to find healthier alternatives to traditional soda. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is not only horrible for you, but almost all of it is made from genetically modified corn - which we oppose on moral grounds. Plus drinking lots of extra calories is bad for you. Diet sodas aren't too much better. And with all the hub-bub going around about caramel coloring causing cancer, it's enough to make you give up soda altogether.

Except I'm addicted. I think it's the bubbles. I find plain club soda has a weird bitter taste so I still need it flavored somehow. And it needs to be inexpensive.

I've seen a few recipes for infused syrups that you can use to make homemade sodas floating around online about thought I'd give it a shot.  I love that I have 100% control over what goes into it and it's not pricey! It turned out pretty tasty, too, if I do say so myself. Plus I think it makes a fun inexpensive gift. So without further ado...



What You'll Need

  • 1 large piece of fresh ginger root
  • 2 cups organic sugar
  • 2 cups water
  • A fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth
  • Glass bottle(s) for storage and/or gift giving
Step 1: Slice the ginger root into quarter inch (or so) slices. This isn't an exact science...just chop it up, really

Step 2: Mix the sugar, water and ginger in a pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir to make sure sugar is completely dissolved and remove from heat. Let sit for 30-60 minutes to steep and cool.

Step 3: Scoop the large ginger chunks out and discard or set aside for another purpose. Pour syrup through a fine mesh sieve or damp cheesecloth to catch any small bits. Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to a month (I like to use reclaimed glass salad dressing or salsa bottles)

That's it!

Now here comes the fun part...
With a little fancying up this ginger syrup makes a great gift.

I'm using a reclaimed glass taco sauce jar that's been thoroughly washed. I also painted the lid black so it no longer says "taco sauce!" on it.

To label it, I glued some crumpled brown paper to the jar, wrote on it with a sharpie and tied it with a string.  I added a heart shaped tag that has the recipe for how to make fresh "ginger ale" with the syrup.

Speaking of the fresh ginger ale recipe....
Throw some ice in a glass, add about 2.5 Tablespoons of syrup (more of less to taste) and a cup of club soda. Really, it tastes best with a hint of lime, so add a lime wedge or try it with lime essence club soda. I tried the Talking Rain lime club soda with it and it was darn tasty.

That's all there is to it! Share it with a friend or add it to your list of easy, inexpensive culinary gift ideas for when the holidays come around.

I'm sharing with these fab parties. Please visit them if you want to more great projects or are interested in sharing your own:


A Crafty Soiree
 

Visit thecsiproject.com Photobucket
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29 comments:

  1. breakmydreamsJuly 16, 2011 at 8:32:00 AM PDT

    Very creative :) I will have to try this sometime soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. NancyUJuly 16, 2011 at 10:49:00 AM PDT

    I like the idea of adding a little lime.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SarahJuly 16, 2011 at 12:22:00 PM PDT

    This is awesome, Carissa!!! I'm totally going to have to try this. Also I didn't know about the caramel coloring thing. Now I'm for sure going to have to go cold turkey! Ick!

    ReplyDelete
  4. CodyJuly 17, 2011 at 4:57:00 PM PDT

    I'm with you on the hfcs an am absolutely going to try this, we just made our own root beer last week.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SJ @ Homemaker On A DimeJuly 21, 2011 at 6:24:00 PM PDT

    I'm so grateful that you linked up in this week's Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop :) This awesome post totally rocked the party!

    ReplyDelete
  6. GypsyFarmGirlAugust 1, 2011 at 5:00:00 AM PDT

    We try to avoid HFCS as well, but I still can't give up 1/2 Dr. Pepper in the morning. I really need to try this!
    Thanks for visiting my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  7. QAugust 2, 2011 at 4:00:00 PM PDT

    Sounds cool, but I think you made a typo in the 2nd to last paragraph where you said "add a cup of ginger ale." Based on the picture, I think you meant to say "club soda."

    But I can't wait to try it myself!

    ReplyDelete
  8. libbybennettAugust 2, 2011 at 4:05:00 PM PDT

    Nice! I like to do this after I make my candied ginger...love the bottle and label! Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  9. LindsayAugust 2, 2011 at 5:38:00 PM PDT

    have you ever tried bruce cost's unfiltered ginger ale? it is my latest obsession - but it is not available here in florida. i can't wait to try whipping up my own ginger syrup & seeing how it compares. thank you for the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Author: Carissa BurkAugust 2, 2011 at 6:52:00 PM PDT

    Q- thank you! (how embarrassing). It's fixed now.

    Lindsay- I've never heard of it. I'll have to look it up. Thanks for the tip

    ReplyDelete
  11. CourtneyAugust 2, 2011 at 7:52:00 PM PDT

    I am a ginger ale addict but haven't had it in YEARS due to allergies and the HFCS. You just might have saved my sanity! Thank you so much for posting this!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Prudent HomemakerAugust 2, 2011 at 7:56:00 PM PDT

    This would be interesting with water kefir instead of club soda.

    ReplyDelete
  13. BeckyAugust 2, 2011 at 8:58:00 PM PDT

    This sounds awesome!
    Do you know whether it's possible to use honey instead of sugar?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Author: Carissa BurkAugust 3, 2011 at 1:44:00 AM PDT

    Good question, Becky. You can make infused honey instead of syrup. To do that, I would boil 2 cups of honey (do not add water) with the Ginger and let sit for about 30 minutes. I'm not sure what the ratio to Ginger honey to club soda would be if you wanted to make soda with it, though. BUT it would probably be very tasty in hot tea.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Holistic HorizonsAugust 3, 2011 at 6:15:00 AM PDT

    So happy to have stumbled upon your post! I too have a love affair with ginger. I nibbled it raw while traveling in Thailand to combat motion sickness. From there my love grew since it is literally everywhere there.

    Have you ever tried making kefir water? It is a lovely new healthy addiction that has helped me curb my cravings for soda and sweets in general. I've just recently started making it myself and sharing it with my friends and family. There are so many benefits and you can flavor it with ginger too. Although I can't decide if ginger or blueberry are my new favorite??? Oh the dilemma :)

    You might be able to find someone sharing it locally in your community but it not you can order it online but be sure it's water kefir and not milk kefir.
    http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php
    I ordered online using www.waterkefirgrains.com and here's a quick link for a ginger variation http://www.wholetraditions.com/recipes/114-ginger-ale-water-kefir

    I intend to put you down on Pinterest when I get around my fear of allowing it access to my Facebook account...and think that in trying to post my comment and deciding to log in to my long lost blog account, I might have to pick up blogging again to share my kefir water experiences. :)

    Ivy

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousAugust 3, 2011 at 6:30:00 AM PDT

    Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to give it a try! I love ginger ale! ~Lacey

    ReplyDelete
  17. CarolAugust 3, 2011 at 10:48:00 AM PDT

    Love this! Made it today and linked you on my blog! http://weeknightdish.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nancy @Real Food, Allergy FreeAugust 3, 2011 at 11:18:00 AM PDT

    I am ashamed to admit it but I am addicted to soda as well. I can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!

    -Nancy
    www.RealFoodAllergyFree.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. JessicaAugust 3, 2011 at 6:55:00 PM PDT

    Sounds like a winner! I also like reading about the water kefir in the comments.

    ReplyDelete
  20. GinnyOAugust 3, 2011 at 7:35:00 PM PDT

    I've been buying Reeds Ginger Brew, which is pretty darn good, but a little on the expensive side. This sounds great and I would like to buy the new product at Bed, Bath & Beyond where you make your own fizzy soda and use with this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jaime @ PJ's Pastry ShoppeAugust 5, 2011 at 10:00:00 AM PDT

    Newest follower from Money Saving Mom! My mother loves ginger ale! I think I'm going to have to gift this to her! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Morsels of Life | CJ HuangAugust 12, 2011 at 4:41:00 AM PDT

    I'm featuring your delicious ginger syrup today on Five Friday Finds at Morsels of Life. Ginger ale (the real stuff) is probably my favorite carbonated beverages! Thanks for sharing your recipe and please grab a featured button at http://morselsoflife.blogspot.com/2011/08/five-friday-finds_12.html !

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousAugust 18, 2011 at 7:39:00 AM PDT

    This sounds like a great recipe to make and give as gifts. Have you ever experimented with using Stevia instead of sugar? It is all natural (not a poison!) and much lower in calories than sugar. If you havent used it before, just beware - you must use a very small amount or it has a bitter taste. Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  24. Author: Carissa BurkAugust 18, 2011 at 10:38:00 AM PDT

    I've used Stevia in the past and it's great for dissolving into things like tea. It would not work for this recipe, though, because it does not melt into a syrup consistency the same way sugar does

    ReplyDelete
  25. a.loveSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:06:00 PM PDT

    Does the syrup have to stay refrigerated when gifted? If I'm going to ship it, can it be sitting out for a long time at room temp?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Author: Carissa BurkSeptember 8, 2011 at 1:41:00 AM PDT

    It will last for about a week at room temperature so it should be okay as long s you aren't shipping it over seas. Just let the recipient know to put it in the fridge once they get it to extend it's shelf life

    ReplyDelete
  27. UnknownDecember 17, 2011 at 9:55:00 AM PST

    Thanks for the recipe! After you refrigerate the syrup, about how long does it usually last? I'm working on some last minute gifts for the holidays:)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Author: Carissa BurkDecember 17, 2011 at 10:57:00 AM PST

    I'd probably tell the recipient 1 month to be safe but I've been known to make large batches and keep it longer than that without issue

    ReplyDelete
  29. MelissaJune 6, 2012 at 7:56:00 AM PDT

    ive made this multiple times from your blog and love it. makes a great gift for expectant mothers~

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me happy! Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Saturday, July 16, 2011

DIY Ginger Syrup for homemade soda

My family has been trying to find healthier alternatives to traditional soda. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is not only horrible for you, but almost all of it is made from genetically modified corn - which we oppose on moral grounds. Plus drinking lots of extra calories is bad for you. Diet sodas aren't too much better. And with all the hub-bub going around about caramel coloring causing cancer, it's enough to make you give up soda altogether.

Except I'm addicted. I think it's the bubbles. I find plain club soda has a weird bitter taste so I still need it flavored somehow. And it needs to be inexpensive.

I've seen a few recipes for infused syrups that you can use to make homemade sodas floating around online about thought I'd give it a shot.  I love that I have 100% control over what goes into it and it's not pricey! It turned out pretty tasty, too, if I do say so myself. Plus I think it makes a fun inexpensive gift. So without further ado...



What You'll Need

  • 1 large piece of fresh ginger root
  • 2 cups organic sugar
  • 2 cups water
  • A fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth
  • Glass bottle(s) for storage and/or gift giving
Step 1: Slice the ginger root into quarter inch (or so) slices. This isn't an exact science...just chop it up, really

Step 2: Mix the sugar, water and ginger in a pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir to make sure sugar is completely dissolved and remove from heat. Let sit for 30-60 minutes to steep and cool.

Step 3: Scoop the large ginger chunks out and discard or set aside for another purpose. Pour syrup through a fine mesh sieve or damp cheesecloth to catch any small bits. Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to a month (I like to use reclaimed glass salad dressing or salsa bottles)

That's it!

Now here comes the fun part...
With a little fancying up this ginger syrup makes a great gift.

I'm using a reclaimed glass taco sauce jar that's been thoroughly washed. I also painted the lid black so it no longer says "taco sauce!" on it.

To label it, I glued some crumpled brown paper to the jar, wrote on it with a sharpie and tied it with a string.  I added a heart shaped tag that has the recipe for how to make fresh "ginger ale" with the syrup.

Speaking of the fresh ginger ale recipe....
Throw some ice in a glass, add about 2.5 Tablespoons of syrup (more of less to taste) and a cup of club soda. Really, it tastes best with a hint of lime, so add a lime wedge or try it with lime essence club soda. I tried the Talking Rain lime club soda with it and it was darn tasty.

That's all there is to it! Share it with a friend or add it to your list of easy, inexpensive culinary gift ideas for when the holidays come around.

I'm sharing with these fab parties. Please visit them if you want to more great projects or are interested in sharing your own:


A Crafty Soiree
 

Visit thecsiproject.com Photobucket
Posted by at

29 comments:

  1. breakmydreamsJuly 16, 2011 at 8:32:00 AM PDT

    Very creative :) I will have to try this sometime soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. NancyUJuly 16, 2011 at 10:49:00 AM PDT

    I like the idea of adding a little lime.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SarahJuly 16, 2011 at 12:22:00 PM PDT

    This is awesome, Carissa!!! I'm totally going to have to try this. Also I didn't know about the caramel coloring thing. Now I'm for sure going to have to go cold turkey! Ick!

    ReplyDelete
  4. CodyJuly 17, 2011 at 4:57:00 PM PDT

    I'm with you on the hfcs an am absolutely going to try this, we just made our own root beer last week.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SJ @ Homemaker On A DimeJuly 21, 2011 at 6:24:00 PM PDT

    I'm so grateful that you linked up in this week's Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop :) This awesome post totally rocked the party!

    ReplyDelete
  6. GypsyFarmGirlAugust 1, 2011 at 5:00:00 AM PDT

    We try to avoid HFCS as well, but I still can't give up 1/2 Dr. Pepper in the morning. I really need to try this!
    Thanks for visiting my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  7. QAugust 2, 2011 at 4:00:00 PM PDT

    Sounds cool, but I think you made a typo in the 2nd to last paragraph where you said "add a cup of ginger ale." Based on the picture, I think you meant to say "club soda."

    But I can't wait to try it myself!

    ReplyDelete
  8. libbybennettAugust 2, 2011 at 4:05:00 PM PDT

    Nice! I like to do this after I make my candied ginger...love the bottle and label! Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  9. LindsayAugust 2, 2011 at 5:38:00 PM PDT

    have you ever tried bruce cost's unfiltered ginger ale? it is my latest obsession - but it is not available here in florida. i can't wait to try whipping up my own ginger syrup & seeing how it compares. thank you for the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Author: Carissa BurkAugust 2, 2011 at 6:52:00 PM PDT

    Q- thank you! (how embarrassing). It's fixed now.

    Lindsay- I've never heard of it. I'll have to look it up. Thanks for the tip

    ReplyDelete
  11. CourtneyAugust 2, 2011 at 7:52:00 PM PDT

    I am a ginger ale addict but haven't had it in YEARS due to allergies and the HFCS. You just might have saved my sanity! Thank you so much for posting this!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Prudent HomemakerAugust 2, 2011 at 7:56:00 PM PDT

    This would be interesting with water kefir instead of club soda.

    ReplyDelete
  13. BeckyAugust 2, 2011 at 8:58:00 PM PDT

    This sounds awesome!
    Do you know whether it's possible to use honey instead of sugar?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Author: Carissa BurkAugust 3, 2011 at 1:44:00 AM PDT

    Good question, Becky. You can make infused honey instead of syrup. To do that, I would boil 2 cups of honey (do not add water) with the Ginger and let sit for about 30 minutes. I'm not sure what the ratio to Ginger honey to club soda would be if you wanted to make soda with it, though. BUT it would probably be very tasty in hot tea.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Holistic HorizonsAugust 3, 2011 at 6:15:00 AM PDT

    So happy to have stumbled upon your post! I too have a love affair with ginger. I nibbled it raw while traveling in Thailand to combat motion sickness. From there my love grew since it is literally everywhere there.

    Have you ever tried making kefir water? It is a lovely new healthy addiction that has helped me curb my cravings for soda and sweets in general. I've just recently started making it myself and sharing it with my friends and family. There are so many benefits and you can flavor it with ginger too. Although I can't decide if ginger or blueberry are my new favorite??? Oh the dilemma :)

    You might be able to find someone sharing it locally in your community but it not you can order it online but be sure it's water kefir and not milk kefir.
    http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php
    I ordered online using www.waterkefirgrains.com and here's a quick link for a ginger variation http://www.wholetraditions.com/recipes/114-ginger-ale-water-kefir

    I intend to put you down on Pinterest when I get around my fear of allowing it access to my Facebook account...and think that in trying to post my comment and deciding to log in to my long lost blog account, I might have to pick up blogging again to share my kefir water experiences. :)

    Ivy

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousAugust 3, 2011 at 6:30:00 AM PDT

    Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to give it a try! I love ginger ale! ~Lacey

    ReplyDelete
  17. CarolAugust 3, 2011 at 10:48:00 AM PDT

    Love this! Made it today and linked you on my blog! http://weeknightdish.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nancy @Real Food, Allergy FreeAugust 3, 2011 at 11:18:00 AM PDT

    I am ashamed to admit it but I am addicted to soda as well. I can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!

    -Nancy
    www.RealFoodAllergyFree.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. JessicaAugust 3, 2011 at 6:55:00 PM PDT

    Sounds like a winner! I also like reading about the water kefir in the comments.

    ReplyDelete
  20. GinnyOAugust 3, 2011 at 7:35:00 PM PDT

    I've been buying Reeds Ginger Brew, which is pretty darn good, but a little on the expensive side. This sounds great and I would like to buy the new product at Bed, Bath & Beyond where you make your own fizzy soda and use with this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jaime @ PJ's Pastry ShoppeAugust 5, 2011 at 10:00:00 AM PDT

    Newest follower from Money Saving Mom! My mother loves ginger ale! I think I'm going to have to gift this to her! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Morsels of Life | CJ HuangAugust 12, 2011 at 4:41:00 AM PDT

    I'm featuring your delicious ginger syrup today on Five Friday Finds at Morsels of Life. Ginger ale (the real stuff) is probably my favorite carbonated beverages! Thanks for sharing your recipe and please grab a featured button at http://morselsoflife.blogspot.com/2011/08/five-friday-finds_12.html !

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousAugust 18, 2011 at 7:39:00 AM PDT

    This sounds like a great recipe to make and give as gifts. Have you ever experimented with using Stevia instead of sugar? It is all natural (not a poison!) and much lower in calories than sugar. If you havent used it before, just beware - you must use a very small amount or it has a bitter taste. Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  24. Author: Carissa BurkAugust 18, 2011 at 10:38:00 AM PDT

    I've used Stevia in the past and it's great for dissolving into things like tea. It would not work for this recipe, though, because it does not melt into a syrup consistency the same way sugar does

    ReplyDelete
  25. a.loveSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:06:00 PM PDT

    Does the syrup have to stay refrigerated when gifted? If I'm going to ship it, can it be sitting out for a long time at room temp?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Author: Carissa BurkSeptember 8, 2011 at 1:41:00 AM PDT

    It will last for about a week at room temperature so it should be okay as long s you aren't shipping it over seas. Just let the recipient know to put it in the fridge once they get it to extend it's shelf life

    ReplyDelete
  27. UnknownDecember 17, 2011 at 9:55:00 AM PST

    Thanks for the recipe! After you refrigerate the syrup, about how long does it usually last? I'm working on some last minute gifts for the holidays:)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Author: Carissa BurkDecember 17, 2011 at 10:57:00 AM PST

    I'd probably tell the recipient 1 month to be safe but I've been known to make large batches and keep it longer than that without issue

    ReplyDelete
  29. MelissaJune 6, 2012 at 7:56:00 AM PDT

    ive made this multiple times from your blog and love it. makes a great gift for expectant mothers~

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me happy! Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

 
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