Cranberries arehealthyfor us — they are high-pitched in antioxidants , low in calories and in high spirits in vitamins C , A and K. The versatile gemstake over my focal point in the kitcheneach fall . We know to carry on , bake and trade with cranberries .
One unique way that I preserve cranberry is to make them into a shrub , also known as a “ drinking acetum ” . Shrubs are essentially a simple sirup made with fruit and a sweetener , mixed with vinegar . The fruity acidic vinegar blend is then enjoyed with water or bubbly water . I prefer to conflate my shrub with bare-assed apple cider acetum ( ACV ) to gain the benefits of the probiotic in the ACV .
Typically , when I make bush , I do not cook the fruit because the freshness of the raw fruit shines through but in this situation , I favour to use estrus to speed the process along .
Garnish your shrub with a mint leaf for a festive holiday feel.
Cranberry Shrub
Yield : 2.5 loving cup finish shrub
2 cups fresh cranberry
1.5 cupful white granulated sugar
1 cupful orange juice
To finish off after making sirup : about 1.5 cupful raw organic apple cyder vinegar ( or other drinking vinegar of choice ) .
rinsing cranberries , remove any white or damaged berries and bow . In a intermediate sized saucepan , bring the cranberry , saccharide and orangeness succus to a simmer . Simmer until the berry set about to down and make and become soft and deflate . agitate often . The syrup will become lustrous red once it ’s ready to stress . Keep an eye on the plenty as it simmer – it is a syrup and could bubble over if you are n’t cautiously observe .
Once the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is made , use a hunky-dory mesh strainer to strain out the solids , pull together the cranberry sirup in a heat tolerant measurement cup . Use a spoon to shake up out the sirup . duple strain for a cleaner sirup ( optional ) .
Once strained , earmark the sirup to cool slightly , then mensurate the amount of cranberry syrup that was compile and impart that same amount of acetum to the syrup ( it will be about 1 - 1.5 cups of acetum ) , bring up well to blend .
Store in a clean canning jar with eyelid fasten on and refrigerate . Enjoy within a few months for the best flavor .
Mix about a shot ( 2 ounces ) of the bush mixture with about 6 snow leopard of water supply , or carbonated weewee . do over ice . Shrubs also make tasty and unique cocktail mixers . This hopeful red shrub is perfect to serve at holiday gatherings .
you’re able to also use brownish dough , coconut moolah , maple sirup or other sugar alternatives in place of white granulated sugar for this formula .
you’re able to immix your shrub with any acetum of your option . Red wine acetum is another great selection for this cranberry shrub .
This method acting of shrub devising can be apply to anyfruitand herbaceous plant combination . reckon adding orange zest , ground cinnamon or rosemary while simmering this sirup .
Do n’t toss the strained - out fruit solidness ! They are scrumptious mixed into plain yogurt , oatmeal , or intermix into a smoothie .
This formula was adapted fromWECK Small - Batch Preserving(2018 ) with permission from Skyhorse Publishing , Inc.
Stephanie Thurowis the author ofCan It & Ferment It , WECK Small - Batch Preserving , WECK Home Preservingand co - author ofSmall - Scale Homesteading . She is a certified maestro food restorer , professional nurseryman , author and traditional life skills instructor . chance her online:@minnesotafromscratch
Photo credit : Stephanie Thurow
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