LESLIE BUDEWITZ: Mystery World is a funny place. You meet the nicest people and then discover how wonderfully, delightfully devious they are! Case in point: Julianne Holmes, aka J.A. (Julie) Hennrikus, one of my favorite people in mystery-dom. When I realized she'd never been our guest, I nabbed her, and am delighted that she's joining us today, celebrating the release of Chime and Punishment, the third Clockshop Mystery, earlier this month. Appropriately, we're celebrating with a cocktail. (Or is that a clocktail?)
Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Chime and Punishment!
Making a Shrub with Julianne Holmes a.k.a. J. A. Hennrikus
In the third book of
my clock shop series, Time and Punishment, Pat Reed is experimenting with
making shrubs. Anyone who is familiar with the series will know that Pat works
at the Cog & Sprocket, Ruth Clagan’s clock shop in Orchard Massachusetts.
His wife, Nancy, is on the board of selectmen in this book. His daughter Moira
is still running her café, The Sleeping Latte. The book takes place in June,
prime shrub season in my opinion.
What, you may ask, is
a shrub? I was first introduced to these a couple of years ago by a friend who
had over picked blueberries one summer and was experimenting with ways to use
them. A shrub is an old-fashioned drink, berry infused vinegar with sugar that
is mixed into seltzer water, or added to a cocktail. From what I understand,
shrubs go back to colonial times when people were trying to preserve fruit
without refrigeration. The tartness of the vinegar, and the sweetness of the berries
and sugar make it a very refreshing and interesting drink. Nowadays, drinking
vinegars are all the rage, and so I've been experimenting with them more and
more. In this post I'll show you a couple of ways of making shrubs. There are
many. I'm using blueberries, but they could be made with all different types of
fruits.
In a blender, put a
cup of berries, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of raw cider vinegar, 1/3 cup of a
cup of honey (or sugar), and some fresh ginger. You could also add lemon juice
for extra zing. Blend them all up. Strain it through cheesecloth or through a
ricer. Refrigerate for a couple of days
and then uses syrup with soda water, or in a cocktail.
I've also read
recipes that have sugar and fruit mashed up and left on the countertop in a
bowl for a few days to marinate. Vinegar is then added, and after a few more
daysthe fruit is strained and ready to use.
Hot Process Shrubs:
There are a couple of
ways to make hot infused shrubs as well.
One way is to make a
simple syrup, put berries in with the simple syrup, and let it let them pop and
boil down a bit. Add the vinegar, strain, and refrigerate.
The recipe I'm using
in this post has simple syrup made with vinegar instead of water. It is more
potent, and more tasty. Boil the cider and sugar into a syrup (a cup of each),
add the berries (2 cups) and boil them down. Strain, or rice, and refrigerate.
The shrub will be ready to use in 2 to 4 days.
You can also infuse
your shrubs with herbs like rosemary. Play with your vinegar/sugar ratio.
Shrubs are a very refreshing way of adding pop to your summer drinks.
Cheers!
Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Chime and Punishment! Got a favorite cocktail? A clock story? Mr. Kitten will choose the winner Tues morning, Aug 29.
Julianne Holmes
writes the Clock Shop Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. The first in the
series, the Agatha nominated Just Killing
Time, debuted in October 2015. Clock
and Dagger was released in August 2016, and Chime and Punishment came out this August. As J.A. Hennrikus, her
Theater Cop series will debut in the fall of 2017 with A Christmas Peril. She has short stories in three Level Best
anthologies, Thin Ice, Dead Calm and Blood Moon. She is on the board of Sisters in Crime, and is a
member of MWA and Sisters in Crime New England. She blogs with the Wicked Cozy
Authors and Killer Characters. JHAuthors.com T:@JHAuthors I: @jahenn
Chime and Punishment: The clock is
ticking on Ruth Clagan’s latest project—the rehab of the town’s clocktower.
Years ago a fire destroyed the tower and Ruth inherited the dream of hearing
those bells again, along with her shop, the Cog and Sprocket, from her
grandfather. She’s determined to make them both work, despite wrenches that are
being thrown into the works by her least favorite person, town manager Kim
Gray.
A crowd of
residents and visitors are excited to see the progress of the tower at a
fundraiser for the final stage of the project. When Kim is found crushed under
the tower’s bell the list of suspects is so long it could be read around the
clock, and includes some of Ruth’s nearest and dearest.
Times awastin’
as Ruth tries to solve another murder in her beloved Orchard while keeping the
gears clicking on her dream project.
My clock story is my Dad loves to collect clocks so twice a year, it takes a good portion of time for my husband and I to change them all for him! (Lol)
ReplyDeletekaren(dot)kenyon(at)rogers(dot)com
That's an issue I hadn't considered!
DeleteMy clock story is that I collect clocks - hundred of them (they're in an armoire display case). Thankfully I don't wind them - otherwise that would make for a LOT of deafening ticking noises ;) EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI bet they are beautiful!
DeleteI had never heard of a shrub before now. I do not have a favorite cocktail to try them in, but I know someone who would likely love to attempt this recipe. mbradeen@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThey are a lot of fun! Great in seltzer, which is how I usually drink them.
DeleteI have to Shrubs are new to me, but I think I'll have to try them!! Thanks for sharing! I love old clocks have a few. It is crazy to keep them wound up and running, but I love to hear them chime! Dspinlexo@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThe chimes must be wonderful. Will say, you have to love them--I've met a lot of folks who have inherited clocks that they don't wind because of the chimes.
DeleteThanks for the Shrub recipes.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
Welcome Julianne! I am just reading the new book now – love this series. So glad to have you visiting the blog XO
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me! And thanks for your support--means the world!
DeleteLovely to see you here! My New England-raised grandmother swore by drinking vinegar and water regularly (and she lived to be 94, so it must have worked)--I wonder if she ever tried shrubs? They sound like the perfect refreshing summer drink.
ReplyDeleteShrubs certainly make the vinegar a bit easier to take. That said, the more I read about the benefits of vinegar, the more I think I need to add that to my daily routine. Thanks for having me on the blog!
DeleteI do the vinegar thing, daily, sweetened with a little local honey. I hope it's helping the joints and other parts!
DeleteMy Clock Story...I love clocks and my favorite is a french clock that has an 18th century looking figure in it. I particularly love chiming clocks...My least favorite was a cuckoo that my Uncle sent me from Germany when I was 12. Mainly because the cuckoo drove me crazy and finally ended it all one night when it took a giant leap and got hung in the doors...lol...but I still have it.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I am intrigued by cuckoo clocks, but I suspect they might drive me crazy too. That said, they are lovely...
DeleteWelcome, Julie! We're delighted to have you here on the blog. No clock story to share, but I do still have the Swiss pin watch my father brought my grandmother when the war in Europe ended and he was released from a Swiss internment camp, where he was one of more than 2,000 American enlisted men forced to remain in Switzerland until the war ended -- his crew landed there when their plane was hit and could not make it back to England. I wind it up every so often, and it still keeps perfect time!
ReplyDeleteWow! Part of the clock/watch love often comes with the story of a the owner who passed it down. This is quite the story!
DeleteWhen I interned at The Tonight Show, Jay's office was a wall of clocks. They were modern and all did something different on the hour. Birds chirped, dogs barked, songs played. The only thing was, they weren't all synched up so it took about five minutes to get through the cacophony.
ReplyDeleteI love that story! Syncing clocks is something I talk about a few times in this series. Is it ever possible?
DeleteThis is a series I have on my TBR list. Hope Mr. Kitten picks me. Thank you for the lovely giveaway. pgenest57 at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young we had a unique kitchen clock on the wall for many years. It was accurate, artistic and made me feel all was right with the world. I wish I had kept it since it was meaningful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteA unique process. I never heard of shrubs in this context before.
ReplyDeleteI'll pass as I do not like the taste of vinegar.
We recently became the owners of a Dutch table clock of my in-laws. It has wonderful chimes. It is currently undergoing a massive maintenance cycle & rebuild. We miss it.
The story sounds intriguing.
kckendler at Gmail dot com
Thanks for this special giveaway. Clocks have always interested me since we are all regimented by them especially when we start school as little kids and then graduate to working. I always used a small travel clock in my bedroom which was luminous and convenient. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of shrubs. It sounds like a very interesting drink. One of my favorite cocktails is cranberry and vodka. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather used to create grandfather clocks and repair them in the 50s and 60s. I was surprised to find that out and only learned of it when I saw a newspaper clipping about it.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Oh. Shrubs as opposesd to shrubberies! What a relief. No clock stories really. But I love a good mojito. I will have to keep an eye out for your series. Sounds like fun.
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
I used to have a fascination with wrist watches. I owned as many as 30+ at any given time & wore the watch that matched what I was doing that day. Sport watches, dress watches, waterproof watches, etc.. thanks for the chance to win. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteFirst, congratulations on your latest release, Julie. I can remember my mom infusing raspberries into vinegar in this way but much Mom was a tea totaler so never used hers in a drink. I remember having various berry infused salad dressings only and they were phenomenal. Hank you for my trip down Memory Lane today. Thank you for the giveaway....it would be wonderful to be chosen by Mr. Kitten!!! 😉
ReplyDeleteCynthia. ceblain (AT) tmlponline (DOT) net
I wonder what someone would say if I said I was serving shrubs. The bears are out, so we are low on fresh berries, but I would love to try to make one with store-bought. My watch story is that I was in Galveston and had my watch with my rings attached to it in my shorts pocket, and decided to go into the water. When I got out of the water, no watch and rings -- I was devastated. Miraculously, they washed up right to where we had set up on the beach 2 days later! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteGreat story--so glad you found them!
DeletePosted for Marlene -- Blogger won't let her in today! ezellmarlene@gmail.com My parents brought a cuckoo clock back from Germany. Our Yorkshire Terrier, Gumdrop, barked at it every time it cuckooed.
ReplyDeleteGood Gumdrop!
DeleteHey Mr. Kitten, please pick me! This looks like a really fun book!
ReplyDeleteMartha, a reminder: Mr. Kitten needs an email address to consider you!
DeleteI have never heard of Shrubs.... cocanvaz@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy mom had a cuckoo clock the bird came out and it went cuckoo! My dad had a train clock that went around the click and whistled.donamaekutska7@gmail.com thank you
ReplyDeleteLove these clock stories! And a reminder to folks--shrubs can be all sorts of fruits. Really delicious!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Julianne! Really enjoyed your post. Every so often, raw apple cider vinegar and honey make their way down my throat. I'll have to try your very creative ways to incorporate vinegar into ye olde health routine. Also thrilled to learn about your new books in both series. Happy congrats from me and Marc! ~ Cleo
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather loved trains & had a train clock that whistled on the hour. I used to love seeing that clock on the kitchen wall every time I visited. turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new release, Julianne! Looking forward to reading "Chime and Punishment", this is a great series. My favorite cocktail is a Moscow Mule, it's very refreshing. The shrub is new to me, but it looks like something I would like to try.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite cocktail is one that is served at a local Portland (Oregon) bar. The bar is called the Driftwood Room and is part of a historic Portland hotel. The cocktail is called the Elizabeth Taylor and is made of champagne and creme de violet. It is the most gorgeous violet color I have ever seen and tastes good as well! Thanks for the chance to win! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shrub recipes. I never heard of them before. Have any of you fermented drink lovers tried kombucha? You can buy many commercial varieties or make your own. The description of the shrub drinks sound similar to kombucha. My current favorite is ginger berry by GTs Kombucha. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of a shrub, since I don't normally drink alcohol. patwalkerp(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to our winner, Dee Sprinkle, and thanks to all of you -- and the fabulous Julianne Holmes, aka JA Hennrikus -- for joining in the fun! Cheers!
ReplyDelete