This week with its holiday thrown in the middle of it has us a bit discombobulated, so I'm filling in for Cleo today.
Here's a recipe that's tailor-made for the Fourth of July,
since it's as old as the country: shrub!
In the Colonial era in America shrub was a soft drink, also
known as "drinking vinegar," because it included vinegar that had
been steeped with fruit or herbs for up to several days. (Vinegar is actually less acidic than lemon
juice—and it was a lot easier to obtain in this country). Strained and
sweetened, it would be reduced to a syrup and added to water or carbonated
water. The sugar in the fruit plus the added sugar smooth out the acidity of
the vinegar.
It can be served with or without alcohol. Either way, it's a cool drink for a hot
evening (with a lot less sugar than commercial soft drinks!).
Here is a simple recipe from a half-century ago:
5 quarts ripe raspberries or strawberries
1 quart mild vinegar (any kind)
Sugar (to taste)
1 quart mild vinegar (any kind)
Sugar (to taste)
Crush the berries and add the vinegar. Let it stand for 24 hours, then strain. Measure the liquid and add one-half pound of
sugar for each quart of juice. Heat to
just boiling then put in jars or bottles.
Here's a more modern recipe, which can be adapted to
whatever amount of fruit you have on hand, since it is based on weight:
 |
| Three pounds of fresh strawberries |
Select very ripe fruit.
Chop or mash it, then weigh it.
In a bowl, combine equal parts (weights) of the fruit and sugar, and
cover. Let the mixture sit for anywhere
from a few hours to a few days, while the sugar draws all the liquid from the
fruit. Then add an equal amount (weight) of vinegar and stir. Strain it and bottle it. It is ready to use right away, but it will
also age well.
 |
| Three pounds, mashed |
 |
| Equal weights fruit and sugar |
When ready to serve, dilute your syrup with three parts cold
water to one part syrup, and serve in tall glasses with plenty of ice.
Of course you may add rum or vodka or brandy, and you may vary
the fruits depending on what is ripe. Now I'm wondering what a blueberry shrub
might look like, or a mixture of red and blue fruit. Experiment!
 |
| This recipe will appear in Golden Malicious, the next Orchard Mystery, coming 10/1 |
