Making fruit syrup instead of buying it, seems better. Since there is alot of fruit around now, and you can always find some in stores. So I thought I would go ahead and make some of my own.
Pretty easy, just a matter of cleaning and cutting up your fruit you want to use. Adding to a pot, boiling it,straining it,and add sugar and boil again.
Seems easy enough. I am trying this one with oranges, since I end up getting lots of oranges given to me. There are only so much smoothies one person can have with oranges. We add pineapple to the smoothie for the different flavour. Taste great.
Making Orange Syrup
You will need:
- 4 oranges -roughly making 2 1/2 cups(juiced)
- Zest from 4 oranges (about ½ cup)
- Zest from 1 lime (optional)
- ½ cups honey (or ⅔ cup sugar)
Now that you have your ingredients its time to put into a small pot and stir. You will bring this to a boil over medium-high heat. Stirring often, and reduce heat and let it simmer. Simmer till it has reduced down about a third.
Now remove off the heat, and let this cool down. Then you will use a mesh screen colainder or a cheesecloth. Don’t push it through, it will make your syrup cloudy.
Can store your finished syrup in a mason jar and keep in fridge for about 2 weeks.
FOR SODA SYRUP- 3/1 ratio. 3 being the sparkling water.
If you want a little kick to your syrup you can add a little bit citric acid to your drink when you’re making it. Just try a tiny pinch at first and see what you like. If you prefer more, you can add more. You will figure out what you like, as you test them out.
So maybe you would want to try this after your healthy energy drink. Or even alongside it.
Raspberry Syrup Sounds Good
So making fruit syrup seems pretty easy and simple to me. I know I am gonna make some raspberry syrup today. I have lots of raspberries and wanted to do this last year. But I never had the time to do it, and now I have lots of time.
Sour Cherry or Apricot Syrup
Maybe even make some apricot syrup or cherry syrup, but for the cherries, I only have sour cherries. Think that will take even more sugar, so I will try a very small batch first. See if I like how it tastes, and if I do , I will make some more.
Thinking the possibilities are endless on what you can do with fruit. This seems a good start as any, as long as you have lots of sugar. And will make use of it also. So I started my day, with the idea of making some sour cherry syrup today. Got outside and went to our tree and picked some. This is really the first time I ever made this syrup. So I basically just cooked the cherries in enough water to cover. I eventually mashed the cherries, but now I have some fruit floaties. That is ok because the syrup is for me only. To mix with my water is what I was thinking. After it cooked I strained it and cooked the juice for a bit and added some sugar. Will jar and put in the fridge, and test it out tomorrow. See if I like it and want to make more or not.
A good way to use up leftover fruit in your freezer too. Maybe you still have some from last year’s pickings. I know I do, but I have used most of all of it to make smoothies. But if you don’t like smoothies you can make fruit syrup and mix it with your water. Or further, cook it down to thicken it and make it for waffles or pancakes. Or how about ice cream topping.
Fruit syrup for Pancakes
Have you ever tried making this, just by using an extra fruit you have in your freezer. I used blueberries last year. It was pretty good, add your sugar to taste, reduce to the consistency you like. If you like it thicker-make it thicker. Just by simmering longer on the stove. You can use any kind of fruit you like.
Making Dehydrated Fruit
Making dehydrated fruit is great when you have alot of fruit in your house. I know that is what I had to do last year, dehydrate lots of fruit. Even found lots of strawberries for $2 for 4 lbs. So I dehydrated lots of that last year, second they came out of the dehydrator they were eaten.
Was that great, even same with apples, I dried a whole bunch of them. They were great for a morning snack, and great for work. Easy to pack for kids lunches also. We didn’t care for dried bananas, so I didn’t do much of those.
Dehydrating fruit is easy, just wash and slice and add to your dehydrator. As long as your fruit isn’t too ripe. Cause it needs to stay on the rack and not fall through.
You can even make some fruit roll up also. I haven’t tried that yet, but it depends what fruit you do have. I probably could of made some with my strawberries I had. But thought of it after I dehydrated all my strawberries.
This year, I didn’t see any awesome deals out there. My strawberry patch gave me lots, but we just ate those.
