morsels & sauces

I like a shrub.  Mostly because I like sour things. Well, I also like salty things. And sweet things. And hot things. Okay, okay, I just like things. Especially if those things have strong flavors.  But this lovely cocktail is subtle, sweet, piney, citrusy, and spicy. It's the perfect holiday drink. And it packs a punch. A one-two punch. So plan to sip slowly. To make this shrub, simply grate up some apples and crush some cardamom pods. Then you let them soak in some apple cider vinegar mixed with a lot  of sugar. Let a little fermentation happen. Strain. Bottle. Serve. Pucker up.   To learn more about a shrub, see   here . To drink more shrub, see below for a fabulous recipe.  Once you have the shrub hanging out in your kitchen, you're officially qualified to dig your own shallow grave. Aghem, I mean make your own shallow grave. This one calls for gin, Pimms cup, and lemon. Yes, yes, Pimms is usually associated with the summer and...

Can we talk about shrubs for a little while? No, not the vegetation in your front yard. I want to talk about  drinking vinegars. Wait. Don't go. They're really quite good. So, March was Shrubs month over at the Food in Jars Mastery Challenge . And due to our move across town(s), I have been a bit behind on posting. However, I want to be very clear--these shrubs quenched a good deal of thirst this spring, as I packed boxes, threw out clothes, and cursed the sheer amount of books I have accumulated in my 20-year teaching career.  (Seriously, how many copies of Heart of Darkness  does a person need...? Don't answer that.)  Shrubs have been a fixture in our home these past two months. A shrub is an old-fashioned drink that is making a heady comeback, in part because of mustachioed barkeeps who are looking for new (old) things to stir into their fancy drinks. Lucky for all of us.  Shrubs originated as a frugal way to ensure you didn't have to t...