Homemade Root Beer Float

Growing up, one of the highlights of summer was the homemade root beer that my father would brew, bottle and ferment in the garage.  It didn't appeal to everyone, in fact, it was an acquired taste. There was even that memorable event when one of my sister's friends took a sip and spit it across the kitchen. I'll tell you something though, nothing tastes better with a bacon and tomato (fresh from the garden) sandwich than that root beer.

This summer, I decided that it was time to revive the tradition of homemade root beer.  I didn't have my father's equipment or recipe. Plus, I wasn't sure I was up to making it in quite the quantity that he bottles it in. So, when I ran across this Mr. Root Beer home brewing kit, I thought it was worth a try.

When it arrived in the mail, it engulfed my kitchen in the wonderful smell of root beer extract.  The instructions were fairly simple and I was able to brew my first batch during nap time. After letting it ferment for the prescribed amount of time and then chilling it in the fridge, I ventured a first taste. I'll be honest, it wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped. I think I was craving something a bit "yeastier" and because this tasted more like root beer than yeast, it really wasn't what I was expecting. It's funny how a taste memory can be so strong.

Yet, the kids loved it and the taste has grown on me.  It made for one amazing root beer float while the kids were again napping (I love nap time). What's great is that it isn't quite as sugary sweet as the root beer you might purchase in the store. It was definitely a worthy experiment. We have bacon and tomato sandwiches on the menu this week.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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Green Gables Lemonade

Awhile back, I ran across a website where the sole purpose was to recreate recipes from classic literature. They even had a post regarding Anne of Green Gables' recipe for old fashioned lemonade. I thought the idea was cute at the time, but it wasn't until we were hitting above 100 degrees this summer that I was reminded of it and decided it was high time I got a good lemonade recipe.  I searched for the Green Gables lemonade recipe and found it!  I'm thinking that Anne (with an 'e') would appreciate how much we enjoyed it.

We set up our afternoon snack out on the back deck in the shade.  It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon: sipping lemonade and laughing with my kids.

There's my glass waiting for me!

Jellybean found an interesting way of enjoying her lemonade:

That's right, dipping her wheat thins.

Old Fashioned Lemonade 
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups water
Zest from one lemon
1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice (about 6 or 7 lemons)
Ice cubes
Cold water or sparkling water

Measure the sugar and water into a sauce pan. While stirring with a wooden spoon, bring the mixture to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Let cool slightly.

Add fresh squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest to the sugar syrup. Cool completely. Pour the lemonade syrup into a quart jar. Cover tightly with the lid. The syrup can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks.

When you’re ready to serve the lemonade, put some ice cubes in the bottom of a glass. Our ¼ cup of the lemon syrup over the ice cubes. Add ¾ cup cold water or sparkling water and stir. I decided that I wasn't a real fan of the zest in my glass, so I've started straining that out.

The recipe makes enough syrup for 14 glasses of lemonade.

I couldn't help sipping while I took photos.  Here's my jar of syrup, too. Yum.

Just incase you are wondering, "It looks good, but is it really?" Here's what my children thought of our new recipe, they were pretty enthusiastic...


Lemonade Critique from A Happy Song on Vimeo.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

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