Homemade root beer is easy to make when you use this syrup as a base. No fermentation needed, you just add it to sparkling water and you’re done. And if you live east of the Great Plains, sassafras lives everywhere.
drinks and cocktails
Exploring California Coffeeberries
First off, did you know that coffee comes from berries? Probably. Now, did you know that there’s a California coffeeberry? Probably not. Actually, there are several varieties. And yes, you can make your own coffee from them. And yes, it’s really good!
Elderflower Cordial
Elderflowers have arrived in NorCal, and the first thing I make with them each year is elderflower cordial. I use this sweet-smelling syrup as a base for cocktails and soft drinks.
Manzanita Cider
If you live on the West Coast, you’ve seen the stunning, red-barked shrub called manzanita. But I bet you did not know the berries make a delicious cider…
Sassafras and Homemade Root Beer
On Independence Day, what better wild ingredient to feature than Sassafras? The aromatic bark, leaves and roots were the first plant exported from North America to Europe.
Elderflower Syrup and Cordial
May is a wonderful month. Flowers are everywhere, fishing is getting into gear and the summer garden is laden with promise. Foraging can be a little thin in my neck of the woods, however, although there is one delight to be had: Elderberry flowers. After getting the lay of the land along the American River