TEACH ME TUESDAYS: MYO NATURAL SODA

EVERYONE who knows me best, knows 

I am obsessed with non-alcoholic beverage selections!

Ever since I was young I would have several liquid refreshments with dinner- pretty basic: 

Milk & water, but that was the beginnings of my "drinky-drink" craze budded there.

I have tried several recipes and have not found one we all liked, until...

This recipe here: tried it out, tweaked it, and called it DELICIOUS!!!!

1.) First things first, if you want soda, you have to carbonate your water in some fashion, the easiest is is purchase seltzer water. This is a "sometime drink" so get DON'T GET all riled up over carbonation, what it does to you, plus the carbon footprint, and such...

2.) Secondly, sweetener- this is a cheap MYO soda with lots of choices for your sweetener. Tip- For even more flavor, use fruit juice/nectar instead of water to make your syrup.:

a. Sugar Simple Syrup
1 cup organic granulated sugar
1 cup water
Combine the ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer, stirring frequently, until all the sugar has dissolved.

b. Honey Simple Syrup
7/8 cup organic honey (select a mild-flavored type such as wildflower)
1 1/8 cups water
Combine the ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer, stirring frequently, until all the honey has dissolved.

c. Stevia Simple Syrup
4 teaspoons stevia extract (liquid or powdered)
2 cups water
Combine and stir to dissolve. Stevia is a natural zero-caloric sweetener made from a plant and comes in powders or in liquid extracts. Flavor and sweetness vary from product to product. I'm partial to NOW liquid Stevia, but you may need to taste a few for yourself and see which you like. Since the sweetness varies by brand, use this recipe as a starting point and adjust as needed.

#3: Flavorings. This is the fun part—coming up with your own unique soda flavors. The best way to add flavorings is to add them to your simple syrup while it's simmering, then straining out any fruit, herbs, or spices you use. Here are a few ideas to start: 

a. Fruits
(This is as far as we have tried)-Fruit sodas are wonderfully refreshing and so suitable for summer. Add 1 cup chopped fresh fruit, such as

• peaches 
• raspberries
• watermelon

To a completed batch of simple syrup. For even more flavor, use fruit juice/nectar instead of water to make your syrup. Select the tastiest, juiciest fruit you can find. Simmer for about five to 10 minutes until the fruit is soft and faded looking, using a potato masher or large spoon to smash the fruit apart to release as much flavor as possible.

b. Herbs/Spices/Teas
Ginger ale is a classic flavor, but many other herbs (rosemary, basil), spices (cinnamon), and teas (green tea, red zinger) also make exciting flavors.

•  Add about ½ cup minced fresh leaves or about ¼ cup dried leaves or grated ginger root. {GONNA TRY THIS!
• You can even add cocoa powder to your simple syrup, about ¼ cup, for a Yoohoo doppelganger. {SO GONNA TRY THIS ONE!!

Simmer for about 10 minutes, using a large spoon to smash and muddle the leaves to release as much flavor as possible.
c. Extracts
Hit the baking aisle of your grocery store and look for tasty flavor extracts, such as vanilla for a cream soda, and add 1 teaspoon to a finished batch of simple syrup.

d. Blends
Single ingredient flavors are great, but why be boring? Mix and match to find sodas to go with any meal. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
• ginger + vanilla
• strawberry + basil
• blueberry + lavender
• cocoa + hot pepper (just a little)
• banana + almond
• cardamom + rose (use rose petals or rose water to make the syrup)
• mango + chai green tea.

#4. FINAL STEP:

1. Strain any fruits, leaves, or spices out of your simple syrup after it's finished
2. Let it cool in your refrigerator before adding it to your carbonated water.
3. Pour 2 to 3 ounces cold flavored syrup into a 12-ounce glass, 
4. Top off with cold soda water, and enjoy! 

Any leftover flavored syrup you may have can be stored for up to a month in your refrigerator.