Did I mention that I have a few (hundred) pomegranates?  What to do with them all?

I have been scanning the web (again) looking for ideas. Grenadine.

There are quite a few recipes for grenadine on the net but they are all pretty disparate.

Grenadine is, essentially, pomegranate juice and sugar.

I am very experienced at making pomegranate juice (just look at my hands).    Maus and I, again, spent an evening with our hands in a big tub of water (although this time I had to keep my thumb out because I’d sliced the top off it whilst cutting the tops off the pomegranates), separating the seeds from the membranes.

We, again, ended up with about 8 cups of juice.  Please, check out my post Pomegranate Jelly on how to juice pomegranates.  Here is the link.

Recipes for grenadine have between 50 – 100% sugar to juice.  I decided to start at 50% sugar and slowly increase it until it tasted right.  As 50% tasted fine, I didn’t add anymore.  If you are making it for children, you may wish to increase the sugar slightly but start with 50% and taste it as you go.

• 8 cups of pomegranate juice
• 4 cups of sugar

1. Put the juice and sugar in a pot over low heat.  Stir until sugar dissolves, then increase heat and bring to the boil.
2. Simmer for 15 minutes. This is to reduce the juice and intensify the flavour.
3. Pour into sterilised bottles/jars and secure.
4. If you only have a small amount and intend to use it within a few weeks, just keep it in the fridge.  As I visualised keeping  mine until summer to have with ice and soda, I decided to process mine in boiling water for 10 minutes.
5. Put a trivet in the bottom of a large pot and fill with hot water.  Put bottles in pot (ensure water reaches the top of the bottles).  I placed an old towel between the bottles to stop them from touching.
6. Bring to the boil and maintain boil for 10 minutes.
7. Carefully remove bottles from water.
8. Check lids and stand at room temperature until cool.

Store in cupboard, refrigerate after opening.

I decided to open one bottle and try it with soda.  It was very, very nice.  I then decided that (for research purposes only) I should buy a bottle of vodka and try it out.  Again, it was very, very nice.  I doubt there will be any of these 5 bottles left for summer.  I think I will be making some more … it is not that I am short of pomegranates.