Wednesday, January 14, 2015

JEAN'S AMiSH ROOT BEER RECIPE


JEAN'S AMISH ROOT BEER RECIPE

1 tsp dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups granulated white sugar
1 quart hot water
4 teaspoon root beer extract

Dissolve yeast in the warm water for 5 minutes.  Dissolve the sugar in the quart of hot water while yeast dissolves.  Mix together the dissolved yeast, sugar and root beer extract in a gallon jar. Fill the jar with warm water and stir until all ingredients are mixed.  Cover jar and set in the sun for at least 5 hours.  Let inside overnight then chill before serving.

You can purchase your root beer extract at most grocery stores.  But you can make your own. Sometimes I purchase it, sometimes I make my own.  The recipe to make Root Beer Extract follows.

JEAN'S AMISH ROOT BEER EXTRACT

6 cups water
3 oz dried sassafras root
1/2 oz dried burdock root
1 tsp dried whole coriander seeds
1 whole star anise
1 whole clove
1/4 cup dark molasses
3 - 4 wintergreen leaves or 2 drops wintergreen extract
6 cups of granulated sugar

Put the sassafras and burdock roots, coriander seeds, star anise and clove in a heavy-bottomed 2 quart saucepan that has a tight fitting lid.  Pour water over the top of the roots and spices.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Lower the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Add molasses, stir, replace the lid and return to a simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove the pan from heat, add the wintergreen leaves or extract - replace the lid and let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Line strainer with cheesecloth, place over large measuring cup or pitcher and pour the cooled ingredients into strainer.  Do not press any of the ingredients but let the roots rest in the strainer for 30 minutes.  While ingredients are straining, rise the pot your just used to get any bits of root beer or spices out of it.

Measure your strained ingredients and return to the pot - add equal amount sugar as there is strained ingredients.  Like 5 cups strained ingredients - you add 5 cups sugar.  Bring the mixture to a boil.  Lower the heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes.  Pour into prepared canning jars and store in refrigerator up to one year..









9 comments:

magnoliasntea said...

Jean, thank you so much for sharing your root beer recipe. I can't wait to try it. I have a stand of sassafras trees and had thought to dig some roots, but since it's winter I may just get the extract for now.
Thanks again, and have a great week!
Toni

Vanssmomc said...

Thanks Jean for sharing the recipe. Where does one get dried sassafras and burdock root though? Will try though with just root beer extract from the store. Thanks, Cathy in Webster.

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Toni,

Glad you enjoy it. Will see that Jean gets your message.

Hope you have a great week, too,
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Cathy,
Happy you like it. Jean says she grows the sassafras and burdock. Will give her message.

Marilyn

Countryside Reflections said...

How interesting. I didn't know how root beer was made and It's really surprising. It sounds like a fun and easy thing to do, (unless you're making your own root beer extract, which sounds really involved). I'm going to look for root beer extract at the store.

Thanks for this recipe.
Doreen

New York State Of Mind said...

Good morning Doreen,

It tastes different than what you buy at the store, but I like it better than store bought. I never made it but got it at Jean's a few times. Will see that Jean gets your message.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Thought I would give everyone a Pierre report. He is taking his medicine and I am putting the stuff on his leg. Pierre is eating his meals and anything else he can beg out of me. He has been visited by his favorite friend, Greg, our maintenance man which lite up Pierre's day. Pierre still limps when he walks a lot like outside. He is coming along.

Marilyn

Willow's Quiet Corner said...

I would have never thought about making root beer! This sounds like fun to try! Thanks, Jean!

Glad to hear Pierre is coming along! Best wishes for a speedy recovery! I hope that neighbor starts taking better care of his animals and keeping them under control so this doesn't happen again!

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Willow's Quiet Corner,
I will see that Jean gets your message.

Thank you about Pierre. I haven't seen the guy across the street or his dogs so I couldn't give him the vet bill yet. Sure do hope he learns how to control them. Pierre is doing well. It doesn't upset Pierre as much as it does me.

Marilyn