Drinks / Recipes

Homemade Simple Syrups!

06.03.15

Simple Syrup

It's a special day today…

It's simple syrup day!  (and it's sort of my 25th birthday?) 

UGH HOW DID I GET SO OLD?!

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We're literally going to talk about sugar and water (+ some fun flavors) on my birthday – because THAT is how boring I truly have become.

BUT.  BUT!  they're fun syrups and flavors.  and they're dangerous when combined with these lethal babies.  hooooo boy, look out.  What happened to my Saturday night last weekend?  I literally have no idea because i used blueberry simple syrup in my mojito and died.  Blueeeeeberry!  ugh let me tell you though.  if you use blueberry simple syrup AND blend up some fresh blueberries & strawberries and add them to the mojito recipe. 

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it's gorg. 

and also dangerous. 

but gorgeeeeee.

do it.

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But like.  blueberry isn't the only cool kid on the block today.  cause we're up-ing the ante with MINT.  oh yeah.  mint is a logical choice because, hello, i love it.  and also because um, it helps get that minty flavor throughout the mojito.  which is totally necessary.  so if you're going to make one simple syrup today make it mint!

but also make it blueberry.

and make it ginger?

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I don't DO logic guys.  while I'm sure a ginger mojito would be BANGIN, that's not what i use this stuff for.  i use it for my FAVORITE drink on the block: ya boi Moscow mule.  oh yeah. 

These babies have been in my life since meeting Deb (hi deb!) way back in 2012 – and i have NEVER looked back. 

we'll talk about my favorite Moscow mule recipe some day – but for know, just know that you can probably make a billion killer drinks with some ginger simple syrup. 

Killer.

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Here's what you SHOULD take away from this post: classic simple syrup.

Deb taught me many, MANY things that will continue on with me forever; but the two that stick out the most are how to roast a chicken AND the recipe for classic simple syrup.

swoon.

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BUTTTT you know i can't leave well enough alone, so I decided to trash this stuff up too.  duhhhh.

you can ALSO use these in your coffee!  shout out to dat cold brewwww. 

we've been BLOWING through cold brew ever since learning how to make it and liquid sugar is just the way to sweeten the pot (get it? coffee pot? no?  crap.)

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Print

Homemade Simple Syrups

  • Author: Ashley Renee
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
Scale

Ingredients

  • classic simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • blueberry simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries (or thawed out frozen blueberries)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • mint simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh mint (basically a palm full!)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • ginger simple syrup
  • 3/4–1 inch ginger root
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  1. classic simple syrup
  2. Whisk the sugar and water to combine in a small sauce pan over medium/high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium/low ( you want the mixture to be bubbling just a little bit!). Let the mixture simmer for about five minutes or so, the longer you let it simmer the thicker the syrup will be. Whisk the mixture every few minutes while it's simmering. Allow the syrup to cool and store in an air tight mixture for up to four weeks.
  3. blueberry simple syrup
  4. In your food processor, puree the blueberries. Combine the blueberry mixture, sugar, and water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium/high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, whisk it a few times while simmering. Remove the saucepan from the burner and allow to cool for five minutes. Once cooled, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth (or fine mesh sieve) and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
  5. mint simple syrup
  6. To start, you'll want to muddle your mint either using a mortar and pestle or the back of a spoon. Combine the mint, sugar, and water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium/high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Make sure to stir it at least once a minute. Remove the saucepan from the burner and allow to cool for five minutes. Once cooled, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth (or you can use a fine mesh sieve – or even just scoop out the mint using a spoon if you're working on the fly) and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
  7. ginger simple syrup
  8. Peel your ginger root and chop it into small pieces, somewhere in between dicing and mincing. Combine the ginger, sugar, and water in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium/high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Make sure to stir it at least once a minute. Remove the saucepan from the burner and allow to cool for five minutes. Once cooled, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth (again, you can use a fine mesh sieve – or just scoop out the ginger pieces using a spoon if you chopped them big enough) and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 1616
  • Sugar: 407
  • Sodium: 40
  • Fat: 1
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 416
  • Protein: 2
  • Cholesterol: 0

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aaaaaand now i can't stop singing maroon five.

treat yo self to a birfday cocktail (or twenty-five) on me/for me/whatever you need to justify it.

SUGAAAA, yes please!

Make it? Lemme see it! Hashtag it: #thepikeplacekitchen

Insty. Twittah. Lovingzeblogs. Pinnypins.

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Drinks / Recipes

Classic Mojitos

05.27.15

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Have you already decided on your go-to summer drink?

(say no.  SAY NO!)

oh thank goodness.  i was worried i would be too late.  

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because i'm comin in hot with mojitos.  YAAAAASSSS.  

these suckers are just classic and simple and freshhhhAHH.  (I literally do not know. i'm sorry.)

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fresh like mint and lime and just ughhh. i want one in my hand at all times.  ALL times. permanently.

is that a thing?

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if it's not it totally should be.

next week we're going to talk about different ways to TRASH THIS STUFF UP with different simple syrups I love.  so if you don't know how to make simple syrup don't worry, i've got your back.  i've gotchu.  you can buy the stuff at any grocery store, but let's be real: there's nooooo reason to do that.  make your own.  i promise it's worth it (and way better in general). 

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checkkkk ittt. since we're on the subject of how to make these cocktails perfectionnnnnn – please, please, please use fresh lime juice.  um and if you absolutely must use the store bought kind make sure it's not that sweetened crap.  nah, you want the sour stuff – that's why we add the simple syrup.  don't worrryyyy.  but also garnish with a few squeezed limes? yes.

have I steered you wrong yet?

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the thing with mojitos is that you have to be super careful.  one minute you're taking your first sip and the next second you're lying on the couch binging on the kardashians hoping your significant other loves you enough to go get bagels and turkey because CLEARLY that is the only way to survive.

survival of the fittest people.  EVOLUTION.

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I'm evolving to have a concealed IV of mojito delivered straight to my face.  

too much? let's move on.

I know you really came here to see a picture featuring frankie's beard while he GUZZLES down my drinks.  he's the worst.  but he's a good model.  apparently he has deemed himself “the executive pike place kitchen taste tester” …. i don't know anything anymore.  

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Print

Classic Mojito

  • Author: Ashley Renee
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Total Time: 5
Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 lime wedges
  • 15 fresh mint leaves
  • 4 oz simple syrup
  • 4 oz white rum
  • 2 oz lime juice
  • sparkling water or club soda

Instructions

  1. Fill two glasses with ice, the lime wedges and five mint leaves each.
  2. Add the remaining mint leaves, simple syrup, rum, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Shake over ice for approximately thirty seconds. Pour over the ice in the glasses.
  3. Top each glass off with the sparkling water or club soda.
  4. Stir and enjoy!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2
  • Calories: 310
  • Sugar: 15
  • Sodium: 55
  • Fat: 0
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 51
  • Protein: 1
  • Cholesterol: 0

so, about that permanent glass for the summer…

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