Cinnamon Grape Vinegar or Shrub

A great holiday gift, perhaps in a pretty glass bottle! Shrubs can detoxify the liver, lower cholesterol, maintain alkaline PH and balance blood sugars. It is a delicious way to add sweetness and acid to any cocktail or non-alcoholic summer beverage. You create a syrup by macerating fruit ( or vegetables) with sugar, and then fortify it with vinegar ( or alcohol) , which not only helps preserve, but continues to work with the sugars, and over time, creates complexity while mellowing and melding into a wonderful concoction.

Ingredients:

• 1 pint white vinegar

• 1 cup home grown grapes

• 1 stick cinnamon

• 1 pint mason jar

Here's How for Vinegar:

1. Place washed whole grapes in pint jar with cinnamon stick and fill with vinegar.

2. Cover and let sit on the counter for 30-60 days.

3. Strain liquid and use as you would any vinegar; especially delicious in salad dressings.

Here’s How for Shrub:

1. Place vinegar in small heavy sauce pan and bring to simmer.

2. Add 1/2 -1 cup sugar, stir until dissolved and simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Pour into bottles and use as seasoning for cooking, or drizzle vinegar into a glass of sparkling water and enjoy as a non-alcoholic cocktail.