Celery Shrub Recipes

SUMMER FRUIT SHRUB

Steps:

• Mix fruit and sugar in a glass or other nonplastic bowl, breaking apart or mashing the fruit to bring out its juices. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Stir the mixture well, add vinegar and chill. The shrub can be strained and used at this point, but it will take on more of the characteristics of the fruit if it sits for a few days. When ready to use, stir well to make sure sugar is dissolved, then strain using a fine sieve, pressing the solids to get all of the juice.
• Pour the mixture into a clean Mason jar or funnel into a glass bottle with a stopper or cork.
• To prepare a drink, add 1 part shrub to 2 or 3 parts seltzer or ginger beer and serve over ice.

CELERY SHRUB

Steps:

• Wash celery stalks and, if necessary, scrub with a vegetable brush to remove dirt. Cut the stalks into 1-inch pieces.
• Add celery to blender and cover with about ½ cup water.
• Start the blender on low, and as the celery starts to get chopped up, turn the speed up to purée. If, after about 30 seconds, the mixture is still very thick and chunky, add a little more water.
• Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl. Line with a piece of cheesecloth if desired. Pour the celery mixture through the strainer. Press or squeeze the celery puree to express the juice into the bowl.
• Pour celery juice into a sanitized jar. Add sugar and cider vinegar. Cap the jar and shake to combine. Refrigerate, shaking well every other day or so to dissolve sugar.