MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

     Title: Homemade Sassafras Root Beer
Categories: Beverages, Herbs
     Yield: 5 Pints

          Several roots; (including
          - some green stems) from
          - sassafras saplings, about
          - 30-40 inches worth of 1/4"
          - thick roots-enough to fill
          - one cup when you chop them
          - in 1/2" pieces)
     4 c  Water
     2    Cloves
   1/2 ts Anise seeds; can sub fennel
     4    Allspice berries
     1    (1") stick cinnamon
   1/4 c  Molasses
     1 c  Sugar
     2 qt Soda water

 Scrub the roots clean of any dirt. Cut the roots into
 1/2" long pieces. (The roots can be tough, if you have
 a pair of pruning shears, they work great to cut the
 roots.) If you have a few green stems, you can include
 them too, but you should have mostly roots. Cut up as much
 as you need to fill one cup. Put the roots into a small
 pot and cover with 4 cups of water. Add the cloves, anise
 seeds, allspice berries, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a
 boil, reduce to a simmer, and simmer for 25 minutes. Add
 the molasses and simmer for 5 minutes more. Remove from
 heat.

 Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve lined with
 a paper towel. Rinse out the pot. Return the liquid to the
 pot. Add the sugar, heat until just a simmer and the sugar
 has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.

 To assemble the root beer, fill a glass with ice cubes,
 add the syrup and soda water in a 1:2 ratio, so 1/3 cup of
 syrup to 2/3 cups of soda water. Add more soda water if
 you want it more diluted, add more syrup if you want it
 stronger.

 From: http://www.simplyrecipes.com

 Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives

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