Join Me in My Addiction!

Thank you for visiting my blog...and for allowing me to share with you my addiction. I love to collect recipes. I love to read cookbooks. I have been collecting recipes for as long as I can remember, and on any given day there are one or two (or more!) cookbooks residing on my nightstand!

This blog is chronicling my adventure as I fulfill my resolution of trying (at least) one new recipe each week. I hope that you enjoy!

I invite you to join me in my journey, simply by clicking the "Join this Site" link below. And please feel free to comment on any of the recipes, and pin away. Thanks, I look forward to sharing with you!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Italian Cream Soda

At the beginning of the summer, Ann at Sumptuous Spoonfuls shared the recipe for Very Berry Italian Cream Soda.  I picked it as one of my features from Scrumptious Sunday that week...how could I not?  Cream soda, my favourite soda from when I was a kid!  And her photos looked so tasty.  And it was the start of summer, and this summer I made sure we enjoyed all sorts of new summery beverages!  So, not too long after featuring the recipe, we made it....and well...the verdict is below!  Here is the recipe that I used (a little different than the original...we don't have mulberries here, and I didn't substitute any other berries):
Wonderful flavor in this italian cream soda!
Syrup:
Strawberries - approx 1 lb fresh - washed and cut up
Handful of fresh basil leaves - washed
1 cup water
1/2 cup - 3/4 cup sugar (sweeten to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a saucepan, put the strawberries, basil, water, sugar and vanilla.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Stir occasionally.  Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the berries break down, approximately 15 minutes.  The sauce will be bright red.  Strain the syrup (I strained a few times) and pour into a glass container.  Refrigerate. 

Once the syrup is cool, you are ready to make your cream soda!  Here is what you will need:

Glass
Ice
1/2 cup Club Soda
3 tablespoons syrup (we like ours sweet)
2 tablespoons half & half

Fill your glass with ice.  Add in the club soda and syrup.  Pour the cream over top (and like Ann tells us, watch the beautiful art that the cream makes in the glass!).  Stir, and enjoy!

VERDICT:
These were so so so tasty.  A hit with the whole family!  (well, the baby is too young to have soda)  Ann shared a winner!  We enjoyed several of these over the summer (thanks to a wonderful crop of strawberries and basil in our garden!). I liked mine a little more berry-ful than the orginal recipe - so I often used 3-4 tablespoons on the syrup in my soda.

16 comments:

  1. This cream soda sounds so good! I've never had one with fresh berries in it before! I can only imagine how wonderful that fresh syrup made these taste!
    Thank you so much for sharing this at Mom's Test Meal Mondays!

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  2. Love, love, love, Italian cram sodas. I am also, addicted to recipes.

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  3. How yummy! Thanks for sharing at Must Try MOnday!

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  4. Yumm! This looks so good. I love strawberries and can't wait to try this!

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  5. I could drink one of these year round! And my daughter would love the color and the fact that it's strawberry!!

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  6. Yum! Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
    -Nikki
    Come by ncmrsdye.blogspot.com for a visit sometime!

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  7. Wow, this looks super delicious and refreshing! Perfect for this late summer we're still having. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share next week. Have a great weekend.
    Michelle

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  8. Oh yum - love Italian Cream sodas!

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  9. This looks delicious. & love this colour...
    Found you via Foodtastic Friday party & I am your new follower…..
    Have a Great Week!!
    Regards
    Amy
    Food Corner
    http://www.foodssrilanka.blogspot.sg/


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  10. Saw your recipe link at the Country Cook Link Party #36. Looks delish. Love Italian Sodas!

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  11. Very refreshing and delicious, we would love this treat! Hope you are having a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  12. looks tasty and refreshing just what I need on a busy day

    come over and see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com and leave a comment letting me know if you like a post of mine

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  13. My mouth is watering! I've yet to try making an Italian soda, so I'm totally saving this. :) I would love to have you stop by 'Or so she says...' and share your great ideas at the Saturday link party (runs until Tuesday night...tonight!) I hope to see you there! www.oneshetwoshe.com

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  14. This sounds delicious! I'm totally pinning!!

    Thanks for joining Keep Calm & Link Up last week! We hope to see you again this Thursday evening! xo, Meredith @ www.waittilyourfathergetshome.com

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  15. I love Italian Soda and this one looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing on Blog Stalking Thursday. I have featured you with this week's party! Stop by to grab a feature button and wear it proudly. You deserve it! Thanks for sharing! http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/2012/10/blog-stalking-thursday-61.html

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  16. Ahhh this sounds divine! One of my favorites! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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