Celery Soda

It's the weekend.

For me, this means I've survived yet another week of graduate school and several overnight shifts at work.  This semester has been the hardest for me so far to adjust to.  I know that eventually it will all be worth it, but for now, cooking has become less of a little hobby and more of a therapeutic outlet and stress reliever.  I don't get to cook everyday anymore, so my weekends are my days to get in some quality time with my kitchen.

One of the things I've really come to enjoy over the last six or so months has been drying vegetables and herbs.  I grew a small herb garden last summer, and loved drying the herbs out to keep for the long winter.  It feels so good to incorporate an ingredient that you grew yourself when you're living in a season that doesn't let anything grow!  It just sort of makes it feel that much more homemade and personal.  

I love having a cabinet full of all sorts of delicious seasonings that I can use whenever I want, regardless of the season.  For instance, celery is super cheap and easy to find, but I still often find myself without it from time to time.  Either my schedule is too hectic and I've forgotten to pick some up with my groceries, or I've used it all up in soups, dinners or as a snack that I can take to work with me.  

When that happens, I look to my spice rack to see if I've got anything that might do in a pinch.  I bought my first house a few years ago, and my mother gave me all sorts of herbs and spices to fill my kitchen with.  I've had celery salt and celery seed in there for the longest time. but only just started using them in cooking as a celery substitute.  It seemed logical to me...

Now, I have a very large assortment of herbs and spices in my house, and many have been grown, dried and/or ground by me.  In addition to that, I've been experimenting with some other recipes that utilize the celery flavor.  I found this interesting recipe for celery soda that I decided to try.  I really anticipated that this would be incredibly gross.  I mean, celery soda?  You have to admit: It doesn't sound appealing.

So, imagine my surprise when I actually liked it!  It reminded me a bit of ginger ale or maybe birch beer, but more of an herb flavor.  I promise it doesn't taste like celery, but the celery seed is definitely a prominent flavor.

I never would have guessed I'd like something like this but it actually turned out really well.  I'm excited to see how I can maybe use celery soda as maybe a mixer with juice or maybe some alcoholic beverages!













Celery Soda
(adapted from Alton Brown)

2 cups sugar
1 cup water
2 tbsp Celery Seed

Soda water


Place sugar and water in a pot over medium heat and stir until all of the sugar has dissolved, making a simple syrup.  Remove from heat.

Add the celery seed to the pot and let steep for 2-3 hours.

Strain the seeds out of the syrup.  Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready for use.

To make the celery soda, stir 2 tbsp of syrup into 1 cup of soda water.

Serve over ice.