Pomegranate Molasses and a Gift Idea

Pomegranate Molasses is hardly new. It has been a popular ingredient in the Middle East for a long time. However, it is relatively new to western cuisine and I see it appear in more and more recipes.

It is also more readily available in many Eastern and Asian markets. But for quite a few,  it is still not that easy to get it. Pomegranate juice on the other hand is available pretty much anywhere these days!

If you’ve been wanting to try recipes with this delectable “mystery” ingredient but couldn’t find it anywhere – it is really easy to make yourself! It’s really just a boiled down, syrupy version of pomegranate juice!

Ingredients:

{Yields about 1 1/2 cups of Pomegranate Molasses.}

• 4 cups of Pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• juice of 1 lemon

Preparation:

In a heavy saucepan, mix all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Stir until all the sugar is dissolved. When the mixture is boiling, reduce heat to medium-high and simmer for about 1 hour or until it is reduced to about  1  1/2 cups of molasses.

Cool a little in the saucepan. Transfer to a jar and keep in the refrigerator.

The molasses will further thicken a little after it cools!

And that’s all there is to it!

Since it is the season for giving and all that, ways to make inexpensive gifts are always on my mind. Since Pomegranate Molasses is really quite yummy and versatile in all sorts of recipes, or just as a drink, it really lends itself as a Christmas or Hostess gift!

Just add a decorative bottle, some glass etching and some decorative “wrapping’ touches and you have a very sweet gift! Literally!

Here’s how it went down:

I got a few very cute and very new bottles at my last trip to Goodwill.

First I designed my etching template in the Silhouette Craft Cutter software.

I let the machine do it’s thing, removed all the writing so I was left with the outline as a template for my etching.

I applied the vinyl to the bottle and applied a generous coat of etching cream.

After about 8 minutes I rinsed the etching cream off with plenty of water, removed the vinyl and rinsed some more.

 

Then I filled the bottle with the molasses and tied a Mercury Glass Star and some branches around the bottle neck.

And that was it! I will add a little tag later with Christmas wishes and the instruction to keep the molasses refrigerated.

 

I will be linking this project to many of the link parties over on the side bar.

Please visit them for some awesome craft projects!