Pomegranate Ginger Fizz with Homemade Grenadine Syrup (FAK Friday)

Pomegranate Ginger Fizz Cocktail (can be made alcohol-free, too) - this would be perfect for the holidays!

I’d like to propose a toast. A toast to the upcoming holidays, family and friends, and all the incredible things we have to be thankful for. I cannot tell you how lucky I feel, this year more than ever, to be living the life I’m living.

Two years ago, around this time, I was laying in a hospital bed with doctors and nurses eyeing my chart quizzically, with no real idea of what was wrong or how to proceed. I had been sick for the better part of a year, and was finally starting to feel better. I was feeling better, that is, right up until I found myself crumpled on the floor, shaking violently. Fine one minute, unable to move the next.

Up until this point, I thought I had already undergone all the tests they could throw at me — all the scans, and shots, and pokes, and prods — until the nurse wrote on the whiteboard on the wall of my room: spinal tap, IV antibiotics, (and later) surgery. 


Pomegranate Ginger Fizz Cocktail (can be made alcohol-free, too) - this would be perfect for the holidays!

The first thing they did was put me on a new strain of antibiotics… which they quickly discovered I was allergic to. The pain that filled my chest was incredible, as if a fire had been lit in my lungs and a boulder set on my chest, all at once. It started slow — what’s this, is it getting harder to breathe? — and then quickly escalated. I remember the nurse holding me firmly by the shoulders and telling me it was okay, the room suddenly filling with nurses and interns, my husband (back then he was only The Boyfriend) squeezing my hand in both of his, and somewhere in the back of the room my mother, quietly loosing her mind.

This must’ve lasted a good minute or so before the benadryl kicked in and relief flooded through my veins, but it felt like an eternity. I was screaming with what little air I had left, but in my head there was this calm voice telling me, it’s okay. Any minute now you’ll either pass out or die, and then everything will be okay. I wasn’t afraid, or sad, or confused… I just wanted it to stop.

And yet, I didn’t pass out, and (spoiler alert!) I didn’t die. Instead, the pain dissipated, and for a moment I thought, thank goodness! Now I can go home! … before remembering why I had come to the hospital in the first place. Before I knew it, I was on to the next test, the next drug, the next specialist…

After a solid week in the hospital, sleeping only with the help of the painkillers they gave me every four hours, things started to look up. Between some minor surgery and a lot of (other) antibiotics, my body was recovering from what they finally determined was an internal infection, and I was, at last, allowed to go home.

It was Christmas Eve.

Now, coming up to Thanksgiving almost a full two years later, I am more thankful than ever for what I have. My life. My health. My family and friends, and most of all, my incredible husband, who sat with me every moment I was in pain, or too incoherent to talk to the doctors. Who got me home, cooked me dinner, and helped bring me back to my full self again. Sometimes I think back and I don’t know if it was medicine that saved me, or him.

So, I would like to propose a toast. Here’s to life, and the people who make it wonderful. Here’s to not taking anything for granted. Cheers!

(And here’s to my mother, for not strangling the hospital intern who gave me that antibiotic.)

Pomegranate Ginger Fizz Cocktail (can be made alcohol-free, too) - this would be perfect for the holidays!

As you may have noticed, I’m not a huge drinker. In fact, this is the first cocktail I’ve shared — but you can bet it’s a good one!

Every now and then, and especially around the holidays, I like to have a little something to sip on. Actually, what I really like is when other people have drinks, and I can taste them all. I enjoy savoring all the little nuances of different liquors, without having to commit to a full glass. Every once and a while, though, something comes along that is so good, I have to have one all to myself. Or two.

Meet the Pomegranate Ginger Fizz. A sparkling, festive twist on a margarita. I keep seeing cranberry cocktails popping up for the holidays, but since this is pomegranate week (and since pomegranates are so underrated around the holidays), I knew I had to make them center stage.

Oh, and for those non-alcohol drinkers and kids at the holidays, these are just as delicious without the booze. There’s no reason everyone can’t enjoy them!

The first step to making this drink, is homemade Grenadine Syrup.

Easy Homemade Grenadine Syrup, and a recipe for Pomegranate Ginger Fizz

Grenadine is probably most famous for its appearance in the classic Shirley Temple, or for lending its bright color to a Tequila Sunrise. Most people seem to think it is a cherry flavored syrup, but really it is made from pomegranates (grenade is the French word for pomegranate). Or, I should say, it used to be made from pomegranates.

Now a’days, store-bought grenadine is composed of high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, flavorings, and dyes… mm-mm! This reminds me of the maraschino cherries I wrote about a couple of months ago. Why must we take such good, simple products and replace them with chemical substitutes? I will never understand this.

Luckily for us, grenadine is incredibly simple to make at home. Here are five reasons you should:

  1. it’s inexpensive
  2. it’s quick and easy (only a few ingredients)
  3. you can control the level of sweetness and play with the flavors
  4. impress your friends!
  5. contains no corn syrup, preservatives, artificial flavors, or dyes

Oh… and it’s delicious! If you think grenadine is only for cocktails, think again. It would also be great over ice cream, in a pie filling, or whisked into a homemade vinaigrette. Of course, cocktails are always good, too…

Easy Homemade Grenadine Syrup, and a recipe for Pomegranate Ginger Fizz
Pomegranate Rubies | Will Cook For Friends

Here’s what you’ll need…

Homemade Grenadine Syrup
Makes about 3/4 cup

1 cup pomegranate juice (fresh, or store-bought — be sure to look for 100% unsweetened pomegranate juice)
1/2-3/4 cup granulated sugar (I like mine a little tart with just 1/2 cup sugar, but you can increase this if you’d like)
1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Method
1.   In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the pomegranate juice and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, or until thickened just enough to coat the back of a spoon. You can also test the syrup by drizzling a small amount onto a cool plate, and tipping the plate to the side, or running your finger through the syrup to check the consistency.
2.   Remove from heat, and stir in the lemon juice (this will bring back some of the zing that fresh pomegranates have).
3.   Let cool, and store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a few weeks.

Notes: there are a lot of recipes out there which call for pomegranate molasses, orange blossom water, or hibiscus flowers to be added to the syrup. I prefer to keep my grenadine simple, and add other flavors later, but feel free to add a little bit of whatever sounds good. That’s the beauty of making things from scratch!

Pomegranate Ginger Fizz Cocktail (can be made alcohol-free, too) - this would be perfect for the holidays!

Pomegranate Ginger Fizz
Ingredients per serving – easily doubled, tripled, etc.

1 oz. (2 TBSP) homemade grenadine (recipe above)
1-2 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 oz. white tequila*
1/2-1 oz. orange liquor, such as grand marnier *
1/2-3/4 cup cold ginger ale, to taste
Fresh pomegranate arils (seeds), lime wedges, or mint leaves, for garnish
Wedge of lime and granulated sugar, for rimming glasses (optional – doesn’t it look like Santa’s hat?)
Ice

*can be increased or decrease if you prefer your drink stronger or weaker. To make these kid-friendly, leave the alcohol out all together.

Method
1.   (Optional) To rim the glass, rub a wedge of lime around the rim, then dip the glass, upside down, into a shallow dish of sugar.
2.   In the bottom of the glass, mix together the grenadine, lime juice, and liquors. Add the ice.
3.   Slowly pour in the ginger ale. To create a pink gradient (where the color is darker at the bottom of the cup and lighter at the top), hold a spoon inside the glass, upside down, and pour the ginger ale over it slowly. (This makes a nice presentation, and can be stirred before drinking).
4.   Garnish with fresh pomegranate arils, lime, or mint leaves. Serve!

Notes: if you want to mix this drink for a crowd, you could easily triple or quadruple the recipe, shake the grenadine, lime juice, and liquors with ice, pour, and top with ginger ale and garnish.

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27 Responses to Pomegranate Ginger Fizz with Homemade Grenadine Syrup (FAK Friday)

  1. Two Red Bowls November 23, 2013 at 5:33 am #

    That sounds unbelievably frightening. I’m so glad that you came out of it safely (I laughed at “spoiler alert!”) and were able to share this stunning cocktail with us! I love the shot of the grenadine and pomegranate — gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and this recipe. Cheers to you too :)

    • Willow Arlen November 23, 2013 at 4:56 pm #

      Thanks! It was definitely a harrowing experience… even now, it’s hard to look back on. In the end, though, I think it has made me a stronger person in many ways, and has definitely given me a new appreciation for life!

  2. Mellissa Sevigny November 23, 2013 at 12:59 pm #

    These photos – amazing! So happy for you that you are finally well again and able to post yummy drinks for us to try! Thanks for the tip about grenadine, I’m embarrassed to say that I never knew it was made from pomegranates before – now I can’t wait to try making my own. Also, did you make those labels yourself, because they are gorgeous!?

    • Willow Arlen November 23, 2013 at 4:57 pm #

      Thanks, Melissa! That’s okay — I wasn’t sure what it was for a long time, either. (As a kid, my Shirley Temples always consisted of maraschino cherry juice). But now that I’ve made it myself, I’m never going back!

  3. mimi rippee November 23, 2013 at 12:59 pm #

    Oh my. These look beautiful and festive, if only I could get pomegranates where I live… I would definitely make the grenadine!

    • Willow Arlen November 23, 2013 at 4:57 pm #

      Fresh pomegranates aren’t necessary. Can you find pomegranate juice? If not, I’m sure you could order it online. Just be sure it’s 100% unsweetened juice, with nothing else added. :)

  4. Maria November 23, 2013 at 2:02 pm #

    Gorgeous photos. You have some stellar ones on the site, but these are stunningly gorgeous.

  5. Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes November 23, 2013 at 2:24 pm #

    This is brilliant! What an amazing gift this would make too :)

    Your account of the Hospital stay reminded me so much of my own, at the tail end of 2010 I was Hospitalized for 7 days (through New Years Eve ~ YAY where I too was hooked up to IV’s slept sporadically with the help if Ambien and was only allowed a diet of apple juice and Popsicles…..the hardest part was being 2 hours away from my family- my Mom is a super hero and came to visit me everyday {props to her also for not strangling a few Interns during my stay} – after being sick for so long a day never goes by that I am Thankful for my Health and strength.

    • Willow Arlen November 23, 2013 at 5:01 pm #

      You are so right – the grenadine would be an awesome holiday gift!

      I knew you’d had a similar experience, but wow, I didn’t realize just how similar! I guess I’m lucky I was able to eat more than apple juice and popsicle (although, there was about a day and a half where I wasn’t allowed to eat anything at all, due to some of the tests and scans they were running). Anyway, at least we have a better appreciation for life, now, right? :P

  6. Molly (Yes to Yolks) November 23, 2013 at 9:30 pm #

    Wow, these are absolutely gorgeous! Both the drinks themselves and the photos! Love them. I’m adding this to my list of wintery cocktails.

  7. Oge | health food delivery November 23, 2013 at 11:31 pm #

    Thanks Willow for sharing your experience, this amazing recipe and these gorgeous pictures! So perfect for the season. I am very glad that you are healthy now. Cheers to your good health with this festive drink.

  8. Cheryl Hurley November 24, 2013 at 11:11 pm #

    I had NO idea grenadine was so easy or cheap to make! I figured it would involved squeezing out fresh pomegranates.. but you could probably get away with a smaller bottle of POM for this. You really go all out–I love the label you attached–and I adore it. The photos are just fab! I’m so in love with this post :) Stellar narrative of your story too – I’m so happy you’re better!

  9. shannon @ a periodic table November 25, 2013 at 8:54 pm #

    Here, here, Willow: i had a wee spontaneous cry just then over your story. Obviously i knew some of the basics of it from your first answer to the just one question project, but the details really made my heart heart. I hate that you had to go through that: it must have been just beyond anything i could imagine, and i am so happy you made it through (and with such a beautiful attitude towards life). Cheers also to the Husband who stood by you; that’s a good man who would do that. :)
    being a mother, that statement about her not strangling the person who ordered that antibiotic is not exaggerated. i will unleash a fury unknown to most when something happens to the Wee One and i want to blame someone.
    in other news, homemade grenadine! definitely on my list to make. I want to start messing with infusing liquor and making homemade syrups and things, and this would actually be a great place to start the process. i love it. beautiful right now for the holidays too. and i love the whole ginger fizz concept: obviously i love ginger, and that and pom together? crazy good.

    • Willow Arlen November 26, 2013 at 6:41 am #

      Thank you, Shannon! It was definitely not the greatest week of my life, but it’s something I look back on with a lot of respect for. It’s helped make me who I am, and has given me a better appreciation for life. I also look back on it almost fondly, sometimes, because it was such a clear and breathtaking moment of realization to know how much love T-Hubs had for me… we had only been dating for several months, and all of a sudden we had this challenge to face. Not everyone would have stuck around, none the less been so caring and supportive, as he was. :)

  10. Tanya-Lemonsforlulu.com November 26, 2013 at 11:52 am #

    Wow Willow! Cheers to you! That was quite and experience and a reminder that we all have so much to be thankful for! I’m certainly thankful to have met you! If I hadn’t, I might not have seen this beautiful fizz! Your pictures are beautiful Willow.

  11. movita beaucoup November 26, 2013 at 12:20 pm #

    As I lay here in bed with my morning coffee, I raise my mug to you! I’m so glad to have you infusing my life with beautiful images and words – inspiration, thankfulness, kindness – all things we should lap up on the daily…

  12. Amy @ Elephant Eats November 26, 2013 at 5:05 pm #

    Wow, what a horrible ordeal to have gone through. I’m so so glad that you’re healthy this year and that it’s all behind you. Cheers to health and happiness with this gorgeous drink!!!

  13. Hausen November 26, 2013 at 5:51 pm #

    Wow – what a horrific time in your life. So glad that you are here today to look back on it and use it to really appreciate the good things in life!

    Also, love that you made homemade grenadine in this recipe instead of buying the sugary store bought stuff!

  14. DessertForTwo December 2, 2013 at 3:41 pm #

    Oh wow, I had no idea what you went through :( I’m sorry. I’m so glad you’re feeling better and blogging and sharing your awesome recipes and photography with the world.

    I’ve always wanted to make homemade grenadine–thanks for the push! :)

  15. Sarah January 16, 2016 at 11:38 pm #

    Your photos are gorgeous!! I love this idea for my pomegranate seeds.. I start to run out of things to do with them

    • Willow Arlen January 17, 2016 at 1:00 am #

      Thank you, Sarah! I love pomegranate seeds in drinks (even just sparkling juice or ginger ale). I hope you try it!

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