May 1
2009

Homemade Shirley Temples (aka, How To Awaken Your Inner Kid)

in Uncategorized

I remember the first time I tasted a Shirley Temple. I was in the 7th grade and was eating at a restaurant called El Gato Gordo (The Fat Cat). It was an award luncheon for school and we were allowed to order whatever we wanted off of the menu, including drinks, and so I ordered a Shirley Temple. After one sip I was instantly in love. My first Shirley Temple was a simple one–just lemon-lime soda, grenadine syrup, and a maraschino cherry, but I still loved it.

(Grenadine, Orange Juice, Lemon-Lime Soda)

Some time later I had another Shirley Temple, and this time it was even better because it had orange juice in it. It has been years since I’ve had a Shirley Temple and I got a craving for one out of the blue the other day. I got the ingredients to make one, but decided to take it one step further by making my own grenadine syrup. You, of course, don’t have to make grenadine, you can just buy it (I like Rose’s Grenadine syrup), but I’m a food blogger, so I’m just a bit crazy like that.
When I mixed up my drink and took my first sip, I just had to giggle. Seriously, a Shirley Temple is a happy drink and just makes me feel like a kid. I love how the grenadine sinks to the bottom so that you get this pretty reddish orange layer on bottom that blushes up into orange at the top. I love the sweet tartness from the grenadine, the tang of the orange juice, and the fizz from the soda, and then finishing off by eating the cherry.
I think you need a good giggle today, so go make yourself a Shirley Temple–you deserve it.

Step #1: Make some simple syrup.

Simple Syrup
Makes approximately 1 3/4 cups

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water

1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved (liquid is fully translucent and not cloudy).

2.Allow mixture to cool, then pour into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid. The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Step #2: Make some grenadine.

Grenadine

1. Using 3:1 ratio (3 parts pomegranate juice to 1 part simple syrup), mix pomegranate juice and simple syrup together. For example, if you want 1 cup of grenadine, mix 3/4 cup pomegranate juice with 1/4 cup simple syrup.

2. Store refrigerated in a tightly-lidded jar. The grenadine will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Step #3: Mix your Shirley Temple and don’t forget to add a cherry!

FM’s Favorite Shirley Temple
Makes 1 serving

3/4 cup lemon-lime flavored soda
1/4 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp. grenadine syrup
1 maraschino cherry (or 2 if you’re like me)

1. In a glass, combine lemon-lime soda and orange juice.

2. Pour grenadine in and let it sink to the bottom.

3. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a straw for stirring.

Step #4: Drink up.

Step #5: Eat your cherry and giggle.

Starting Sunday: CUPCAKE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

Jenn May 1, 2009 at 1:56 pm

I love shirley temples. I usually get the ready made grenadine, I didn’t realize it was so easy to make. I’ll definitely be making my own from now on.

Reply

girlichef May 1, 2009 at 4:29 pm

Love it! Shirley Temples are fun :) I’ve never heard of one made with oj…I’ll have to try that. I always put a few extra cherries in mine…many giggles!

Reply

Bob May 1, 2009 at 6:42 pm

Heh, that’s awesome. :)

Reply

Jenny @ Nourished Kitchen May 1, 2009 at 9:39 pm

Yum! I recently introduced my son to Shirley Temples. It was cute to see him fall in love with them.

Reply

Merivelmoon May 2, 2009 at 10:02 am

This is great!!! I had my first Shirley Temple at a restaraunt called the Brown Derby at about the same age. I had not thought of them in years, this is a must make this weekend.
Cupcake Week?!?!
Oh, I can hardly wait!!! :D

Reply

LollyChops May 2, 2009 at 7:56 pm

I love these drinks! My dad basically makes them every time they comes over. We have never tried homemade grenadine before.. how totally easy and FUN!

Reply

pandemic May 3, 2009 at 10:23 am

I must be old… We used to get them at restaurants my grandfather would take us to. I loved looking at the sparkling glassware and in the candle lit interiors those restaurant rooms were exotic and magical places where everything was sort of shiny and beautiful. Our drinks were made from ginger ale (Schweppes makes the best) and grenadine with a cherry.

Reply

Tangled Noodle May 4, 2009 at 7:14 am

My first Shirley Temple was sometime in grade school (I can’t recall at what age exactly): my parents picked me up from a ballet lesson and we went to The Mill restaurant in Ottawa, CAN. I was too shy to order a drink so the waiter just smiled and returned with this delicious drink. I felt like such a grown-up . . . You have revived such a cherished memory! Thank you!!

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: