So Tesco has banned Ribena. Whatever is the world coming to? What next? Are they going to ban cake? Turns out however that blackcurrant squash is incredibly easy to make and you can pass it off quite easily to the boys as being Ribena. Parents - one. Boys - nil. Makes up for the "hidden vegetable" pasta debacle.
Ingredients
450g Blackcurrants
500ml Water
250g Caster Sugar
1 Lemon
Method
Put the blackcurrants, water and caster sugar in a pan. Don't worry about removing any stalks. Simmer for 10 minutes. Then add the juice of the lemon, and the lemon skin. This will give the cordial a lovely taste. Simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes - until the liquid starts to become slightly thicker.
Strain the cordial through a fine sieve and pour into a sterilised bottle. I have used a wine bottle (don't judge). To sterilise a bottle simply give it a good thorough wash, then pop it in the oven to dry.
That's it. You won't miss Ribena at all, and can feel quite self righteous about it it all. Goes very well with sparkling water. And how about putting a splash in with a vodka and lemonade? You heard it here first.
My blackcurrants came from the fabulous Cammas Hall Fruit Farm in Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex. It's a great afternoon out for the family, with a wide variety of Pick Your Own fruit. www.chff.co.uk/
I believe we can still get Ribena here on the West Coast of Canada where I am but the price is prohibitive so I plan to make my own
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