Cold Busters

These Cold Busters, made with elderberry are great during cold and flu season.  I pour the mixture into different shaped silicone molds which my girls love! If you don't have the silicone molds, pour the mixture into a glass baking dish, filling them about 1/2 inch up the sides, then cut into squares once the mixture has chilled and thickened.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried elderberries
1/2 cup unfiltered unsweetened organic apple juice (Apples are on the dirty dozen list so they are best to buy organic if possible.)
1/4 cup pomegranate juice concentrate
1 tsp pure lemon juice
1/4 cup unflavored gelatin (Great Lakes and Vital Proteins are both good brands. If you use the Great Lakes use 1 tbsp less than what is called for).
1/4 cup raw honey
1 (50 billion IU) dairy and gluten free probiotic capsule (I use Swanson brand).

Instructions:
1.  Place the elderberries in a pot with 1 cup of water.  Bring to boil and reduce heat.  Simmer with the lid on for 1 hour.
2.  Strain the elderberry juice through a fine-mesh sieve and return the juice to the pot. Discard the elderberries.
3.  Add the apple, pomegranate and lemon juice.
4.  Sprinkle the gelatin over the juice. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.
5.  Warm up the juice over medium heat until it is steaming, not boiling, then whisk until the gelatin has dissolved.
6. Let the mixture cool to room temperature and then whisk in the honey and the powder in the probiotic capsule.
7. Put your silicone molds on a cookie sheet for easy transportation. Use a turkey baster to fill the molds.  If the mixture begins to solidify before the molds are full, warm it up in the pot over low heat until it turns to liquid again.
8. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours, until set.  They should easily pop out.
9.  Enjoy!  Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.  They probably won't last that long though :)