Learn the secrets of soda at Toms River library

On Aug. 2 at 7 p.m., author Andrew Schloss will share soda-making secrets when he presents “Homemade Soda: 200 Recipes for Making and Using Fruit Sodas and Fizzy Juices, Sparkling Waters, Root Beers and Cola Brews, Herbal and Healing Waters, Floats and Other Carbonated Concoctions” at the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River.

“Homemade Soda” explains how making your own soda is easy and inexpensive. According to Schloss, the best part of making your own soda is that you control the sweetness level and ingredients, so you can create a drink that is exactly what you want. Using a few simple techniques, anyone can make beverages.

Schloss will demonstrate how to re-create the flavors of commercial soft drinks, and how to use homemade soda in desserts and adult cocktails. He is known by his readers and students for his inventive recipes and ability to explain technical aspects of cooking and entertaining in understandable terms.

He was nominated as Cooking Teacher of the Year in 2005 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and his popular articles have appeared in many publications, including Family Circle magazine. He is currently president of Culinary Generations Inc., a product development company that creates food products for major food manufacturers, and he is the former director of culinary quality for the Wood Company, where he oversaw culinary projects for health care, college, hospital and corporate dining accounts.

The Aug. 2 program is free and open to the public. To register, go online to the website at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call 732- 349-6200 or 609-971-0159.