Ingredients:
· 6 cups water
· 3 cups cane sugar
· 2 cups (4 medium to large roots) fresh ginger, peeled and chopped coarsely
· Small hot pepper, finely chopped (optional)
Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for an hour or so. The syrup will reduce somewhat—that’s OK. Remove the pan from the heat, and let the mixture cool. Pour it thorugh several layers of cheese-cloth to remove the chunks.
Store in a bottle in the refrigerator. To use, pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of syrup (to taste) into a glass, top with ice cubes, and fill the remainder of the glass with carbonated water. Stir well and garnish with a lemon or lime wedge or a chunk of candied ginger. This drink is very good for digestion or stomach upsets (minus the hot pepper and citrus garnish) and can boost the immune system.
This article was excerpted with permission from the book Urban Farm Projects: Making the Most of Your Money, Space, and Stuff, copyright 2014, I-5 Publishing, LLC. For more budget-friendly and environmentally conscience projects and recipes, pick up a copy today!
