Homemade Ginger Ale

Serves 6

3 c. ginger, peeled and sliced
3 c. sugar
3 c. water
2 qts. soda water
lime wedges
4 mint sprigs

Mix ginger, sugar, and water in a saucepan and bring to a slow simmer. Reduce by half and strain. As the liquid cools it will become syrupy.

In a tall glass of ice, add mint sprig and a ratio of 1 part ginger syrup to 7 parts soda water. Squeeze a little juice from the lime, stir, and add a lime wedge to the drink.

Variations:
For a Ginger Ale Float, make the drink with chilled ginger ale and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. To make Ginger Candy, save the ginger slices that have been drained out of the syrup, coat them in sugar, spread on a sheet pan, and slowly let them dry out in a 225 degree oven for 3 hours. The slices will be dried, but still chewy.