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Some things are just better when they're made from scratch
Some things are just better when they’re made from scratch… not to mention that making something with your own two hands provides such great satisfaction. Truly understanding the ingredients that go into your meals offers you a little more wiggle room when it comes to dietary and taste preferences. From scratch is the way to go.
I really don’t drink pop any more. In my youth, I was pretty addicted to aspartame, and scrapped any pop featuring the ingredient when I was in university. The new solution (especially while abstaining from alcohol) is to make a fun soda-based drink.
Here are three options that allow you to control the ingredient list and the amount of sugar required…
Classic and simple, ginger ale is so much better when it’s made with fresh ginger.
Peel ginger and slice into medallions
In a small pot, bring sugar and water to a boil. Add the ginger and remove from heat
Let steep for at least 30 minutes, and then strain the syrup into a container, discarding the ginger
Pour approximately 1 ounce of the syrup into a tall glass and top with carbonated water. (You can use less syrup if you just want a hint, or have a smaller glass. Test out how you like it!) The syrup should last for a week in the fridge
An excellent replacement for any of the lemon-lime flavoured soft drinks out there. The lemongrass is a fun twist, but if you can’t find it, you can always sub in some lemon juice or add lemon zest as well.
Restaurants and hotel lobbies are known to toss some combination of cucumbers, fruit, mint or other herbs into the water on offer. Well, this soda will give you that fresh and relaxing feeling of being at a spa, plus, if you top it with cucumbers, you get a crunchy little treat when you’re done!
In a pot, bring the water to a boil, turn down and add sugar, stirring until dissolved
Remove from heat and add ½ cup of the cucumber slices, the mint and basil. And let steep for 30 minutes
Strain the syrup into a container and discard the solids
To make the soda, add 1 ounce of the syrup (give or take as you prefer) and top with carbonated water
The syrup will last in the fridge for 1 week