Ginger Drink

(This recipe has been featured in the August, 2011 issue of A Healthy You).

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 24 hours or 20 minutes (choose your method)
Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh ginger root
• 2 quarts water
• juice of 2 limes
• maple syrup, stevia, honey or agave nectar to taste

Directions  (24 hr):

1. Thinly peel the fresh ginger, grate and mix with water in a large saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 4 minutes.
3. Cover the pan and turn off the heat; leave for 24 hours.
4. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve.
5. Add the lime juice and honey, maple syrup, or agave. Stir until dissolved. Serve chilled.

Directions  (20 minutes):

1. Thinly peel the fresh ginger, grate and mix with water in a large saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Cover the pan and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve.
5. Add the lime juice and honey, stevia, maple syrup, or agave. Stir until dissolved. Serve chilled.

If you don’t want to make a whole pound of ginger root, you don’t have to! Use a smaller piece of ginger (3-4 inches in length) in a small pot of water. The mixture will be concentrated, so you will need to add water before serving (to taste).  It is cooling and refreshing (with a snap).