Ginger Lemonade

It has been absolutely wonderfully hot here in Minnesota the last couple weeks. After such a long cold Spring, I for one am loving it. Aside from making iced tea to keep cool I have to make Ginger Lemonade at least once during the summer. I’m not sure why I don’t make it more often. I guess I think it takes too long or something but it really doesn’t take all that long, especially if you have an electric citrus juicer.

The following is a recipe I cut out of the local newspaper years ago. I’m not sure what the original source is. The amount of fresh ginger can be altered to your tastes. It has a bit of a bite to it at full strength but I love it! Enjoy!

Ginger Lemonade

6 cups water, divided

1 ¼ cup sugar

¼ cup peeled, grated fresh ginger

1 ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (approx. 6 lg. lemons)

¼ cup fresh lime juice (approx. 1 lime)

Lemon and lime slices for garnishing, optional

Combine 1 cup water, sugar and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute or until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool.

Strain ginger mixture through a sieve into a pitcher, and discard solids. Add 5 cups water and juices and stir well. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon and/or lime slices. Makes 8 servings.

The Love of Vegetables

Where did this love begin? If I were to pick an age, I would have to say it began around age five. And if I were to pick a vegetable that began it all, I think it just might be peas.

I’m sure the memories grow fonder as I get older but I can remember shelling a big bowl of peas for dinner and eating almost as many raw as I put in the bowl. Not to mention the ones I ate while picking the peas in the first place. And it was always a contest to see who would find and eat the first of the season.

Growing up my parents always had a huge garden. I can still see tall cornstalks and sprawling cucumbers and zucchini against the black of the soil. We were fortunate at the time to live in a place with very rich black soil. I never appreciated it until I tried to plant my own garden as an adult and realized things don’t always grow well just by planting a seed and watering it. I don’t remember my parents buying vegetables much back then.

One day I hope to have a large garden. But until then I’m fortunate to live in a city with several farmer’s markets and grocery stores that carry organic food.

But I have to say, there is nothing that compares to a vegetable eaten within minutes or even seconds of being picked. And I do think everyone should get to enjoy the deliciousness of a fresh picked carrot, quickly rinsed and eaten with a little dirt still on it.