Lime Ginger Ale

When I was a little girl, part of me didn't mind having the stomach flu because it meant that my mom would let me have Ginger Ale. I loved the stuff. I've always known that ginger was good for soothing an upset tummy, but apparently it has even more health benefits! Just check out these Top Ten Benefits of Ginger.

Because we're not too fond of high-fructose corn syrup at our house, I don't buy soda very often. Now that I have my own SodaStream, I like to experiment making healthier beverages. This week, I thought I'd try making some ginger syrup to make my own Ginger Ale. I took inspiration from Amy Green's recipe for Homemade Ginger Ale and Jessica Fisher's Simple Syrup to make my version. I store it in a glass flask in the fridge, and combine with sparkling water when I'm ready to enjoy it.

Lime Ginger Ale

1 cup water
1/4 cup ginger root, peeled & sliced (about a 2-inch piece)
1 cup sugar
juice of one lime (about 2 Tablespoons)
sparkling water

In a small saucepan, combine water and ginger root. Bring to a boil, cover, and remove from heat. Allow to steep for about one hour. Strain the infusion, and discard the ginger slices. Rinse out the saucepan, and return the ginger infusion to the pan. Add sugar and stir to dissolve over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and cool slightly. Add fresh lime juice and stir to combine. Cool and pour into a storage container. Store in fridge. To serve, combine sparkling water with a small amount of syrup to your desired taste.

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For other healthier recipes, be sure to check out Slightly Indulgent Tuesday at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free.