the giving is good.

Cornelius found a small grocer near the library where he works that sells bottles of pop shoppe pop (an old beloved soda company from my childhood). We downed the pop (mmmm, black cherry!) and I decided to fill up the bottles with something of my own making. So part of my Christmas giving included bottles of ginger syrup. I made some labels with directions on how to make your own tasty gingerale or ginger beer and found the very necessary corks to stop the bottles. Yummers!

ps. Love the photo? It's taken with my very new digital camera, a Canon Powershot SD300! Cornelius gave me the best Christmas gift ever. Actually, I say that every year.

ginger syrup
3 c water
2 c sugar
1 large piece of ginger (just larger than the palm of your hand), cut into matchsticks
2 large lemons, juiced
rind from 2 lemons
a few cardamon pods
salt & pepper

Combine water and sugar in a saucepan and stir until sugar dissolves. Add ginger, lemon juice, rind, cardamon, salt & pepper. Bring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep overnight. Strain and chill. To serve, add 1/4 cup of syrup to a pretty glass and top with soda water and ice. It should keep for about a month in the fridge.