Seattle is known for it’s 9 months of rain and grey, but we are rewarded with beautiful, almost Mediterranean summers that make up for the 9 months of Ragnorok. Because it is so temperate here, most of the homes in Seattle are not outfitted with air conditioning, and almost none of them have true basements.
Yesterday was a record setting 94 degrees, so the fans were working overtime, and I had my first summer fantasy of checking into a hotel with air conditioning. (This happens at least once per summer). While the house was still cool in the morning, I whipped up a lemon ginger and maple simple syrup and mixed in some seltzer. It’s a great alternative to ginger ale with sugar, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners. (And if you are drinking it in the evening, it makes a lovely cocktail with the adult beverage of your choice. I don’t think it’s so paleo when you do that, though.)
1 finely grated thumb of ginger
3 lemons, juiced
3 cups water
1/4 cup maple syrup (or more or less, to taste)
Bring all ingredients to a boil, and then down to a simmer, stirring occasionally so the ginger doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pot. Reduce to your desired consistency. (I like to take mine way down to a thick syrup, but when you are mixing it with water or booze, it might not matter as much.)
Another Damn Cooking Blog 