A Homemade Recipe for Ginger Ale

Whether the weather is hot or cool, ginger ale is the best drink to have on hand for many reasons. This refreshing drink has a subtle flavor that I love, although I'm not a huge fan of ginger flavoring. Ginger has many medicinal qualities and we always keep some on hand for nauseated tummies and for use when traveling to assist with motion sickness.

Let's begin making the ginger beer plant. There aren't too may ingredients and this 'plant' is easy to start and care for. Your children will love to help and watch it bubble into life.

Ingredients:

-I large glass jar with airtight seal.

-2 tsp ground ginger powder.

-1 pint cool, pre boiled water.

-3/4 ounce baker's yeast.

-4 tsp of cane sugar.

-10 raisins/sultanas.

-4 lemons

Method:

Begin by scolding the jar under hot water and place into the microwave for 1 minute. It's extremely important that your jar is sterilized before commencing.

-Warm the water so it is just lukewarm. It can't be too hot or it will 'kill' the yeast.

-Squeeze the juice of 4 lemons into the water filled jar.

-Next, drop in the raisins.

-Using a teaspoon now, gently sprinkle the next ingredients in the following order:-

3 tsp of ginger powder, 3/4 oz of bakers yeast, and last, slowly add the 4 tsp of sugar on top.

It's best to do this in order, since the weight of the sugar will send the powder and yeast to the bottom.

-Replace the lid and screw it on tight to seal.

-Sit your plant on a sunny window ledge, and leave for 4-5 days untouched. After about 2 days you will begin to see small bubbles rising up from the bottom of the jar.

-On day 6, remove the lid, you will now begin feeding your ginger plant. Each day add, again in this order:- 3/4 tsp of ginger powder, then 3 tsp of cane sugar.

-Replace the lid and repeat each day until day 10.

Bottling Your Ginger Ale:

I like to use glass bottles with caps which are gently hammered on. You may also recycle some plastic soft drink bottles, so long as the lids are still able to be fastened airtight.

- Using a large clean bucket, empty the contents of the plant into the bucket followed by 10 pints of lukewarm water, 2lbs cane sugar and juice of 6 lemons.

-Stir briskly, then have someone on hand to help you while you tip the contents through a piece of muslin or fine kitchen strainer into a second bucket.

-A siphoning device and a funnel can be bought from your hardware store which makes bottling easier.

Fill the bottles allowing a space at the tops of 2 clear inches. If you're using plastic bottles, you will know when the ginger ale is ready to drink by squeezing the empty gap near to the top of the bottle and it feels very hard to press.

-Store for at least 10 days before drinking, or until the plastic bottles feel tight as described above.

This drink has a very light alcohol content, so please be careful where your children are concerned. It can be enjoyed as is, with a slice of lemon and poured over crushed ice, sipped plain to ease stomach upset, or mixed with club soda and a shot of whiskey over cubed ice. It is also delicious added to a spiked punchbowl and garnished with fresh fruit.