If you don’t know what simple syrup is, it’s just a mixture of sugar and water….equal parts. So, in other words, if you use 1 cup of sugar, you would add 1 cup of water. Many restaurants and bars use it to sweeten drinks, rather than adding sugar. Sugar granules take awhile to dissolve, whereas simple syrup mixes right in, since its liquid. Bakeries brush it on cakes to keep cakes moist. You can flavor (infuse) the water sugar mixture with just about anything. Some of the flavors that I have made, are coconut, lime, lemon, raspberry, cinnamon, chili, and my all time favorite…….ginger…..fresh ginger. If you follow my blog, I guess you know by now, how much I LOVE ginger. This batch that I just made, is lemon ginger. Oh yummmm. I love to mix it in my iced tea. So refreshing and delicious. Simple syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about a month. But you will use it long before that!

So, let me give you some ideas as to what you can do with simple syrup.

– add it to hot or cold tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages
– drizzle over fresh fruit or salad
– moisten cakes…poke holes all over a cake and drizzle on the simple syrup, or you can brush it on. Gives the cake great flavor and keeps it moist
– brush over chicken or fish
– did I mention mixing it with alcoholic beverages? oh, yeah, I guess I did. 🙂
This makes great gifts too. Pour it in some pretty little bottles and add some ribbon. Pair it up with a bottle of vodka, rum, or even a box of tea, in a gift basket.
It’s really great stuff.

Lemon Ginger Simple Syrup

2 cups sugar
2 cups of  water
Zest of 2 or 3 lemons (depending on size of lemons)
2 Tblsp fresh grated  or sliced ginger

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients. Cook on medium heat, just until the sugar is dissolved, turn off heat.  Allow to sit covered, for a few hours. The longer it sits, the more intense the flavor is. But you don’t have to flavor your simple syrup at all.