Ginger Mint Lemonade

GINGER MINT LEMONADE

A new year, a new ME... How many times have we heard someone say this very popular phrase? 

Probably quite a few times and mostly this past week with New Year and all its resolutions everyone sets out to accomplish. Well, tell you the truth I haven’t really set myself a new years resolution, not because I don’t have things I want to improve about myself (like biting my nails, my nervous foot movements and anxiety episodes…amongst others) but mainly because I don’t feel ready to affront these “TICS”. I will eventually stop biting my nails and I know it, but when I wake up one morning and say, “today is THAT day”.

However, for now I have set myself a short-term resolution… FINISH THE BARCELONA MARATHON (42km, 21miles). My mom encouraged me to enroll, having enrolled herself first. She just finished the New York City Marathon under 5 hours, and is an inspiration to me in so many levels that I decided to push myself, mentally and physically, to affront this challenge with her. Besides the training it takes, I’ve become conscious of the importance of leading a healthy life style to conserve energy and feel better overall when I’m exercising. 

So, yesterday I decided to try an energizing and revitalizing beverage I recommend to everyone, mostly to the regular lemonade lovers. It’s the amazing Ginger Mint Lemonade. Easy to make and extremely delicious to drink!

Ingredients:

-        Mint Leaves (the fresher the better)

-        Lemons

-        Ginger Root

-        Sugar (I used white because I had ran out of brown sugar and hadn’t yet bought honey, but I suggest you use the later two rather than the white sugar)

You probably noticed the fact that I didn’t mention measurements or quantities, but unless it has to do with pastry and baked goods, I usually never use measuring cups. It’s mostly because I like doing it by eye. I do often put more salt, a bit less sugar or make something too spicy by accident, but that’s part of the essence of cooking, experimenting, becoming familiar with your ingredients and mostly loosing the fear to be creative and daring.

So, for this recipe in particular I just infused the mint leaves and ginger root (peeled and grated) in hot water. While you let this infuse for a few minutes, you can squeeze the lemons into the jar you’ll be using. Add some sugar to the lemon juice and pour the infused water into the jar through a strainer so that the chunks of ginger and leaves don’t fall in. Finish filling the jar with regular drinking water or for a twist add some sparkling water, let it cool, and Voilà! Your revitalizing beverage is ready to enjoy.

xx- Majo