Two Classic Beverages: Homemade Lemonade & Ginger Beer

Today we're going to make fresh lemonade and ginger beer, using just a few ingredients. perfect for enjoying a lovely picnic by the river with a dear friend, just don't let your boat capsize! We'll be starting 'the Wind in the Willows' next week, and I thought it'd be a wonderful idea to do a sort of companion recipe for each book we read. I hope you enjoy Ratty's excellent beverages! Remember: Always be Curiouser! ________________________________________________ Recipe Links: Lemonade: https://alwaysbecuriouser.com/rattys-... Ginger Beer: https://alwaysbecuriouser.com/rattys-... ________________________________________________ Lemonade: Ingredients: 1.4 liter (6 cups) Water, divided 200g (1 cup) Sugar 6 Lemons (approximately 236ml, or 1 cup juice) 1 Orange (approximately 900ml, or 1/4 cup juice) Steps: 1. Zest 2 lemons and the orange 2.Combine the zest from the orange and lemons with the sugar, rubbing together with your fingers until fragrant and the sugar has changed color 3. Combine sugar/zest mixture with 236ml (1cup) water in a small saucepan. Place over medium–low heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside and allow to cool completely 4. Squeeze the lemons and the oranges until you have approximately 236ml (1 cup) of lemon juice, and 90ml (1/4 cup) orange juice. More is fine! But you generally don’t want less, or you will want to lower how much water you use 5. Combine the lemon and orange juice in a pitcher 6. Strain the syrup, if wanted, into the pitcher with the orange and lemon juice 7. Add remaining1180ml (5 cups) water and stir well. 9. Taste for preference, add more juice or more water depending on prefered strength 10. Serve over ice, or chilled for several hours from the fridge. ________________________________________________ Ginger Beer: Ingredients: 200g (1 cup) Sugar 120ml (1/2 cup) Water 20g (approximately 2 Tablespoons) freshly grated Ginger 44ml (approximately 3 tablespoons) Lemon Juice, about 1 lemon 1656ml (7 cups) Water 1/8 teaspoon Active Dry Yeast, or Brewer’s Yeast (unless you do not plan to ferment) Steps: 1. Make your ginger syrup – Zest your lemon. Peel your ginger with the tip of a spoon and finely grate about 20grams (2 tablespoons). 2. Place sugar, zest, and grated ginger in a small saucepan with 120ml (1/2 cup) water over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally, until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to steep for at least 1 hour. 3. If you don’t want to ferment: Stop here. Strain the syrup into a bottle and store in the fridge. Add 2-4 tablespoons (depending on your desired strength) to a glass of water (flat or sparkling), or club soda with ice. 4. For Fermentation: Sprinkle yeast into a bottle or jar large enough to hold all your liquid, with a little head room. Add the syrup, lemon juice, and water 5. Stir, or cap your bottle/jar and shake until the yeast is dissolved 6. Place on a shelf, out of direct sunlight (not in the fridge, or your beverage won’t ferment properly) for 2-3 days, or until bubbles are achieved. Open the bottle/jar once a day to prevent too much pressure from building up 7. Once your preferred level of fermentation is reached, store in the fridge 8. Serve cold, and consume within 2 weeks Note: If you choose to ferment, you may have a small amount of alcohol form. This will be minimal, but keep in mind if serving to children, or others who are trying to avoid alcohol. If you are, you may want to skip fermenting and just use the syrup. ________________________________________________ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:46 How to Make Lemonade 10:00 Lemonade Taste Test 11:13 How to Make Ginger Beer 18:38 Ginger Beer Taste Test 22:47 Outro #recipe #lemonade #windinthewillows #gingerbeer #booktube #literature