Ginger Deer

Today I made homemade ginger beer and served it in a reindeer glass. During one minute of exhaustive internet research I learned that currently there is no difference between ginger ale and ginger beer. Both are non-alcoholic soft drinks made with a combination of ginger, sugar and club soda. I wanted something to drink out of my reindeer glasses, so because beer rhymes with deer, I'm calling my version ginger beer.

Just an aside to say one of my favorite things about Christmas is drinking out of my reindeer glasses. Aren't they great?

This is how I made ginger beer syrup:

• I took a six inch long piece of ginger and washed it off.
• I ran it through my juicer.
• I added the juice and all the shredded ginger left in the juicer's waste bin to two cups of boiling water.
• I added a half cup of blue agave syrup to the mix.
• I let it simmer for 10 minutes or so, stirring often.
• I strained it into a cute little bottle.

This is how you should make it:

• Chop ginger up in a food processor if you don't have a juicer. Or just chop it up if you don't have either.
• Add chopped ginger to two cups of boiling water.
• Add one cup of sugar to the mix. What was I thinking using agave syrup? Agave syrup is for health nut pussies. It also gave my ginger beer syrup a kind of malty taste. I don't mind it, but sugar would be better.
• Let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often. I'm impatient and could only hold out for 10 minutes.
• Strain it into whatever container you can find. You may not have the foresight to save old bottles like I did.

For the drink pictured:

• Add one tablespoon of ginger beer syrup to a reindeer glass full of ice. You can use other glasses, but it won't taste as Christmasy.
• Add club soda, or sparkling water to fill the glass. I used San Pellegrino.
• Taste and add more soda or syrup until you're happy with it.

Drink up. Ginger is good for you.