Homemade Ginger-Peach Soda

I found this recipe while flipping through a Country Living magazine a few weeks ago and just had to give it a try. I'm glad I did because it's delicious! Here's how to make your own...

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh minced ginger
• 2 very ripe peaches, pitted and thinly sliced
• 2 liters seltzer, chilled
• fresh mint leaves, for garnish

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, bring 1 cup water, sugar, and ginger to a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, cover, and steep for about 30 minutes. Over a medium bowl, pour simple syrup through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing minced ginger against sieve with the back of a spoon to extract flavor. Discard ginger. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until well chilled.

Evenly distribute peach slices among 8 glasses. For each glass, lightly press peaches with the back of a wooden spoon to release their juice. Pour about 2 tablespoons chilled syrup over peaches. Add ice cubes then top with seltzer. Stir to distribute syrup, peach juice, and seltzer evenly. Garnish with 2 mint leaves. Remaining syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Add some vodka or rum to give these drinks a kick!