With the onset of winter and the fear of getting the flu at the moment for obvious reasons. I suggest we pump ourselves with Vitamin C and drink loads of ginger drinks.
We all know that ginger is good for fighting colds, but why?
So, I thought I would do a little research and I have now come to realise that ginger really is a superfood!
Check this out.
Ginger contains gingerol, a substance with powerful medicinal properties. It has powerful (they use this word allot on google searches) anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
Helps with nausea and morning sickness
Helps Reduce muscle pain. I need this after the cooking classes!
Drastically! (love that word) lowers blood sugars
Improves heart disease risk
Lowers cholesterol levels
And it goes on and on!
We all need to eat more ginger. Ginger and beef, Ginger smoothies, Ginger and chicken! Hey, just head down to your local Chinese and order pretty much anything and it will probably be packed full of ginger. Maybe that says something about their cuisine. Very clever!
So this week I bring you a ginger syrup, this can be served hot or cold but I would go with hot with a little nip of whiskey just to make sure you keep those bugs away!
Ginger syrup
- 2 large knobs of ginger (approx. 6cm each), roughly chopped
- 4 Tbsp honey
- 3 cups of water
- 3 lemons
- soda water
- a handful of fresh mint leaves to serve
In a heavy-based saucepan place the ginger, honey and water. Squeeze the juice of 2 of the lemons into the mix and add the skins. Bring to the boil, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Let the mixture infuse for at least an hour before serving.
Mix 1 part ginger syrup with 4 parts soda water and serve with fresh mint leaves and sliced lemon.