Ginger ale

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups chopped peeled ginger (7 ounces)
• 2 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• About 1 quart chilled seltzer or club soda
• About 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Preparation

Make syrup:
Cook ginger in water in a small saucepan at a low simmer, partially covered, 45 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, covered, 20 minutes.
Strain mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on ginger and then discarding. Return liquid to saucepan and add sugar and a pinch of salt, then heat over medium heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Chill syrup in a covered jar until cold.
Assemble drinks:
Mix ginger syrup with seltzer and lime juice (start with 1/4 cup syrup and 1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice per 3/4 cup seltzer, then adjust to taste).

Cooks' note: Ginger syrup keeps, chilled, 1 week.