I am daydreaming of those lazy summers of my youth, where bicycle trips to the local library would reward me with global adventures, if only in my imagination. I was in 5th grade when I stumbled upon a tattered paperback copy of Five Fall Into Adventure, one of the volumes in the expansive Famous Five series by British children's author Enid Blyton. I may have been a shy and bookish girly girl reading in a pleather armchair in the basement of our Long Island home, but when I opened Five Fall Into Adventure, I was Georgina, the brave tomboy heroine my age, always on a quest for adventure (of course). Georgina, or George, as she insisted upon being addressed, spent her summers pedaling the English countryside with her cousins. It's been decades since I read the book, but I haven't forgotten the images of them taking rather civilized breaks from their sometimes dangerous dallyings to have a proper picnic of homemade sandwiches washed down with ginger beer. Beer? thought my incredulous 10 year old American mind-- kids drinking beer? It took me many years and a trip to the Caribbean to understand that ginger beer is a strong brew, but a non-alcoholic one.
So if you're looking for a refreshing cold drink for the 4th of July and want something a little more adventurous than the standard icy cold beer, have some ginger beer. Celebrate Independence with this non-alcoholic beverage enjoyed in the (other) former British colonies in the Caribbean. It has an intense zing, much more potent than ginger ale. Cheers!
Homebrewed Ginger Beer Recipe adapted from Naparima Girls’ high School Diamond Jubilee 1912-1987: Trinidad and Tobago Recipes, © 1988 Naparima Girls’ High School, San Fernando, Trinidad.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh ginger
1 lime
4 pints water
granulated white sugar, 1 to 2 pounds (to taste)
4 pints sparkling water
Technique
1. peel and grate the ginger root
2. juice the lime, and reserve the peel
3. place the above ingredients into a large jar with the water
4. place the jar in the sun for an entire day-- go out on your bicycle and fall into adventure!
5. strain out solids, and sweeten the liquid to taste
6. allow to settle in the refrigerator for 2 days
7. add sparkling water to taste or desired fizziness
_________________________________________________________________
Tired of the same old burgers and hot dogs? Here are a few twists to help you celebrate the 4th of July in style:
Looking for some other great books to magically transport your kids to other places and cultures? Take a look at my list of books to raise globally aware readers.
© 2011 Linda Shiue
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Kim Gamble
kmbearden
Spectrum Voice
Susie Lindau
Lauren B. Davis
racheld
Salon.com
Comments
Nice juice by the way - I can envisage millions of Americans making it and pouring it into cans to drink.
Well maybe not.
I'll try it but not on the 4th, wot wot.
Rated with an Ug.
and, of course, if you add a little Gosling's Black Seal rum, you have a Dark and Stormy, a perfect summer drink-drink. thanks!
@Creekend_UK, that is disappointing to hear. Reminds me of reading some of Roald Dahl's writing for adults and realizing maybe he did not have such a sanguine view of children either.
@Felicia, thanks! Happy 4th to you, too!
@clay ball, hope you enjoy it.
@Algis, curry goat roti is my husband's favorite food in the world. Do you make your own?
@Candace, thanks for the tip on the Dark and Stormy.
Thanks for clearing up the ginger beer mystery for me.
Have a great 4th!