Limeade

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup water
* 1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 tablespoon grated lime rind (about 2 limes)
* 1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice (about 13 limes)
* 7 cups ice water

Preparation

1. Bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in sugar and grated lime rind, stirring until sugar is dissolved; remove from heat. Stir in lime juice and ice water.

Pomegranate Lemonade

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup pomegranate juice (such as POM Wonderful)
• 2 1/2 cups water
• Crushed ice

Preparation

1. Combine sugar and lemon juice. Stir well to dissolve.

2. Pour lemon mixture and pomegranate juice into a pitcher, and stir well.

3. Add 2 1/2 cups water. Pour into 4 (8-ounce) glasses.

4. Add crushed ice as needed to each glass.

Watermelon With Basil Water

Ingredients

• 4 cups red or yellow seedless watermelon chunks (about 1/4 large melon)
• 6-8 large basil leaves
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 4 cups chilled water

Preparation

Combine watermelon chunks and basil leaves in a colander placed over a large bowl. Using a metal ladle or spoon, press watermelon to extract as much juice as possible. (The remaining pulp should be fairly dry.) Season the juice with sea salt and white wine vinegar, and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher. Add 4 cups chilled water, stir, and serve.

Homemade Ginger Ale

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup peeled, sliced fresh ginger
• 1 cup water
• 12 cups club soda, chilled
• 12 lemon slices or candied ginger pieces

Preparation

Combine the sugar, ginger, and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes; strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher, and cool. Add the club soda; garnish with lemon or candied ginger.

Note: Syrup can be made and refrigerated, then combined with soda 1 serving at a time, using 2 tablespoons syrup per 1 cup soda.