Mint Punch

This is a refreshing, grown up sort of lemonade.  It makes a concentrate syrup which will last in your fridge for a couple of weeks.  My kids like this, but I make it as a personal treat for me.  I have to tell a sad tale however about photographing this.  I do not own a glass for lemonade.  My friend Molly always teases me about my "fancy" glasses.  She is referring to the vast assortment of plastic, child friendly drinking vessels that cannot actually be considered a "glass" which make up my entire collection.  Therefore, I really have nothing to photograph to suggest to you how nice a tall glass of this can be.  Someone pour a glassful and send me a photo!  Molly?

Mint Punch

for the syrup:
2 1/2 c. water
2 c. sugar
Combine in a sauce pan and boil for 10 min.  In a separate bowl combine:
2 c. fresh mint leaves and stems (washed, roughly chopped)
juice of 6 lemons
zest from 2 lemons
zest and juice from 2 oranges
Pour boiling syrup over the mint leaves mixture.  Cover and let cool.  Strain syrup through a mesh sieve.  To serve, add 2-3 Tbsp. of syrup to a glass and fill with Sprite or ginger ale.  Add ice.  You can adjust the syrup ratio to your taste, but start small, as it is pretty strong.  Store this in the refrigerator.

Pull a chair under a shady tree, sit down with a book and your punch and enjoy summer!
Jenny