Gingerade

I wanted to share this recipe with you when my friend Joan sent it to me back in September. It’s definitely a summer drink, but I’m thinking lemon and ginger are exactly what I need in the Pennsylvania winter. It can be served hot. I just love this photo. I picture Joan’s box bay window over her kitchen sink with that quintessential California tile and the view into the back yard. I think of her picking the lemons right off a lemon tree in the backyard because that’s what you do in Santa Cruz.

In PA they call this “Switchel” and it’s said to be a cure-all. The old Dutchie (Pennsylvania Dutch or “Deutsch”) men around here swear by it, that it gives you limitless energy and hydration when working in the fields all day and soothes muscle aches, probably from the apple cider vinegar. Be sure to use raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar with “The Mother.” I have never tried it but will be whipping some up soon.