Mint Lemonade

Gently bruise the mint leaves using the back of a spoon.

Combine the sugar, water, lemon peel, and mint leaves in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is thick and syrupy.

Let the simple syrup cool, then strain out the mint leaves and lemon peel through a fine mesh strainer or several layers of cheesecloth.

Transfer the simple syrup to a covered jar.

Add the lemon juice to the syrup, cover the container, and shake well to mix. Let the mixture stand overnight in the refrigerator before using.

To make lemonade, add 1-2 tablespoons of the lemon-mint syrup to a glass. Add water or club soda and ice, to taste. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint, if desired.

The lemon-mint syrup also works well in cocktails.