Mint Lime-ade

from cheap, healthy, good:

1 cup of fresh lime juice (approx. 6 limes)
¾ cup sugar*
1 medium bunch fresh mint, washed and torn or chopped (reserve a few sprigs for garnish)
7 ¼ cups water

1) Start with the simple syrup. It’s the key to the whole shebang. And it has to cool, so it’s best to let it while you’re juicing limes. In a small saucepan, bring to a boil 1 ¼ cups of water. Stir in sugar until it dissolves; add chopped mint. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. (The extra ¼ cup of water will boil off while simmering.) This is not an exact science. When it smells good and minty, turn off the burner and let the syrup cool, at first on the stove top, then move to fridge.

2) Juice the limes and add to pitcher. Add 6 cups of water and chill in fridge while mint syrup continues to cool.

3) When the syrup is cool, strain the mint and add to the pitcher.

4) Stir and garnish with mint leaves.