Ginger Beer - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 lb fresh ginger
2 limes
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 gallon boiling water
1/2 teaspoon yeast

Preparation

Wash and then grind or grate the ginger, peel and all and place in a large bowl or pitcher.
Juice the limes and add the lime juice, the lime peels, the sugar and the cream of tartar to the ginger.
Pour the boiling water over the ginger mixture and allow to sit for at least two hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has cooled to room temperature.
Making sure the water is at room temperature (if it is too hot, it will kill the yeast), strain the mixture into a large pitcher or jar with a cover.
Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the strained liquid and let it sit uncovered for about five minutes so the yeast softens.
Now stir the mixture, cover it and leave it to sit at room temperature for 24 hours.
Strain again, chill and serve cold.
Note: This is not an overly sweet drink and not one in which you can substitute splenda for the sugar as the yeast feeds on the sugar.