Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka Cocktails

Ingredients

• 3 inches piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 lemon, zest of, finely grated
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 8 cups crushed ice
• 2 cups vodka
• 8 mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions

1. 1

   In a small saucepan, combine the sliced ginger with the water and sugar and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, then let the ginger syrup cool slightly. Transfer to a blender and puree. Strain the syrup into a large, shallow glass dish. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Cover and freeze the lemon-ginger syrup until firm, at least 4 hours.

2. 2

   Let the frozen lemon-ginger mixture stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Chop the mixture into large pieces. Put half of the pieces in a blender, add 4 cups of crushed ice and 1 cup of vodka and blend until slushy. Pour the vodka cocktail into 4 glasses, garnish each with a mint sprig and serve. Repeat with the remaining frozen lemon mixture, ice, vodka and mint sprigs. Serve at once.

3. 3

   MAKE AHEAD The lemon-ginger mixture can be frozen for up to 1 week.

4. 4

   NOTES

5. 5

   Cooking Club Tip: Peel ginger's thin and delicate skin by scraping down the root with a metal teaspoon. A spoon maneuvers around the nubs more easily than a pairing knife.