Guest Author - Melinda Thompson

This simple sugar recipe can be used to sweeten any cocktail or beverage. It can be added to any cocktail when you prefer to add a little sweetness. It is also perfect for tea, coffee and lemonade.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of sugar

Preparation:

1. Mix 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir.
2. Mix well.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently.
4. When the sugar has completely dissolved, remove from heat.
5. Let the mixture completely cool.
6. Place in a container and refrigerate.

Simple syrup cocktail tips:

• Add a dash of flavoring or extract to your simple syrup mixture to make the perfect gourmet simple syrup. Add vanilla bean, almond extract, strawberry or any of your favorite flavors.
• If you need sugar free simple syrup simply use 1 cup of splenda in place of 1 cup of sugar.
• If you don't like to use the stove, simple syrup can be purchased at many gourmet stores in a variety of flavors including sugar free.
  
  I have several different favorite flavors that I keep on hand. I buy them at various places including online. I found a few examples of some of my favorite flavors at Amazon.
  
  My favorite flavor for a coffee cocktail is coconut extract. I add a dash to 6 ounces of coffee, 2 ounces of dark rum and 1 ounce of light cream to make the prefect coconut coffee cocktail.
  
  My favorite flavor for rum and lemonade cocktails is strawberry flavor extract. Adding a dash of strawberry extract makes the perfect strawberry rum lemonade!