Gingered Fruit Salad

There is really nothing quite as refreshing as fruit salad. Ok, maybe an ice cream cone after a summer bike ride. Or a tall, frosty beer at the baseball game. Or water that doesn't have sand in it after you've been at the beach all day. Or...

Ok. Let me try again.

Fruit salad is nearly as refreshing as a number of things. It also tastes delicious. Try some today!

I should never be on QVC.

Gingered Fruit Salad
Adapted from: An Occasion to Gather
Serves: 6-8

Begin by making ginger syrup.

Ginger Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar, ginger, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring very frequently. Allow syrup to boil for 3 minutes, continuing to stir very frequently, until syrup has thickened slightly.

Off the heat, stir in vanilla. Allow ginger syrup to cool.

Fruit*:
3 apples, sliced or cut into chunks
2 pears, sliced or cut into chunks
3/4 cup dried cranberries

Once it's close to serving time and the ginger syrup has cooled, gently fold syrup into the sliced fruit. If you have some on hand, garnish with fresh mint. Chill until ready to serve.

*I used fruit that I had on hand. Feel free to substitute your favorite fruit or whatever is seasonal/on sale at your local market.