Pomegranate-Cranberry Cocktail (sans alcohol)

After our very successful bake sale ( see post here ), I have been asked by many to post this drink on the blog.  This is my go to non-alcoholic beverage when entertaining for brunch and in the summer months, it hangs out in the fridge.

This is so refreshing and so light, that after the first drink you end up craving it.  One always has milk, orange juice, apple juice, and lemonade on the beverage shelf.  Why not this drink?  Most times I make this drink "virgin" yet I have been known to spruce it up with a little kettle one vodka or throw the whole concoction into a margarita!

This drink is good to go all year long!

Pomegranate-Cranberry Cocktail
yield: about a 1 1/2 quarts

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups simple syrup
1 1/4 cups "just" pomegranate juice (unsweetened)
1 cup "just" cranberry juice (unsweetened)
2 Tbls. fresh lime juice
1 25.3 oz bottle of pelligrino
1 lime, sliced
1 bunch of mint
ice cubes

instructions:
to make the simple syrup, put 1 1/2 cup of sugar and the 1 1/2 cup of water in a small saucepan.  bring mixture to a boil over medium heat.  once you start to see the bubbles, turn the heat down and simmer for about 10 minutes, making sure all the sugar is dissolved.  set aside and let cool.

• combine the pomegranate juice, the cranberry juice and the simple syrup in a large, glass pitcher.  let this sit for a few hours or overnight in the fridge.
• if serving a crowd, add the whole bottle of pelligrino to the juice mixture along with some ice cubes.  add the sliced lime and mint.  let people help themselves

I like to keep the mixture in the fridge.  when I feel like a little something sweet, I pour about 2/3 of the mixture into a tall glass and then fill the other 1/3 with the pelligrino.  Add some ice, a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.