Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka Cocktails

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

1. In a small saucepan, combine the sliced ginger with the water and sugar and bring to a simmer over moderate heat.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes, then let the ginger syrup cool slightly.
3. Transfer to a blender and puree.
4. Strain the syrup into a large, shallow glass dish.
5. Stir in the lemon zest and juice.
6. Cover and freeze the lemon-ginger syrup until firm, at least 4 hours.
7. Let the frozen lemon-ginger mixture stand at room temperature for 5 minutes.
8. Chop the mixture into large pieces.
9. Put half of the pieces in a blender, add 4 cups of crushed ice and 1 cup of vodka and blend until slushy.
10. Pour the vodka cocktail into 4 glasses, garnish each with a mint sprig and serve.
11. Repeat with the remaining frozen lemon mixture, ice, vodka and mint sprigs.
12. Serve at once.

ginger, water, sugar, lemon, lemon juice, crushed ice, vodka, mint sprigs

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/icy-lemon-ginger-vodka-cocktails (may not work)