So...an update on my ginger bug. I made a batch, followed the recipe exactly (which is hard for me to do,) and waited for the bubbles. At the end of 7 days there were no bubbles.
The recipe said to throw it out after 8 days if it wasn't fizzy, but being the mad scientist that I am, I held on to it.
After another week, low and behold, I noticed that the top of the mason jar lid was bulging and the ring was super tight. I slowly twisted off the cap and BUUUUSSSSHHH I had bubbles galore! I poured a frothy glass of it and had a sip...delicious! It tasted like a mild ginger ale without a ton of sugar. The DH added some to his sparkling cider that he makes to give it a gingery taste and even more fizz...really good! I'm going to start adding it to fruit juice.
So now, I am regularly feeding my ginger bug with sugar and ginger to keep it alive. It sits on the counter, close to the refrigerator for warmth. I think that I should graduate to a larger vessel to keep it in, especially now that the hubby has gotten hooked on it too.
~ C