Pink Rhubarb Punch/Spritzer

During summer, with the excess of rhubarb and the sun beating down on your shoulders in the garden...this is a nice refreshing drink. I will be bringing it to the GardenWeb Fall Plant Swap in a month :) This is a combination of multiple recipes and isn't as sweet as other ones on this site.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 20
• Yields: 5 quarts

Ingredients

• 8  cups fresh rhubarb or 8  cups frozen rhubarb, chopped*
• 8  cups water
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  tablespoon strawberry gelatin
• 3  cups water, boiling
• 1  cup  pineapple juice
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice (optional)
• 8  cups ginger ale (1 liter) or 8  cups  lemon-lime flavored soda, chilled (1 liter)

Directions

1. In large pot, bring rhubarb and water to boil.
2. Reduce and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and reserve liquid.
3. Discard pulp (or save for pie, bread, cookies, muffins -- etc.).
4. Combine sugar and gelatin in rhubarb reserved liquid until sugar is dissolved.
5. Add pineapple and lemon juice, mix well.
6. Chill thoroughly. Just before serving, add soda and ice cubes.
7. * For stronger rhubarb taste, add additional rhubarb and simmer for 40 minute.
8. For individual servings, combine 1 cup of rhubarb 'juice' with 1 cup of soda.
9. Can add vodka to taste make it an adult beverage spritzer.