Virgin Pomegranate and Cranberry Bellinis

This is from Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis. These sound great! I can't wait to try them. The prep time is assuming that the simple syrup is premade.

• Ready In: 5 mins
• Serves: 8-12

Ingredients

• 1  cup  ice
• 1 1⁄2 cups  simple syrup, recipe follows
• 1 1⁄4 cups  unsweetened pomegranate juice, chilled
• 1  cup  unsweetened cranberry juice, chilled
• 1 (25 1/3fluid ounce) bottle sparkling water, chilled
• 2  limes, thinly sliced
• 1  bunch of fresh mint, for garnish

• Optional garnish

• 1⁄2 cup pomegranate seeds (optional)

Directions

1. Special equipment:
2. 6 to 8 cup capacity punch bowl.
3. Place the ice in a punch bowl. Add the simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and cranberry juice. Stir well. Slowly pour in the sparkling water. Garnish with lime slices, mint sprigs and pomegranate seeds, if using, and serve.
4. Serving Suggestion: As an alternative to serving from a punch bowl, make the bellini mixture in a 6 to 8 cup capacity pitcher. Divide the pomegranate seeds between 12 champagne flutes. Add 1 slice of lime and 1 sprig of mint to each glass. Pour the bellini mixture into the prepared glasses and serve.
5. Simple syrup:
6. 1 cup water
7. 1 cup sugar
8. In a saucepan, combine water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Take the pan off the heat and allow the syrup to cool.