DIY Strawberry Soda

DIY Strawberry Soda
(Makes almost 2 cups of syrup)

1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon citric acid
Seltzer

Add strawberries, water, sugar, and citric acid to a saucepan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a bare simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Bottle and refrigerate the cooled syrup. For each serving, mix 1 part syrup with 5 parts seltzer, adjusting to your personal taste. Mix syrup and seltzer on a glass-by-glass basis rather than mixing a large batch and storing it.

Note: Citric acid powder, also known as sour salt, is easy to find at many markets. The citric acid is optional but does add tartness to the recipe and extend the shelf life.