Saturday, August 16, 2014

Strawberry Basil Martini

Recently my sweet neighbor brought over some of the prettiest basil (and some awesome garlic chives) in exchange for some beautiful avocados that I gave him.  Within minutes my whole kitchen was perfumed with the smell of that basil!  If you've ever grown basil, you know that there is just something different about the smell of "real" basil that comes out of the garden verses the one that you purchase at the grocery, as the smell of it can complete fill your kitchen!  Now you may not know this about me, but I really enjoy drinks made with a combination of fruit and herbs.  The balance of the two is nothing short of magical.  

Want to know something else that is magical?  I had NOTHING to do with this!  Ha!!!  I was super busy working on cookbook edits, or perhaps getting a post up or something.... and all of a sudden, my husband comes into my office with this AMAZING drink!  "Here, taste this."    WHAAATT?!!!  He had seen (and smelled) the basil, gone off to the store for some fresh strawberries, come home and whipped up this phenomenal drink... for ME!!!!  YAY! Okay.. well.. for him, too.  So I suppose this whole post belongs to my foxy husband who makes a killer strawberry basil martini... and followed it up with some grilled lamb chops, a spinach salad, and some herbed couscous!  How's that for being pampered?!   

Ingredients:  
  • 6 large fresh basil leaves, chopped fairly fine
  • 5 medium strawberries, diced
  • 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1 oz sweet and sour mix
  • 1 oz Hershey's strawberry syrup
  • 4 oz vodka
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • garnishes
    • strawberries
    • fresh basil leaves

Step-by-Step:
As usual slice and dice before you begin.  That makes everything go so quickly.  
Basil leaves, limes, and strawberries.  All ready to go!
5 medium strawberries, chopped + 6 large basil leaves, cut or chopped into ribbons.
Add them to your martini shaker and then muddle them together.  The broad back end of a wooden spoon handle works well to muddle the berries together with the basil.  It may take a few minutes to get them all broken down.
Add in the rest of the drink ingredients.

1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice. 
I couldn't resist putting this first photo in, as the drop of lime juice is perfectly spherical.  :)  Please choose limes that grew on a tree, not something that came in plastic!  

1 oz sweet and sour mix  +  1 oz Hershey's strawberry syrup.  Yep, the kind you put in milk.  Haha!

4 oz vodka  +  1/2 oz simple syrup.

Add ice and shake for a minute or two until very cold. 

Strain out into martini glasses.  Garnish with a strawberry. 
Summer in a glass... Please enjoy responsibly!
I just love the tiny bits of basil floating in here.  Feel free to put them through a finer strainer if you prefer a totally "clean" drink... but I loved that about these.  
You may be wondering how I got all the shots of my husband making these since he just "whipped them up" for me.  Well.... I was SO impressed by these, that I insisted that he start ALL over again from scratch just so I could capture the magic... for YOU, readers!  You're welcome. 



I hope you enjoyed this simple and delicious cocktail recipe!
There are hundreds more recipes in my Recipe Index, just waiting to be chosen and cooked!  You can also visit my Film strips for pinning page, to see whole recipes at a glance, and to click-and-go right to the recipe.



Connect with me.    
If you are new to MenuMusings, click here to subscribe so you won't miss a thing!  I'll send you notifications of new posts to help you avoid that proverbial cooking rut.  You can also follow me on Pinterest and on the MenuMusings facebook page.







The Menu Musings cookbook is sure to be a hit at your house, and will make great gifts!  For more information, here is a link!
Order your copy of the Menu Musings Cookbook! 

Also, Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel for short video tutorials on selected videos.  Watch me explain the steps of the recipes in just a few minutes!  Just one more way that I'm giving you the tools to get in that kitchen!!! Aren't you curious?  Click and see how many there are!  :)

Here's just one example - Fire Roasted Corn Guacamole.  Yum!


Here are some bonus recipes for you!
Korean BBQ Shish Kabobs

Happy Hour Pizza Rolls

Thai Chicken Salad Cones

Grilled Chicken Southwestern Chopped Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Chocolate Covered Cherries Cake

Written Method: 
As usual slice and dice before you begin.  That makes everything go so quickly.  Add strawberries and basil to your martini shaker and then muddle them together.  The broad back end of a wooden spoon handle works well to muddle the berries together with the basil.  It may take a few minutes to get them all broken down.  Add in the rest of the drink ingredients. Add ice and shake for a minute or two until very cold.   Strain out into martini glasses.  Garnish with a strawberry.  Summer in a glass... Please enjoy responsibly!

2 comments:

  1. Hi! I really live this drink... been enjoying it for years. I recently was diagnosed with pre-diabetic, so I must use sygar-free products. Hershey's no longer makes a sugar-free strawberry syrup. Do you think Torani beverage syrup (thin, flavored liquid vs. thick Hershey's syrup) would work here? I purchased ChocZero sugar-free strawberry syrup, but unfortunately it's much too thick (like pancake eyrup) and nothing like Hershey's so I'm reluctant to use it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi... yes, I think the Torani syrup would probably work fine! :)

      Delete

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest