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?!   

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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!

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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!