Strawberry Basil Martinis

Strawberries are in peak season right now, so I took a little visit to my local strawberry farm.  My basil is blowing up too… so guess what I made for “Thirsty Thursday”?  🙂

I want to take a minute to tell you how important it is to support your local economy.  Please support your neighbors and buy local whenever you can.  I had the greatest time picking my own strawberries at Garner Farm here in Morehead City, NC.  Walking through the field and filling up my little bucket with strawberries took me back to childhood. You surely can’t get that in a crowded grocery store :-|.

Yesterday I realized what my mom has been telling me all these years… take time to meditate and don’t rush through life too fast trying to reach a happy destination; life’s a journey (it took me 36 years?).  Sometimes I catch myself rushing to the grocery store or running errands to get what I need, not even remembering the trip because life is such a whirlwind.

Wow, that little walk in the strawberry field was like therapy… LOL!  🙂

So here’s what you’ll need:  a shaker, a muddler, gin, strawberry vodka (or regular vodka will do), fresh strawberries, basil leaves, lime juice, ice and simple syrup.  Now I couldn’t find simple syrup so I made my own.  It’s just sugar dissolved in warm water (that’s how I made it and it worked, anyway).  Also, if you don’t have a muddler, you can squish up the strawberries and basil using a fork or the back of a spoon.

Start with muddling strawberries and basil in the shaker:

Then add ice and all the other ingredients.  Shake vigorously so you’ll get those little slivers of ice in the martini that everyone likes so much.  Strain into a martini glass. This recipe makes 2 strawberry basil martinis… cheers! 🙂

Strawberry Basil Martinis

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• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 2 martinis 1x
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Ingredients

• 6–7 fresh strawberries
• 6–7 basil leaves
• 2 shots gin
• 2 shots strawberry vodka (or regular vodka)
• 1 shot lime juice
• Approximately 1 1/2 cups ice

For the Simple Syrup:

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup warm water

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Instructions

1. Prepare the simple syrup by dissolving sugar into warm water; stir well & set aside.
2. In a shaker, muddle strawberries & basil.
3. Add ice & remaining ingredients & shake vigorously.
4. Strain into martini glass; serve immediately.

Notes

Adapted from FoodAndWine.com