Drinks

strawberry balsamic smash

no more boo-bee-bees, mommy. ::::

I have too many late summer strawberries, almost ready to shrivel, darkened red and drying skin. Even the kids aren’t interested anymore; they gravitate toward the novelty of my peach sauce.

“Mommy, I don’t want any more strawberries,” Peach says, wrinkling up her nose.

“No boo-bee-bees, Mommy,” Grub tells me. Blueberries are out, too.

i love the precarious tipping strawberry, even pre-tipsy

What better way to rescue these cosmetically-challenged, underappreciated berries with a muddle, a mash, and a swim in some alcohol. And some vinegar. Vinegar?  Strawberries, balsamic vinegar, lime, and a grind of black pepper are a great mix: sweet, tangy, sour, and spicy. Put on the “beer goggles” for this one, people. Your friends won’t know how ugly your fruit is (and perhaps some other things, too, after a swig of gin)!

strawberry balsamic smash
Author: 
Recipe type: drink
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1
 
Ingredients
  • half of a fresh lime, cut into two wedges
  • 5 cucumber wheels
  • 2 fresh hulled strawberries (or one if your berries are large)
  • 1 tablespoon simple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup gin (I used seltzer water make to an alcohol-free version)
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • crushed ice
Instructions
  1. Mash lime wedges, 3 cucumber wheels, strawberries, simple syrup, and balsamic vinegar a few times to release oils and juices.
  2. Add gin (or seltzer water) and mix.
  3. Pour into serving glass, fill halfway with crushed ice, stir, then add more ice.
  4. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.
  5. Garnish with two cucumber wheels.
  6. I served this with a spoon, so fishing out the muddled strawberries and cucumbers was easier.
  7. A rockin' variation: use peaches instead of strawberries. Summer in a glass! It's yet another use for my peach sauce from the last post.

 

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