despite our best efforts last month, strawberry-picking did not happen for us this year. we made two trips to the fields, only to find the "all picked out" sign staring us in the face, and the second time it read "for the season." Mother Nature was so kind to us last year, but the weather in 2012 just didn't make for a bountiful berry season. bummer.
but if i teach my girls anything, it's that when life gives you lemons...
(i think you know where this is going...)
when the strawberry fields are all picked out, look in the freezer for frozen berries from last season (or stop by the market) and make a batch of this amazingness.
Erdbeerlimoschorle (a.k.a. Strawberry Lemon Fizzy Lifting Drinks)
INGREDIENTS:
* a goodly pint of washed + sliced strawberries
* the juice of 3-4 fresh lemons
* ice
* a few tablespoonfuls of sugar (superfine, if you've got it), or sweetener of choice
* seltzer / club soda
MAKE THE PUREE - combine the strawberries + lemon juice with 1/2 cup of ice in a blender and power up until it is well mixed. but wait, don't overdo it! you want there to be a few chunky berry bits still in there. add a few tablespoons of sugar to the mixture and whizz again for a few seconds. try not to over-sweeten - you can always sweeten your individual drink later, if needed.
decant this gorgeous crimson puree into a lidded jar and keep chilled until ready to use. give it a shake before removing the lid.
NOW TO MAKE YOUR SCHORLE* - fill a glass with ice, then pour it 2/3 full with seltzer. add a few spoonfuls of the strawberry lemon puree and give it a little stir. add more puree, if you like. garnish with sliced berries / lemons if you are feeling fancy. oh yes, and a straw.
*a Schorle is a favorite kid-friendly fancy drink around here. my love for these fizzy drinks dates back to hot summers in Germany and Austria when an Apfelschorle was just the thing to cool you off. basically it's half plain seltzer and half fruit juice/puree. totally refreshing, you control the sugar, and kids can pronounce the ingredients. imagine that! xoxo
FOR THE ADULTS - add a shot of vodka (or hooch of your choosing), mix in a shaker and enjoy. just saying. xoxo
