You know that taste, that taste of when you bite into something and it just takes you to a certain time and gives you that certain feeling? Freshly picked strawberries. They always give me all the warm feels and plaster a big smile on my face, especially when I am munching while picking. In those moments, nothing else matters except eating as many as possible and savoring every fresh burst of goodness that fills my mouth. It is exactly what summer tastes like.
A couple of days ago I went and did a little strawberry picking and brought home a bounty of greatness. I ate half, froze a few, and made this fresh lemonade situation because what is better then a glass of cold ass lemonade in the middle of a freaking hot summer day? Strawberry lemonade is, sparkling strawberry lemonade.
It is everything summer should be.
I knew how perfectly perfect this summer drink was when the mr had his drink in hand, took a sip, and said that it tasted like when he was a kid and would spend his days hunting for, picking, and eating the most delicious wild strawberries. I proceeded to laugh a little, thinking to myself, “well what a fancy dreamy childhood you had.” HA. But really though, that right there is truth my friends. Fresh strawberries are little gems of summertime happiness.
Now to the summer strawberry sprakinling lemonade!
The stuff. Freshly picked strawberries, a couple lemons, and plain seltzer water.
Easy as can be. Juice lemons until you have 1/2 cup juice. Remove stems from strawberries and add to lemon juice, then either with a stick blender or regular one, blend until smooth.
I didn’t add any sweetener to mine because we don’t like super sweet and the berries are way sweet enough for us. But if you want, add a little sweetener of your choice and blend in. Go easy though, maybe a couple teaspoons. You can always add more if you need too.
Basically all you do now is pour a bit of puree into a cup, add an ice cube, slowly pour seltzer in, and give it a little stir.
Garnish with a lemon wedge and a cute little strawberry and enjoy the taste of summer.
-C
Summer Strawberry Sparkling Lemonade
makes 2-3 drinks
1-2 lemons (1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice)
1/2 a pint ( or about 12 small to medium strawberries) fresh strawberries
plain seltzer, mineral water, or club soda
a few teaspoons of liquid sweetener of your choice if using
ice
Juice lemons until you have 1/2 a cup off juice. Place in a jar or blender. Remove stems from strawberries and add to the lemon juice. Either with a hand blender or a regular blender, blend until completely smooth. If you are using any sweetener, you can add a little in now and blend in.
For drinks. Pour the strawberry lemon puree into 2-3 cups. Add an ice cube or two and slowly add about a cup of seltzer to each drink (you can add more of less seltzer to your liking). Gently mix with a spoon. Garnish with lemon and a sweet little strawberry if you like.