Strawberry Lemon Spritzer

I may be the cook in the house but, Mr. Schwartz is definitely the bartender.  He is a master of the cocktail and has only made one concoction that I didn't care for.  It was supposed to be some orange creamsicle thingie and ended up tasting like well, a dirty diaper.  But, of the hundreds of cocktails he has made, to only have one fail, that's pretty good in my book.  

This cocktail is no exception.  I came home the other day to the house smelling lovely.  Let's be honest, Mr. Schwartz doesn't do a whole lotta cooking unless you count boiling venison brats (insert puke face).  Not that he can't cook, he just doesn't have the chance with me in the kitchen 24/7.  Anyway, I came home and our house smelled like a summer day.  Obviously I was intrigued and asked what in the world made our house smell so good.  Mr. Schwartz replied "Oh, I just made some strawberry simple syrup.  I'm going to make some cocktails."  Hells yeah.  Here is his concoction. 

Start by slicing up some strawberries.  Check out those man hands.  (Ahem, not mine)

Pour 1 1/2 cups of sugar in a medium sauce pan

Along with some water

The cut up strawberries

Zest of 1/2 a lemon

As well as the juice.  Heck, just toss the whole left over lemon rind in as well.

Yummy in a pot.  Turn this on medium high heat

And bring to a simmer stirring frequently.

Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.  Your house will start to smell ah-mazing.

Strain the lemon and strawberry pulp.  I used a spoon and shmushed it through.  It's a technical term, shmushing.

Let this heavenly liquid cool.  We just popped it into the fridge for a while.

When the strawberry simple syrup has cooled, it's cocktail time.  Fill a large glass with ice.

Measure, 1 shot of citrus infused vodka. Toss it into the glass.  Well, pour it but you get the idea.

Fill the glass almost all the way full with soda water.

And drizzle in that glorious strawberry simple syrup.  That's it, garnish with a lemon and strawberry if you want to make it pretty. s

Perfect summertime cocktail.

I'll take a pitcher.

Strawberry Lemon Spritzer


For the Strawberry Lemon Simple Syrup
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups strawberries
1/2 lemon's zest and juice

In a medium sauce pan, add the sugar, water and strawberries that have been cleaned, and cut into pieces.  Zest the lemon and squeeze the juice into the pan.  Toss the remaining lemon rind into the pan as well.

Bring to a simmer on medium high heat.  Once simmering, reduce to low and let simmer for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, strain into a bowl and shmoosh the strawberries so no liquid remains.  Let cool in the fridge.

For the Strawberry Lemon Spritzer 
(makes one cocktail)
1 cup ice
1 shot of citrus infused vodka (more or less depending on your liking)
10 oz soda water
2 tablespoons (or so, give or take depending on your taste) strawberry lemon simple syrup
Strawberry and lemon for garnish

Add the ice to a tall glass.  Measure the vodka and pour into the glass.  Fill the glass almost all the way full with soda water.  Pour in the strawberry lemon simple syrup in and stir.  Garnish with strawberry and lemon.

Enjoy!

Recipe by: Mr. Schwartz