Sip With Us: Summer Nights Strawberry Rhubarb Muddle
Ladies, I am so excited to be the guest bartender this morning. While I may be a tad novice, I do feel like anytime I get to host you online or in person I get to share my heart with you all - so although we’re not together this morning still feel free to kick back, take a seat, and until then I get to walk you through all the steps for a refreshing summer-esque cocktail to be enjoyed all summer (OR year long).
SETTING THE TONE
Now, I know that we all love a good Happy Hour or Mimosa Sunday Funday. But I do love the intentionality behind a good cocktail hour - which inspired today's bevvy of choice. In deciding on a featured cocktail, there are three components that I personally consider in the decision making process.
Seasonality:
What fruits, flavors and florals are in season? I.e - today’s cocktail is summer thriving accompaniments.
Glassware:
Sets the tone. If hosting a few gal pals, I’ll typically select something feminine and special - that just makes it feel intentional, special and embodying a “Gals Night” - today I pulled out these beauties - it's been a while and I’ll always find for any excuse to use these dainty and pretty pieces from Anthro!
Food Pairing:
What's on the menu? I love pairing this particular cocktail with a fresh offering of snacks and such - a fresh strawberry tomato bruschetta (that combo? Magnificent!), grilled shrimp on a barbeque, a fresh mango summer salad or some fabulous fruit and cheese charcuterie.
THE INGREDIENTS
Strawberries are a summer staple and personally rhubarb is one of my favorite vegetables to play with! It’s versatile, unexpected and I appreciate the “unknown” value it adds to something since it's not wildly popular, so it already adds a certain flair to impress your guests (or date ;)).
For those newer to Rhubarb, it is indeed a vegetable and this is what Rhubarb looks like:
(You’ll typically find it close to the celery stalks in the refrigerated produce section at your local grocery store)
Personal Rhubarb Hack 101 - Sprouts sells it already chopped up in the frozen section and it looks like this.. (because amen for less dishes these days - lol)
The Recipe: Summer Nights Strawberry Rhubarb Muddle
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 25 mins | Total Time: 35 minutes
Optional Soundtrack: Coldplay - Summer Swing
Ingredients:
4 Cups of Rhubarb
½ cup of Sugar (my keto peeps - Monk Fruit Sweetener)
WARNING: I like tart, but if you’d like sweeter closer then you should use closer to 1 cup. Play around with this measurement depending on how sweet or tart you like
Feel free to substitute the sugar with honey!
1 Handful of Fresh Organic Strawberries
½ Fresh Lime
Vodka (or Gin) - pick your poison
½ cup of Club Soda
TIFF TIP: Forego the club soda and track down Trader Joes Summer Seasonal Strawberry Soda STAT (OMERG) now we’re getting fancy…
Preparation:
This recipe consists is of two parts - the rhubarb concoction and then the cocktail itself.
PART I - Rhubarb Concoction
Chopped rhubarb
Cane sugar
1 cup water
Instructions:
Depending on if you go the Frozen or Fresh Route | Fresh you’ll want to clean and chop your rhubarb stalks into 1/2″ chunks.
In a medium saucepan, combine chopped rhubarb, sugar, and water. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then decrease the heat to a low-medium simmer. Continue cooking for 25-30 Minutes, until the mixture thickens.
Allow the rhubarb mixture to cool for about 20-ish minutes or so
Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl, then pour the rhubarb mixture into the strainer. Once it has thoroughly cooled, it can be added to the cocktails.
Dice your strawberry to whichever size you have a preference for.
The Grand Finale:
In an 8 ounce glass, add strawberries Gently muddle. Then pour in 1 ounce of rhubarb Concoction. Add ice, vodka (or gin), and soda water, then give it a quick stir.
Garnish with lime, a couple of florals, strawberry slices, I put another spoonful of the rhubarb pulp, but I am also “THAT gal” that loves pulpy orange juice ;). Tiff Tip - a little grated ginger always sends this drink into another spike.
I use the leftover rhubarb concoction all week long, add it to your glass of lemonade, drizzle it on a pancake - the possibilities are endless :)
I hope you SOOO enjoy this refreshing summer cocktail
Cheers Babes - xoxo
Let us know if you have any questions or want to zoom us in next time you make one of these babies! If you try it at home? Tag us #GalsThatBrunch @GalsThatBrunch
