Strawberry Balsamic Vanilla Sodas

I�m going to keep this pretty short and sweet.
Today is/would have been my dad�s 63rd birthday. We�re having a little family birthday-Easter celebration. I'm making a twist on his favorite spring dessert (a tart with mascarpone and fresh strawberries), we're going to play several rounds of ruthless, competitive, cross-country croquet, eat a lot of Amanda�s amazing pulled ham, and of course, we're going to hunt some Easter eggs (with which we'll make classic deviled eggs, maybe this deconstructed egg salad, and probably this sriracha-sesame egg salad).

We�ll also sip on something fizzy, like these springy strawberry-balsamic-vanilla sodas! They�re sweet, but also a little tart, with tons of warm vanilla flavor. Super for a spring brunch or Easter lunch.

hbd, jfk. <3



Strawberry Balsamic Vanilla Sodas
Makes about 6 sodas

You can use regular vanilla extract, but I like the vanilla paste, because it adds little flecks of vanilla bean!

A little more than 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
1/4 Cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 Cup honey
1 Teaspoon vanilla paste (or regular vanilla extract)
1 Pinch sea salt
1 Pinch fresh ground black pepper
Ice & soda water to serve

To a saucepan, add all ingredients except ice and soda water. Stir together, and heat over medium-low heat until honey is dissolved and the berries start to break down, about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature, the blend until smooth. You can strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheese cloth if you desire, but I like the berry seeds.

To serve, add about 1.5 tablespoons of syrup to a glass, fill with ice, then fill with soda water. Stir, and add more syrup as desired.

Peach + Cilantro Sodas

Hey friends! Sorry for being MIA! I've been so busy! I had Ragnar*, then went backpacking, then flew to Sonoma for my bachelorette party(!), then got sick, then blah blah blah yadda yadda etcetera etcetera PEACH + CILANTRO SODA! 

Last weekend we saw Book of Mormon, the musical (so good), then went to dinner at Terra Plata afterward, where I had an amazing house-made peach cilantro soda (plus a million other delicious things).
I've been dreaming about that soda since Saturday you guys. Fizzy, peachy, and not-too-sweet with juuuuust a hint of cilantro in the background. Such a small hint that you can tell something herbaceous is goin on, but you might not even guess right away what it is. Unless you're one of those crazy cilantro-tastes-like-soap people, then maybe you'll figure it out immediately. But really, if you are one of those people, you probably don't want to drink a peach + cilantro soda anyway. 

If you aren't one of those cilantro-tastes-like-soap people, then you should probably definitely make this. It's easy and summery, and I won't even try to stop you from adding bourbon. Or rum. Or gin. Or even vodka, if that's your thing. 

Cheers! I missed you guys! Summer is super busy and wedding countdown craziness is in full effect, but I promise I'm not abandoning you. Now, go make some bourbons! I mean, sodas!

*PS. In that video on the Ragnar NWP page, see those crazies in sumo suits at 28 seconds in!? Yeah, that's my team! I'm giving a power-fist in the background with a hulk-hand. NBD. 

Peach + Cilantro Soda

Makes about 4 large glasses

5 ripe peaches, rinsed and halved, pits removed

1/3 cup cilantro (not chopped-- a small handful)

Juice from 1 lemon

1.5 tablespoons agave 

Soda water

Ice

Add peaches, cilantro, lemon, and agave to blender, and blend until smooth. In a Vitamix it gets super smooth, but if you have tiny chunks thats ok! Taste, and add a bit more sweetener or lemon if you desire - it will be diluted from the soda water, so keep that in mind. Fill your glass just over 1/3rd full with peach mix, the next third with ice, and top off with soda water. Stir and serve! Note: It may start to separate a bit, just give it another stir. 

Store extra peach mix in fridge.