The Lush Chef

I rarely make cocktails from a blender, and it's probably because I associate them with really bad, sugary sweet piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris from places like TGI Fridays or Applebees.  But when summer hits, sometimes all you want is something really icy that packs a punch.  Tasting Table has been rocking it with the recipes the past few months, and their Strawberry Slushito balances that summer fruit in a simple syrup, along with one of my favorite bitter liqueurs, Campari (if you like this combo, try my Strawberry Campari Tart).  Their recipe makes a ton of strawberry simple syrup, but I just felt like it was too much to prepare if you're only going to blend two to four drinks.  I used half the amount of strawberries and a quarter of the simple syrup (you'll still have 1 cup of syrup) so I could really pump up the strawberry flavor.  The basil leaf gives this slushie libation an extra Italian kick.  If you read this blog often, you know how I like to post cocktail recipes for one.  Well, I feel like if you're using a blender and making a mess, you might as well just make two...because that's how many you're going to have.

Strawberry Slushito - makes 2
Ingredients for Strawberry Syrup:

• 1 cup strawberries, diced
• 1 cup simple syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup sugar)

Ingredients for cocktail:

• 3 oz gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• A little more than 2 oz of the strawberry syrup
• Ice
• 2 basil leafs, for garnish

To make the Strawberry Syrup:
- Add the strawberries and simple syrup in a small bowl.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Strain into a container (I like to use my little glass bottles) and discard the strawberries (or throw them on top of some ice cream).

To make the cocktail:
- In a blender, add the gin, Campari, lime juice the strawberry syrup (you can add 1/2 oz more if you like it a little sweeter).
- Fill the blender with about 2 1/2 cups of ice and blend until smooth.
- Pour into 2 glasses and garnish with basil leafs.