By Ray Patterson
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups (12 ounces) fresh, organic strawberries
- ½ cup fresh herbs, such as basil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup bottled sparkling water
- Ice
In a small saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Add basil leaves and set aside to steep and cool for 20 minutes. Remove basil. In a blender, combine the cooled syrup, strawberries and lemon juice. Blend until smooth. Add the sparkling water and pour into an ice-filled pitcher.
About the author
At Edible Monterey Bay, our mission is to celebrate the local food culture of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties, season by season. We believe in sustainability, and we believe everyone has a right to healthful, clean and affordable food. We think knowing where our food comes from is powerful, and we hope our magazine, website and newsletters inspire readers to get to know and support our local growers, fishers, chefs, vintners and food artisans.
