Oh Rosemary!

Ahhh, Summer... Evenings spent on the patio, watching the boys play backyard baseball, swatting the gnats, and smelling the neighbor's barbecue. What better time to enjoy a unique iced beverage.

The beverage of this summer is the Rosemary Citrus Spritzer, made with rosemary from my herb garden. Here is a picture taken on my deck railing and the recipe follows. Happy Summer!



Rosemary Citrus Spritzer
Makes 10-12 drinks

2 lemons
2 oranges
4 (4-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary
3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup honey
Ice
Soda water
Rosemary and lemon for garnish (optional)

Peel off thick strips of zest from 1 lemon.

Juice the lemons and oranges into a liquid measuring cup – you should have about 1 cup of juice. Top off with water if necessary to make 1 cup.

Combine zest, juice, rosemary, sugar, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugars.

Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes. Strain, discard solids, and let syrup cool completely.

To serve, fill an 8-ounce glass halfway with ice cubes, add 2-3 tablespoons syrup, fill with soda water, and stir. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and/or lemon slices, if desired.

Variations:
• Use 1 cup lemon juice and omit oranges.
• Use 1 cup sugar and omit honey.
• Add a splash of gin or vodka to the glass.