Needed to bring a cocktail to a pool day with the girls. No time to infuse. I made a blueberry simple syrup,  added some Tequila, limes and 7up.

Recipe for blueberry simple syrup.   Plan ahead, it takes an hour to make but you get enough for 3 pitchers.

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup water

2 pints of blueberries

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice.

2 tsp of lemon zest.

 

Add everything but the lemon juice into a pot.   Give it a mash with a masher a few times to get it going. Cook for 10 mins on low.

 

It will begin to look like this.

 

It is still watery at this stage.  Add the lemon juice now. Cook for another 10 minutes.  It should be at a light boil. Stir every now and then.

 

 

Use a wooden spoon to smoosh any whole berries.

 

 

 

The sauce should be dark purple by now. Test the thickness by dipping a spoon into the sauce and your finger through it. Everything should stay stuck to the spoon except where your finger was.

Let cool. Then strain   through a mesh strainer to remove the skins. This takes me 15 minutes. I still have a crappy little strainer. Mash the skins against the metal to get all of the juice out.

 

The skins have uses.   I stirred them into a glass of bubbly moscato Added a great flavor to the wine.

 

 

You can make this syrup and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. I freeze it in 1 cup containers. Then you are ready for a cocktail anytime.

Margarita Recipe.

1 cup blueberry simple syrup

1 cup tequila

Juice of 1 lime and 1 slice lime for garnish.

3 cans of 7up.

Get a pitcher fill 1/4 way up with chopped ice pour blueberry syrup. Add tequila and limes. Stir. Add 7 up.

No post on friday this week. I am heading across the pond on holiday to see what European cocktails I can discover. I will post photos on Facebook of future inspirations.

ENJOY!