Never Belittle the Bellini

It's been one of those work weeks. You know the one. Where the clock hours spin oh so slowly and you sit alone in your dark cubicle piecing spreadsheets together and contemplating a life of physical labor outdoors. The best weather of the summer is calling. The sunshine  whispers to you. As you feel your brain cells dying you list off possible careers away from a blinking computer screen. Even the most miserable jobs sounds intriguing. Maybe I could tar roads, roof houses? Hold the SLOW DOWN sign near the construction guys on the highway? When quitting time finally arrives, you understand the true meaning of Happy Hour: laughs with friends and coworkers, and a tasty treat that tickles your tastebuds as well as your nose.

Strawberry Ginger Basil Bellini is a mouthful (to say and to sip). It is an adapted version of Emma Laperruque's Ginger Pear Bellini (I wanted to try her version, but couldn't find ripe pears.). T loves basil in his lemonade, so I added it to the ginger simple syrup. These cocktails will give you the reward and the courage to do it all over again tomorrow.

Strawberry Ginger Basil Bellini
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
3 inches ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
Good handful of basil
1 cup strawberry puree
1/2 cup vodka
1 bottle sparkling wine

In medium saucepan bring to boil sugar and water and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Add ginger and basil to the syrup and steep for 30 minutes.

Remove solids from the syrup and add puree and vodka; chill.