Strawberries in summer

The 4th of July marks the epitome of summer- a celebration of color and joy that makes me feel a bit warm and fuzzy {even as I inwardly curse the fools setting off bottle rockets in the parking lot at 2am}. After all, summer is the time for catching fireflies in Mason jars, grilling hotdogs by the armful and sipping fruity drinks on the porch swing. Fresh cut grass on a summer evening is still one of my favorite scents, and I can still feel the grass between my toes as my childhood friends and I ran through a sprinkler giggling uncontrollably. Of course, the high point of summer also tends to go hand in hand with the highest temperatures, so to combat the heat, Mr. Pony proposed a solution.


Sound good? I thought so too! So without further ado-

Mr. Pony's Strawberry-Lemon Smoothie

1lb. fresh strawberries, de-stemmed and sliced up
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 4-5 good sized lemons)
1/2 cup simple syrup*

De-stem and cut up the strawberries and combine them with the lemon juice in the blender of your choice (we used a stick blender in a tall, narrow container and had great results). Blend until smooth. At this point you can choose to strain the mixture to remove the strawberry seeds- we left them in because I like the authenticity they add, but you might not like them! Add simple syrup to taste- we used 1/2 cup, but depending on your preference and the sweetness of your strawberries {because we can't all be this lucky}, more or less may be needed for maximum taste-bud relaxation. Chill and serve.

*Quick note- please make your own simple syrup- combine equal parts water and sugar, bring to a boil, and you're done. Really. Let it cool before mixing into a drink to speed up your drinking enjoyment.

This recipe makes about 22 ounces, which is good for 2 servings if you are greedy, or 4 if you are being reasonable.

We were greedy.Mature persons only- this would be great in a mimosa, or add a splash of vodka, and you have a delicious adult beverage.

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party. - Ron White

* all photos by me