The Weekly Nightcap - Strawberry Mint Fizz

as we leave mid-august and rapidly approach the first day of school, it feels like summer is coming to a close. fall is right around the corner. can you feel it? i can almost feel the crisp, cooler nights. i am starting to long for boots and cozy sweaters. but, before we bit summer adieu, i thought it fitting to give summer it's last hurrah. send the dog days of summer off in style.

so here's to balmy summer nights, hot humid days spent lounging by the pool, lightning bugs, steamed crabs and cold beer, baseball every night, and the smell of charcoal grills filling the neighborhood air. here's to freshly cut grass, the hum of air-conditioning units, sundresses, flip-flops, and bikinis. here's to juicy, sweet peaches, sweet corn on the cob, ripe cantaloupe and watermelon seed spitting contests. here's to the sand between your toes down the ocean hon, picnics, and cannonballs in the deep end.

this strawberry mint fizz is the toast to another gone-too-fast summer. but another wonderful season is just around the corner. so let's also toast to wanting fall to arrive as much as we were desperate for summer to make its appearance 5 short months ago.

here's to summer - cheers!

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Strawberry Mint Fizz
makes 2 drinks

8 strawberries + 2 for garnish
12 mint leaves
juice of 1/2 lemon (approximately 2 tbs)
1/4 cup simple syrup (1/4 cup agave nectar, 1/2 cup water)
1/2 cup prosecco/champagne/sparkling wine
1/2 cup sake

slice 4 strawberries thinly. place 2 strawberries and 6 mint leaves into the bottom of each glass. muddle together the strawberries and mint. fill the glasses with ice.

puree the remaining 4 strawberries in a small food processor. in a large measuring cup or glass, add lemon juice,  simple syrup, prosecco, and sake to the strawberry puree. stir well to combine and pour equal amounts into both glasses. garish with a strawberry on the rim and a sprig of mint.