The Strawberry Muddle

By LaLaCooks

Created by Jon Hoeber, the farmers' market-prowling mixologist at Rustic Canyon restaurant in Santa Monica, The Strawberry Muddle is a midsummer dream of a drink that involves little more than crushing berries at the bottom of a glass, then dropping in a lemon slice, ice, and a good slosh of Prosecco. Don't even bother stirring, you want the heavy cubes to hold down bright bits of berry as well as keep the drink good and cold.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups chopped hulled strawberries
• 6 thin lemon slices
• Ice cubes
• 1 750-ml bottle chilled Prosecco

Preparation

Step 1

Stir sugar and 1/2 cup water in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Cool syrup.
Divide strawberries among six 6- to 8-ounce glasses; add 1 tablespoon syrup to each and mash with muddler or handle of wooden spoon. Add lemon slice to each and mash to release flavor. Add several ice cubes to each glass, then fill with Prosecco.