summer hostess gift and a fave drink

I recently made these for the end of the year meeting for MOPS {mothers of preschoolers}.  then I realized, on the tail of Memorial Day Weekend, aka the unofficial kickoff to BBQ season, this would also be a great hostess gift for all those upcoming summer bbqs and parties.

or really just to have on hand when you need some refreshment.  its delicious!

this is one of my favorite drinks.  the rosemary may sound a bit scary, but its the perfect way to cut the sweet just a bit.  for a more adult version, add a shot of vodka - perfect summer cocktail.

Sparkling Rosemary Lemonade

in a glass of ice add

1 part lemon simple syrup {recipe below}

3 parts sparkling water

squeeze in a slice of lemon 

add a crushed rosemary needle {or for more intense rosemary flavor, use a twig as a swizzle stick!}

garnish with a lemon slice.

Lemon Simple Syrup {from Martha Stewart}

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

Zest from 1 lemon

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Heat sugar, zest, and water on medium-high heat, until sugar dissolves.  bring to a boil.  let cool.  add lemon juice.  strain.  refrigerate up to 1 month.

I used organic sugar, which is why my simple syrup is more cloudy.  I found the syrup bottles at Cost Plus.  

Then I added a recipe card, with a tiny glittered lemon embellishment.  and made a matching label for the syrup.

I tied the card to a bamboo skewer and a twig of rosemary, so I could stand it up in the basket, and used the produce bags the lemons came in as packaging.  

the baskets I used were strawberry containers that I had saved, but you can find similar ones at Garnish.

I ran out of baskets for the last few so I used cellophane bags.  I cut out thick cardstock rectangles for the bottom {for support} and used double sided tape to stick the recipe card to the outside.

what a sweet treat this would be to drop off for a new mom, a friend, or maybe a neighbor.

find supplies here:

syrup bottles {salad dressing bottles} - cost plus world market

wood baskets - Garnish

cellophane bags - Target

Happy Tuesday.

best,

kirsty

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