Blackberries & Rosemary

with a little 
champagne or prosecco

you know how every now & then things go haywire in the kitchen,

what you were making turns out to be something completely different,

but good?

this is one of those stories.

we've found a new way to use fresh blackberries & rosemary

in a drink suited for both happy hour & the next morning's brunch.

This cocktail is a simple combination of homemade syrup and Prosecco or Champagne (your choosing). To make the syrup, simply combine 2 cups blackberries, 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary, 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan.

Simmer roughly 20 minutes (uncovered), stirring occasionally until blackberry mixture thickens and reduces.

Pour blackberry mixture into fine sieve over a glass jar or bowl, no need to press down on solids. 

After about 5 minutes, transfer syrup to fridge and let chill thoroughly.

Once chilled, the syrup can be used as a base for your cocktail (or drizzled over ice cream).

 Simply spoon it into your flutes, pour in the Prosecco and garnish with reserved whole blackberries 

and sprigs of rosemary. 

The flavors here truly are an incredible combination.

the most involved step includes creating the simple syrup, 

which as you can see isn't hard at all, but gives you those fancy points. 

Because the base of this drink recipe is the syrup,

 I'd think it would be pretty easy to swap in other fruit & herb combinations 

to come up with new flavors - 

then just add Prosecco and garnish.

& the most important thing of all....it's SO pretty !


Prosecco is Italian Champagne
this particular Zefiro has won many awards
& I recommend it, excellent just for drinking and also from mixing
in an aperitif as above.


& below  my champagne of choice
SOFIA
from Frances Ford Coppola's Vineyards 

this typical Italian-looking gift wrapped bottle
contains the best tasting champagne (at a very low-cost, under $20 bottle),
we use it all the time,, but usually just for sipping,
not mixing in with anything else...

however, recently we had houseguests who were departing,
I found some freshly-squeezed orange juice and proceeded to make
the most perfect Mimosa's one has ever consumed,
we all kept pouring way more than we should, 
but the Vitamin C was needed.

have a happy day, my friends...

* with a little help from my son, the photographer.