Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet

It's summertime!!!!! I can't even tell you how much I love summer. The afternoon thunder storms, how it stays light so late, going to the beach and pool, and even the heat and humidity. I love it all. That being said, it does get awfully hot sometimes. This sorbet is the perfect solution!

I make sorbet fairly often in my ice cream maker but if you don't have an ice cream maker you can still enjoy home made sorbet; it's just a little more labor intensive.

This sorbet is amazing. Fresh strawberries mixed with just the right amount of lemon juice creates an icy, fruity delicious concoction to cool you down. I plan to blend some of this sorbet with some rum or vodka because it will be DELICIOUS, I just know it. I can't wait.

Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet

• about 12 strawberries, hulled and halved
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 5 basil or mint leaves (optional)
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 Tblsp vodka (optional) 

Pour the water and sugar into a saucepan and heat up just until the sugar dissolves. Let cool completely. When cool pour the sugar water into a blender and add the rest of the ingredients  and blend until smooth. (The vodka helps with texture, it keeps it from freezing hard as a rock. If you don't use just let it sit on the counter for a minute before scooping). Pour into an ice cream maker and let freeze. Spoon into a container and place in the freezer for a few more hours before serving.

If you don't have an ice cream machine you can pour the mixture into a glass dish and place in the freezer. Every hour scrape the ice crystals off the top and mix. Soon you will have a slushy consistency that you can transfer into a container and freeze until solid.