Having a birthday around Christmas can be really frustrating; you might have to deal with one big present instead of two? Or if your birthday is before Christmas then you only get your present when seen at Christmas, so you never have anything to open on the day! These are serious middle class trials! If, like me, you have a Birthday in January you also have to cope with all those people doing ‘Dry January’; a public health initiative to give up all alcohol for 31 days and to, I quote, “save a few quid, lose a few pounds, and feel more energised and refreshed in the process”. My husband is one such virtuous person, but I’m not letting that put me off. A birthday is a perfect excuse to get a baby sitter and go out for a meal, or be the baby sitters yourself but let your other half do the cooking and indulge in some wine & a cocktail or two. In my opinion cocktails are the best type of alcoholic drink, and there’s never a shortage of new ones to try! This is an old favourite that my husband, on a special occasion, makes for me, it’s based on a recipe from BBC Good Food but adapted over time.
Strawberry & Rose Fizz Cocktail
- 12 Strawberries
- Rose Water – I use Star Kay White Rose Water which you can buy from Lakeland £5.99. It’s 50% alcohol so you only need 1 tsp.
- 4 Ice cubes
- Sugar to taste
- Bottle of Chilled Prosecco or Champagne
Makes at least 6 cocktails (with some left over for seconds)
- Put your cocktail glasses in the freezer 30 minutes before starting.
- Wash the Strawberries, cut off the green bits and then blitz them in the food processor
- Add the rose water, ice and sugar to taste and continue to mix in the food processor to make a puree.
- Remove cocktail glasses from freezer & spoon x 2 tsp of strawberry puree into the bottom of the glasses.
- Fill your glasses with chilled bubbles.
- Drink & Enjoy!