Lemon Verbena Martini Food

CUCUMBER-LEMON MARTINI

Steps:

• Shake the gin, pureed cucumber, dry vermouth and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon peel and cucumber slice.

LEMON AND VODKA MARTINIS

Steps:

• Place 4 large martini glasses in the freezer. Combine the sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl; whisk until the sugar dissolves. (The lemon syrup can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Combine 1/4 cup lemon syrup and the vodka in a martini shaker. Add ice cubes. Cover and shake 8 to 10 times, then strain the mixture equally into 4 very cold martini glasses (about 3 tablespoons each). Add 1/4 cup chilled sparkling wine to each glass. Garnish each martini with a lemon slice if desired, and serve very cold.

LEMON VERBENA SYRUP

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Add the lemon verbena leaves and cover the pan. Steep for 15 minutes.
• Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer, discard the leaves, and let cool. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Cherry Verbena Soda
• For one drink, fill a tall glass with ice. Add 1 tablespoon of the Lemon Verbena Syrup, 2 tablespoons of Sour Cherry Syrup , and a few dashes of acid phosphate or lemon juice or citric acid solution. Top with seltzer and mix gently. Garnish with lemon verbena leaves and maraschino cherries, if desired.

PERFECT LEMON MARTINI

Steps:

• Using lemon slice, moisten the rim of a chilled cocktail glass; set lemon aside. Sprinkle sugar on a plate; hold glass upside down and dip rim into sugar. Discard remaining sugar on plate. Fill a shaker three-fourths full with ice. Add vodka, limoncello and lemon juice; cover and shake until condensation forms on outside of shaker, 10-15 seconds. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with lemon slice.

LIMONCELLO

Steps:

• Zest the lemons, and place zest into a large glass bottle or jar. Pour in vodka. Cover loosely and let infuse for one week at room temperature.
• After one week, combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Do not stir. Boil for 15 minutes. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature.
• Stir vodka mixture into syrup. Strain into glass bottles, and seal each bottle with a cork. Let mixture age for 2 weeks at room temperature.
• Place bottled liqueur into the freezer. When icy cold, serve in chilled vodka glasses or shot glasses.

LEMON VERBENA MARTINI

Steps:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka and vermouth; shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon verbena.