Frugal Foodie Mama: Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini

This refreshing Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini is bursting with the flavors of fresh strawberries & tart lemon...

Who else could use a good, strong cocktail this weekend? Maybe some of you all are scrambling to get your taxes finished up over the weekend to make that Monday deadline. Or maybe the kids' spring break has just started, and you are already pulling your hair out.

Or maybe you have recently delved into the world of online dating & need a drink or two to get you through the swiping. (Raises hand.) No matter your reason, this tasty Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini is just what the doctor ordered.

Can we just chat about that latter reason for a quick second though? ;) For those of you who haven't picked up on it yet or just don't know, my husband and I got a divorce this past year. I won't go into too many of the sorted details of all of that, but I will tell you that the entire thing caught me off guard and totally shook up my world for a while.

I am just now starting to find my footing again and am ready to move on & forward, so naturally I decided to sign myself up for a couple of online dating apps just to test the waters.

Let's just say the waters haven't been all that warm & friendly so far. Maybe I am too picky (ain't nothing wrong with that, you all!) or maybe it is just because of where I live, but I haven't really made any real connections so far.

What I have managed to make though are a few entertaining observations about men's dating profiles from the ones I have come across so far...

A. There seems to be an overabundance of men who think it is necessary to include at least one (but often multiple) photos of themselves without a shirt on in their dating profiles. I mean, seriously.

It's one thing if it happens to be a photo of a guy enjoying himself on the beach or at the pool, but the blatant (look at my abs!) shirtless selfies taken in a dirty mirror? Pass.
And on that note- sweaty gym seflies? I don't get those either.

B. I can't tell you all how many profiles I have swiped left on that have multiple pics of them with another woman (I am assuming an ex or exes? Maybe it is a sister or a cousin, but come on...). They can at least take a few seconds to crop a photo, okay?

My favorite though has to be the guy I came across recently who said forget that photo editing stuff. He just decided to take a black sharpie to the girl's face & post that to his profile instead, lol.

C. I am also struggling with guys my age (I am 41) or a little older that claim that they would like to have kids (or more kids) "someday". Someday? Like when you are 50? I am so perplexed by this.

I mean, I am done with the whole making babies thing. DONE. And most of my girlfriends who are around my age have also disembarked from the baby making train, so I know it isn't just me. I could definitely understand if these men were looking for younger women, but they are not. They are looking for ladies around my age or older. (Scratches head.)

D. Can we also talk about the guys who post multiple pics with varying degrees of facial hair for a minute? I mean, which is it? Clean shaven, 5:00 shadow, or full-on mountain man beard?

That would be like me posting various photos of myself with short hair, longer hair, & red hair, and then just keep the fellas guessing as to which version of myself they are going to get if we were to meet up for a drink.

Not that facial hair is everything, but it sort of, kind of is.... right, ladies? ;) Keep the pics current, you all. If you shave the beard off, delete the pics of you with a beard. If you grow it back, you can always add them back. Easy, peasy.

So whatever your reason is for needing a boozy cocktail this weekend- rather it be the perils of online dating, scrambling last minute to find those W-2's for that tax return, or maybe having to referee the umpteenth fight between the kiddos by only day #2 of spring break- this Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini is the perfect remedy.

I will forewarn you all though- this martini packs quite the kick. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing though, right? ;)

Are you currently doing the whole online dating thing?
What are some of your most entertaining observations so far? Please share in the comments below!

Yield: Serves 1Author: Carrie Robinson

Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini

prep time: 1 hour cook time: 10 mins total time: 1 hours and 10 mins

ingredients:

For the strawberry simple syrup

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup of strawberries, hulled & chopped

For the martini

2 oz. good quality vodka (I used Tito's.)
1.5 oz. limoncello
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1.5 oz. of strawberry simple syrup
Sparkling/coarse sugar for the rim
Lemon twist/strawberry for the garnish (optional)

instructions

Combine the sugar and the water in a small saucepan and heat until slightly boiling. Add in the chopped strawberries & continue on slow simmer for 2-3 minutes more. Mashed the strawberries to release more of their juice. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from the heat.
Allow the strawberries to steep in the syrup for at least 30 minutes. The longer you allow it to infuse, the stronger the strawberry flavor will be.
When done infusing, strain the syrup through a wire mesh strainer into a glass jar. Refrigerate.

To make the martini

Run a lemon slice along the rim of the martini glass. Then twist in the sugar for the rim. Garnish the rim with a lemon slice & a strawberry. Place a lemon twist in the bottom of the glass (optional). Set aside.
Place ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour in the vodka, limoncello, lemon juice, & simple syrup. Give it a good shake to combine the ingredients & then strain into the prepared glass.
Enjoy immediately. Cheers!

Created using The Recipes Generator