Strawberry Infused Vinegar & Summer Mocktails

Strawberry Infused Vinegar & Summer Mocktails

If you know me, you’ll know that I am a big kombucha fan. I have been making, drinking and teaching kombucha brewing since 2012. While booch is one of my top beverages, some other sweet sips have joined the ranks. Infused vinegars give you the sweet and tart flavors of kombucha without the natural carbonation. It's BYOC - bring your own carbonation!

I see vinegar as the slightly more sour sibling to kombucha. While most folks might just experience vinegar as a salad dressing ingredient, it has so much more to offer.
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This strawberry vinegar is one of my favorites during the Summer with the abundance of berries available at the farmers market. You can get some no waste kitchen points by including the green tops of the strawberries or just make your vinegar exclusively from the tops (as long as they have some of the red part).

Strawberry vinegar makes a great addition to mocktails and fizzy drinks. Plus, apple cider vinegar can boost your digestive power with its acidity.

Strawberry Vinegar 
(Makes 40 1tbsp servings)
Ingredients:
-1 1/2 cup organic strawberries, cut into quarters. You can even include the green tops!
-2.5 cups unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (with the "Mother"), or a little more if needed to cover strawberries 
​-Optional: replace ½ cup of the strawberries herbs like rosemary, basil or mint.

Supplies needed:
-1 quart jar 
-An additional quart jar or a 32 ounce glass bottle
-Mesh strainer 
-Parchment paper
-Scissors

Instructions
-Wash jar and lid thoroughly with hot water and soap.
-Wash and cut strawberries into quarters. Add them into your jar along with the optional herbs. -Cover strawberries with the apple cider vinegar, leaving 1/2 inch of space between the liquid and top of lid.
-Before placing the lid on the jar, cut a square piece of parchment paper to place on top of the jar before you screw the lid on. This prevents the lid from rusting due to the acidity of the vinegar. Label the jar with the date and the contents.
-Place jar in a cool (ideally dark) area that is out of direct sunlight and allow to infuse for 2-4 weeks. Agitate (aka shake) the jar every few days to prevent mold growth.
-After the vinegar is infused to your liking, strain out the strawberries and pour vinegar into another clean jar or bottle. Label and store in the refrigerator 

Note: If your strawberry vinegar starts to mold at any time, or show signs of fermentation such as bubbling, cloudiness or sliminess, discard the product.

Mocktails

Sparkling
Strawberry Lemonade
(Makes one 8 ounces serving)
Ingredients:
-1 tbsp strawberry vinegar 
-1 tsp lemon juice
-8 ounces carbonated water
-Optional ice cubes 

Directions:
Add ice, strawberry vinegar and lemon juice to a glass.  Pour the carbonated water slowly in the glass, pausing when it is half way full to allow the mixture to fizz and not pour over the edge of the glass. Then fill the glass the rest of the way with carbonated water.

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Watermelon-Strawberry Spritzer
(Makes one 8 ounce serving)
Ingredients:
-½ cup blended watermelon
-½ cup carbonated water
-1 tbsp strawberry vinegar 
-Optional ice cubes 
Directions:
Add blended watermelon, carbonated water, strawberry vinegar and ice in a glass and enjoy.