While we love a good afternoon happy hour beverage, we are admittedly not the best when it comes to making cocktails. We usually stick to our rotation of wines and beers and call it a day. We had some extra fruit laying around and decided to play bartender and mix ourselves a grown up cocktail. This cocktail has cooked raspberry syrup and is balanced it out with a zing of lemon for a refreshing afternoon treat.

Lemon Raspberry Fizz

Makes: 2 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbs sugar, separated
• 3 oz vodka
• 1 lemon
• 1 cup club soda

Directions:

1. Heat a small pot over medium heat. Add the raspberries, water, and 1 tbs sugar to the pot. Cook until the sugar has dissolved and the raspberries are starting to break down- about 4 minutes. Use a fork or rubber spatula to break the raspberries apart so that the juices mix. Remove from the heat and cool.
2. Pour 1 tbs of sugar onto a flat plate. Dip each of the serving glass rims in water and then onto the plate to coat the rims in sugar.
3. Add a few ice cubes to each glass. Strain the raspberry mix through a sieve or mesh slotted spoon to remove any seeds. Divide the raspberry juice between the two glasses.
4. Use a vegetable peeler to peel a few slices of zest and put them into each glass. Slice the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from half into each glass.
5. Add one shot of vodka (1.5 oz) to each glass. Top with club soda and serve immediately.