The Culinary Works

It's not often a cleaning product leads you to a cocktail creation but in this case it did!  I have been in love with the Mrs. Meyers brand of household cleaning products and in my current nesting mode, I have become obsessed with the lemon verbena scent.  They make counter top cleaner, scrub, candles, laundry detergent, dryer sheets and recently I discovered their plug in scent diffusers…my house smells amazing!

Earlier this summer, inspired by my Mrs, Meyers obsession, I began growing some lemon verbena in my little window sill urban garden.  It has been easy to maintain and I have not done much with it so far -- tossing some chopped up in a butter leaf salad with chives gives the salad a nice citrus lift but that's about it.  A couple of days ago I had a thought - lemon verbena cocktail?  Hmmm, what to do, how to make thoughts started racing thru my mind.  I wanted something quick and fresh.  I also wanted to make sure it did not have a lot of extra added sugar - so I made a lo-cal version of a lemon verbena vodka bubbler.  Here is how I did it:

Lemon Verbena Bubbler

Makes 1 cocktail

• 1 sprig lemon verbena (about 10-15 leaves)
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 to 1 packet splenda or your fave sweetener
• 1 cup coarsely crushed ice
• 2 parts lo-cal lemonade
• 2 parts lo-cal lemon soda water
• 1-2 parts good quality vodka (I say go double!)
• lemon slice and extra verbena leaves for garnish (optional)

1. Muddle lemon verbena leaves, splenda and lemon juice in bottom of a tall glass.
2. Add ice.  Pour in lemonade, soda water and vodka.  Stir.
3. Garnish with lemon slice and verbena leaves.