Is anyone else obsessed with tomatoes right now?  Every year when summer rolls around and tomatoes get sweet and delicious I try to eat all the tomatoes that I can get my hands on!  When I was pregnant I ate at least three tomatoes a day with garlic salt and had to make myself stop so I wouldn't get a mouth ulcer!  Lately, I have been putting tomatoes into everything like my Greek Chicken Pasta Salad, Panzanella Cantaloupe Caprese Skewers...and now even my cocktails!  My tomato basil crush is going to have you loving tomatoes in a whole new way!

This cocktail all came about because I was watching my favorite weekend cooking shows, and I saw a chef make a tomato cocktail.  Now, I love a bloody mary, so my interest was peaked immediately.  I was totally inspired to make my own version of a tomato cocktail while tomatoes are at their best! 

Obviously you have to love tomatoes to enjoy this cocktail, but if you love them like I do, then this cocktail is going to be your new favorite summer drink!  My tomato basil crush would be perfect for brunch any weekend...meaning this weekend!

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup of Ripe Tomatoes (Any variety will do here, but just make sure they are really great tomatoes.)
• 1/2 Cup of Fresh Basil
• 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 2 Oz. Vodka
• 1 Tbsp. Smoked Sea Salt for Garnishing the Rim (Regular Salt would work too)
• 2 Tbsp. Balsamic Glaze for Garnishing the Rim (I used Trader Joes's Balsamic Glaze, but you can also reduce 1/2 Cup of balsamic vinegar down in a pan with 2 tbsp. of sugar until it is thick.)

Directions:

• Make basil simple syrup by combing sugar, water, and basil in a saucepan and bringing it to a boil.  Remove from heat and let the syrup sit for 10 minutes.  Remove basil from syrup and chill thoroughly. (Feel free to make this the night before. The syrup will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.)
• Roughly chop tomatoes.
• In a food processor, pulse the tomatoes until they are pureed.
• Strain the tomato juice through a fine mesh strainer and set aside.
• In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, tomato juice, and 4 tablespoons of the basil simple syrup and shake with a few ice cubes until the cocktail is chilled.
• Take two glasses and dip the rim in balsamic glaze followed by the smoked salt.
• Place ice cubes in the glass and then pour tomato basil crush cocktail over top.
• Garnish with basil and skewered tomatoes and serve immediately.

This cocktail screams summertime and is going to make you love tomatoes in a whole new way!