"LOLOCCINO" AKA STRAWBERRY VANILLA SHAKE UP

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Time 35m

Yield 1 drink

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 to 3 tablespoons Strawberry-Vanilla Simple Syrup, recipe follows
8 slices freeze-dried strawberries, plus additional for garnish
1 cup plain sparkling water
1/2 cup finely crushed ice (it can be regular ice, smashed in a ziptop bag)
1 cup sugar
1 cup dehydrated or freeze-dried strawberries
1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste

Steps:

In a large glass, add the Strawberry-Vanilla Simple Syrup and freeze-dried strawberries. Muddle until the strawberries are macerated (this is how you get that pink color!). Pour in enough sparkling water to fill the glass halfway up. Give it a stir, then pour into a rocks glass over ice. Top off with the remaining seltzer and give it another stir. Garnish with more sliced strawberries and more syrup if desired.
In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, strawberries and 1 cup water to a boil, stirring the whole time. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, then add the vanilla and continue to simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool completely, then strain. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.