Vanilla Pear Sparklers

makes 2 drinks

recipe adapted from Homemade Soda Cookbook

• 3 pears, stemmed, peeled , cored, & cut into chunks
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 vanilla bean, split length-wise, seeds scraped & removed
• 2 cups seltzer
• 3 oz. vodka (totally optional)
• ice
• lime slices for garnish

Toss the pear chunks and sugar into a small saucepan. Add the lime juice and scraped vanilla bean. Cover and cook over medium heat until pears are very soft, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean. Mash the mixture with a vegetable masher or fork, until smooth. Strain & cool.

Divide ice between two glass. Pour half vanilla pear syrup into each glass. Add 1 1/2 oz. vodka to each glass, finish with a cup of seltzer in each glass. Add a straw to each cup and garnish with a lime slice on each rim.