Gearing up for Valentine's Day? These pink cocktails are the perfect idea for a girls' brunch or luncheon (plus there's a great mocktail version!)

The Day of Love is approaching, and it's the BEST time to get together with girlfriends to celebrate.  One of my big goals for the start of this year was to devote more time to the friends I've made here in San Diego.  Quality time.  Last week, three of us got together for a little pre-Valentine's Day lunch.  We each made a part of the menu, and had a total blast catching up and talking about all the plans we have for the next month.

On our menu? Lemon Basil Pasta (man was it delish), pink cocktails (that was my job, I made strawberry bellinis and a delish strawberry mocktail option) and the Valentine's Day Treat Boards.  It was the perfect way set up a simple Valentine's celebration with friends.  I loved splitting the responsibilities, and I loved having the time together.  Bonus? I got a chance to test run my Valentine's Day Clothes……

<click here for the basil lemon pasta recipe>

<click here for how to create an easy Valentine's Day Treat Board>

Pink Cocktails: Strawberry Bellini

Something about pink cocktails just screams Valentine's Day.  I love that they're a fun color, and can easily be used for brunches, even showers into the Spring and Summer.  These pink cocktails? Both the cocktail version and the mocktail version are based around a simple strawberry rosewater puree.  You can make it in advance and easily transport it to a party or event anywhere.

Ingredients:

3 cups of fresh strawberries

1/8 cup of rose water

optional strawberry juice

champagne or tonic water

Directions:

1. In a blender, puree strawberries and rosewater.  If more liquid is needed, add strawberry juice or water.  This can be made the night before an event and stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge until use.
2. For serving, place a tablespoon of puree at the bottom of champagne flutes.  Pour over: champagne for cocktail version or tonic water for mocktail version.

From a girls' brunch to Valentine's Day breakfast, these pink cocktails (or mocktails depending on your preference) are a special treat that are a ton of fun to drink and super easy to make.  I hope you love them as much as I do!