Drink your strawberry cheesecake

When strawberry season hits, it's time to shelve those syrupy daiquiri mixes.

For a terrific frozen strawberry daiquiri, combine 1 cup whole fresh strawberries, 1/2 cup ice cubes, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 to 2 tablespoons honey, a pinch of salt and rum, to taste. Blend until smooth, then chill out.

If you're watching your calories, try this recipe for a Strawberry Cheesecake cocktail from Teresa Marie Howes' "Skinnytinis." It has just 151 calories (adding the graham cracker garnish bumps it to 171).

Or if you're in the mood for something refreshingly different, try the Strawberry Shag from Kathy Casey's "Sips and Apps." It pairs fresh strawberries with peppery fresh basil.

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

1 large graham cracker, finely crushed

1/2 ounce lime juice, plus extra for coating the glass

2 ounces vanilla vodka

1/2 ounce sugar-free vanilla syrup

1/2 ounce fat-free vanilla coffee creamer

1 fresh strawberry, stemmed

1/2 cup ice

Place the graham cracker crumbs in a shallow bowl. Place 1 or 2 tablespoons of lime juice in a second shallow bowl. Overturn a martini glass and dunk the rim first in the lime juice, then in the crumbs to coat the rim. Set the glass aside.

In a blender, combine the 1/2 ounce of lime juice with the vodka, vanilla syrup, coffee creamer, strawberry and ice. Blend on high for 1 minute, or until smooth.

-- Recipe adapted from Teresa Marie Howes' "Skinnytinis," Wiley, 2009

STRAWBERRY SHAG

Start to finish: 20 minutes (5 minutes active)

Servings: 1

3 to 4 large fresh strawberries, stemmed and thinly sliced, plus 1 whole berry reserved as garnish

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 large sprigs fresh basil, plus extra for garnish

Ice

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1 ounce lemon juice

3 to 4 ounces chilled soda water

In a small bowl, combine the strawberries and sugar, toss well. Let sit for 15 minutes.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the basil and the strawberries and any juice collected in the bowl. Gently crush using a muddler or a wooden spoon. Fill the shaker with ice, then add the vodka and lemon juice. Cap the shaker.

Shake vigorously. Pour into a large glass, then top with soda water. Stir. Garnish with a strawberry and fresh basil.

-- Recipe adapted from Kathy Casey's "Sips and Apps," Chronicle Books, 2009