Happy Saturday Night... Enjoy a Fabulous Mojito...You Are Welcome

 

  I have never been a fan of mojitos. Until... I went to Mexico this summer. While there I had the most delicious, minty-limey sweet beverage. When I got home I got to work on recreating it and this is what I came up with.

It started with a trip to the local nursery where I found a mint plant called mojito mint. The tag said it was Cuban. I immediately planted it in my garden where it took off in no time. I would think you could use whatever mint you have available at your local grocery store or in your garden. Note- if you plant your own mint plant it closer to your house than I did and preferably in a planter as mint has a tendency to grow out of control. I have a long trek out to the garden every time I have a craving for a mojito.

Next step it to make a mint flavored simple syrup. Make a big batch, it will keep in the fridge for awhile. Start with equal amounts sugar and water. I used 2 cups of each. Bring the sugar water mixture to a boil on the stove over a medium-high heat. Once boiling take off the heat and add a large handful of mint. Don't worry about taking the leaves off the stems. Let the mint steep in the sugar mixture about 10 minutes.

Once finished steeping skim the mint out of the sugar mixture and discard.  I store the simple syrup in a quart sized jar in my fridge. I know the picture below looks deceptively like something else but the sugar mixture takes on a yellow-green color from the mint plant. 

Now that you have your simple syrup made you are ready to make your mojito.

Start by adding 3 or 4 mint leaves to your glass and mash them with the back of your spoon. Next add 1.5 ounces of each: lime juice (bottled is fine), rum and your mint-infused simple syrup.  Give everything in your glass a big mix. Add a heaping cup of crushed ice then top your glass off with about 1 cup of Sprite. (I have also used Mountain Dew and it was good too!) Mix again and enjoy!

The simple syrup is also delicious in iced tea!