mojitos

Welcome to summer, friends. It's here, get excited.

It's officially the season for road trips, sand volleyball, water skiing, and sleeping under the stars. And no, I haven't done any of these things yet--have you? I have, however, gone on picnics, gotten caught in a summer rainstorm, hung out in a garden with my sketchbook, and taken up exploring on my bike, so I guess I've got a good start. Summer makes me free.

Except for the fact that I don't actually get summers off anymore. Sigh. Welcome to real life, I know...

In other news, Spoon has left me. Really. Like I haven't seen her in a week and a half. She even took the cat.

Okay, she didn't really just up and leave...I knew she was going. She's on an epic adventure--involving mountains, Mumford & Sons, white tigers, and the desert. Sounds fabulous, right? Yes. And I'm not completely certain, but as far as I know, at least, she's having a pretty fine time.

This is what she left me for. You're right, there's no competition.

 Regardless, I am selfish, and would like her to return from this adventure and take me out for ice cream. I would also like her to make me a margarita--she is better at it than I am...

I can, however, make a pretty good mojito. Not that it's that difficult...mojitos are simply fresh mint and lime, muddled together with a bit of simple syrup, topped off with club soda, white rum, and crushed ice. Yeah, they're kind of girly, but mmmmm...so so tasty. And perfect for summer. Want to learn how to make them? It's really easy, and you get to muddle stuff--I'll show you!

Before I go on, I have to tell you about my first experience with mojitos, which was last summer. We drank them on the roof. Obviously, this was great fun, so naturally I now associate mojitos with summertime and happiness. I haven't yet figured out how to get on the roof of my current building, so that will have to be an adventure for another time. I'm sure there must be some way, though...

Anyway, we have our very own supply of mint, thanks to the mini herb garden that Spoon has planted out on the balcony, so there is ample supply for drink-making. We also thought it might be fun to play around with the mojito concept a bit, and put our own twist on it, which thus far has consisted of adding (what else?) rhubarb and/or ginger. Not like we ever get excited about those, right? If these combinations sound odd, you should know that both flavors worked beautifully with the mint and lime--fabulous and refreshing. There will be more mojito experiments to come, though...but not til Spoon returns to Minnesota.

Spoon, I don't think I can bear the thought of mojitos without you. Come back. I'll make us popcorn.

Mojitos

according to ginger and spoon, adapted from the folks at Bacardi

1/2 lime, cut into wedges12 mint leaves
1-2 Tbsp simple syrup, or to taste*
1 part white rum
3 parts club soda
crushed ice 

 

1. Tear up your mint leaves and put them in the bottom of a glass

2. Throw your lime wedges in with the mint, and add the simple syrup

3. Muddle everything together with a pestle--we don't have one of these, so we used the end of a big spoon. Make sure you muddle everything really well, so the flavors of the mint and lime really come out..this is important! We think this step is pretty fun, as well.

4. Add the rum, and top off with the club soda and the crushed ice. You can just use whole ice cubes, but the crushed stuff makes the drink colder faster, plus it looks better. It's also fun to make the crushed ice, especially when you use a hammer, as we've found.

5. If you're fancy, you can stick a lime on the side of the glass as a garnish. Otherwise, enjoy!

*simple syrup is really simple, ha--it is just equal parts water and sugar, heated until the sugar dissolves and then cooled. It's really just sugar-water, but it is better than just adding sugar to your drink, because this way the sugar is already dissolved.

Finally, the last time we made mojitos, I muddled my lime and mint with some ginger-rhubarb sauce that I had in the fridge--so like a rhubarb mojito (this is why it looks kind of weird in the picture). Spoon added fresh grated ginger to her lime/mint muddle, so hers was just a mojito + ginger. They were both fabulous--be creative, I'm sure we'll be thinking up more ideas in the future as well!

"There is no shortage of good days. It is good lives that are hard to come by. A life of good days lived in the senses is not enough. The life of sensation is the life of greed; it requires more and more. The life of the spirit requires less and less; time is ample and its passage sweet."
--Annie Dillard


--ginger