mojitos... so easy!

I know, I know, I hardly did any blogs this August.

I was too busy living in "August time."

Which, as you know, is a very special time zone.

One of the things I was doing in August time 

was experimenting with making

the perfect mojito,
and getting familiar enough with it
so I could just whip one up any 'ole time.

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I've discovered that I have some issues now, though.
New issues, I should say.

I used to just be able to love mint for being mint. 

A nice herbal addition to foods, or a refreshing / soothing tea.

Right?

Well, maybe.

Now, whenever I smell a really delicious mint, 

I can almost taste rum.

I can hear the selzer bubbling.

And I think mojito.

Mint = mojito.

Ut oh.

And after spending time at the beach
with my sister this summer,
now I have another problematic association.

Strawberries = daiquiri.
Actually any fruit = cocktail opportunity.

But I digress.
------------

Let me tell you how to make mojito magic.

It's the easiest thing.

Do it once or twice, and you'll never forget.

 You can add fruit and/or herbs if you really want.

Strawberry  + basil...

Blueberry...

Grapefruit...

Watermelon...

Coconut...

Mango...

Peach...

 Basically any kind of fruit combo you want to create

if you're feeling funky or creative

or want to use some fruit up.

And the rum, well, it's up to you.
You can leave it out if you want,
which I do plenty of times,
and it's still the most delicious lime-mint drink ever!
Sometimes it tastes even better without the rum.

Anyway, I'm not going to tell you
how to make every kind of fruit mojito,

just the basic.
The original.

The purist, minimalist mojito.

Once you've got this down, you can experiment til the cows come home.
Or the chickens get in the coop!

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So get ready to muddle things up.

You need:
 rum, seltzer, a lime, simple syrup (1:1 ratio), 10-15 mint leaves.
and 
your favorite glass, a muddler, and some ice.


optional:  lemon-lime soda

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As for the mint, any mint will do.

Particularly a spearmint.

But the original is supposedly a Cuban mint
called mentha villosa

which I will be planting for sure next year.

Do this:

Cut half a lime length-wise into 4 wedges.

Put one in the bottom of your glass 

with 2 T of simple syrup, 

and some mint leaves

and muddle it all up.

 I must say I really love my muddler.

It feels good in the hand and has some nice pokey things on the bottom

which help release the flavorful and fragrant oils

of the mint and lime....

Mmmmmmnnnnnnn!

Then add 2 more lime wedges and the rest of the mint and muddle those up.

Add a generous splash of rum.

(I like just enough to make my belly hum...

and in general, I think it's always better to start with less 

and make it stronger to your taste than have to dilute it later.)

Fill your glass with ice.

Then add seltzer, or lemon-lime soda or a little of both.

Stir it well.

(If you're only using seltzer, check the sweetness level

and add a little more simple syrup if you want.)

Rub and then garnish the rim of your glass with the last lime wedge.

That's it and that's all.
The mojito magic is all yours now.
 

Enjoy!