Mojitos, yay!

[terribleturnip]

As several of you have had the good fortune to experience, the Captain and I have arrived at what we believe to be the best mojito. Yes, it took hours of grueling work, squeezing limes, crushing mint, making syrup, sampling many batches...recovering said sampling. But we think we're there.

But, now what? After all, while there is a tiny bit of mint clinging to life in the garden, it seems cruel to wipe it out in the pursuit of one more mojito. And a true believer in seasonality, I can't bring myself to buy a case of mint to make the syrup so that we can have them year round....a mojito in December...just not right. (Unless you are in Florida...or some other sunny clime...)

So, you'll be glad to know that we are pursuing the perfect cold weather cocktail. And because I'm a rumwhore, it will be rum based. And as soon as Maryland is over, we'll have the energy to begin sampling.

Now, on the one hand, I'm a purist. Pre-mixed cocktail fixings...euw. And it's usually so expensive compared to the raw ingredients, that I just sigh and crack open a cider or beer. But hope springs eternal and despite having had some really noxious stuff, and some not so noxious, but so pricey that I'm paying more for the mix than the alcohol. (No. That's just WRONG.) I keep trying -- because sometimes you just don't have time or the facilities to squeeze the limes, make the mint syrup, etc.

I give you: Trader Joe's Sparkling Mojito Mix. Cheap and, really, not bad...oh, sure, a touch too sweet, but, really....not bad. And cheap, readily available and shelfstable. (These are a few of my favorite things) It's actually even quite drinkable without the rum. Stock up a few bottles -- sure, now you're so damn glad that fall weather's here, you want to just wallow in autumnal, but trust me, you'll be glad you have some on hand in January, when suddenly "tropical" sounds lovely...

Comments

[thewhitedragon.livejournal.com]

If you need mint, lemme know - I've got several plants growing behind the condo and a few growing on our balcony from transplants.

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Why is your mint "clinging to life?" It's a WEED! (Not making any blanket statements about your yard, but really -- I thought all you had to do to mint was turn your back on it for a few days, and you'll have all you need..).

[terribleturnip.livejournal.com]

Dragon, Thanks for the mint offer, but the second step of the mint syrup is the storing of the bottles of it in the fridge...and until I get a second fridge, I can't justify taking up that much room going into the holiday season. Especially since I'm sure I'll wind up taking up room with a syrup or other concoction of the the Winter Cocktail.

Yo, city boy. We're in the middle of a drought. Even the weeds are clinging to life. And when you grow your mint as a harvested crop and harvest it accordingly, that combined with a drought...leaves you with mostly crispy dead things, with some little leaflets hugging the ground. Sure, I coulda watered it...but my garden is all about tough love. I'll water a perennial the first season but then it needs to "perennial" all on it's own. Or it dies and I replace it with something that can hack it. Except for my toad lilies, who I coddle, because, well, they're TOAD LILIES....

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Yo, city boy.

You're so cute 'n' shizzle...

I love Mexican food!

[dragonsdagger.livejournal.com]

Wow! Is it good with Salsa? I love your cooking...

Wait a sec... let me start over now that I read further.

Wow! It is good with Salsa? I love rumwhore!

Mmmmm....

[3fingeredsalute.livejournal.com]

Have you tried caipirinhas? PURISTS (and I know your tendency to be one) use cachaça (which is a specially made sugar-cane rum made in steel tanks), but ordering it in any non Latin-American restaurant will usually get you some variety of rum as a substitute. Also, some recipes will tell you "sugar", but give brown (or a dark brown) sugar, muddled with the limes a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

Let me know what you wind up finding to substitute for Mojito's. What's another addiction between friends?

[terribleturnip.livejournal.com]

PALM sugar. That's the way to go. Although to me it just tastes like a mojito without mint. And mint, my friend is necessary. I'm actually not at all a mixed drink person. I'm lazy. Popping a cap or cork is way easier. So, it's got to taste really good for me to bother.

I will keep you posted on the winter choice...

[warriorsway.livejournal.com]

I volunteer for rumwhore guinea pig duty. You gives da word.

[chellebelle74.livejournal.com]

Me too! And I'm little so I won't even take up much room when I pass out on the floor. I don't even mind serving as a pillow for fellow guinea pigs. :-D

[terribleturnip.livejournal.com]

There may be a solstice unveiling of the choice...we'll see how hard the next month is on me.

I'd love to invite you guys to take a shift as guinea pigs but that would sort of cut into my share, no? Although I'm thinking of you two curled up on my floor...and that's working for me.

[chellebelle74.livejournal.com]

::said with big eyes and a quivering lip:: Please please pretty please?? I'll bring mixers and extra rum... I'll bring munchies... I'll even satisfy your need to herd and manage. Direct me what to bring and how much and it will be done. May I please be a guinea pig now?