Episode 11 - Waste No Mint Mojito

When my time comes,

Put me right where the herbs are

Next to the veggies, in my front yard garden.

Let the fresh mint grow from my body

Up on the hill, where the children run.

Oh, oh, Mojito

Oh, oh, oh Mojito

I won’t waste NO mint! 

I’ll put it in my salads…

I’ll use it to make tea…

But most of all COCKTAILS!

So don’t cry for me…

 ‘Cause my drink is FREE! WOO!

*For maximum enjoyment, play “Pay No Rent” from Delta Rae’s latest album, The Dark, and sing along using these minty fresh lyrics .

A Mojito is a perfect way to celebrate the start of spring, the return of many plant friends, and warmer weather! The Mojito was invented in Cuba and is now known all over the world. In this episode, I sing a little song to honor the sweet collision of libations, plants and life’s big questions. Our featured earth element is fresh Mint, who is back with a vengeance in my front yard garden, and she’s a knock out. As for the recipe, I stay true to the traditional Cuban way. ¡ Salud！

Ingredients:

(for 1 cocktail)

 1 Lime (the juice of ½ )

White Rum (1 ½ - 2 ounces)

o   Bacardi Silver works great, or Havana Club if you can get it!

White sugar (2 teaspoons)

Club soda

Ice (a few cubes, or 2 spoonfuls of crushed)

FRESH MINT (a sprig or two, plus the leaves)

o   Remove the leaves gently and set aside, hold on the stems

Angostura Bitters (3 drops)

Equipment needed: a muddler (or a wooden spoon)

Instructions:

Place 2 teaspoons of sugar, the juice of HALF a lime, and a mint stem (ONLY stem) in your glass.

Grab your muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon if you don’t have one). Press down gently and twirl on those 3 ingredients until they’re combined.

Muddle like you mean it, this is what will release the mint flavor into the lime juice and sugar.

Pour in 2 ounces of white rum, add 3 dashes of bitters and sprinkle in the pretty mint leaves

Stir gently and drop in a few ice cubes (don’t over ice)

Add a splash of club soda on top and one more mint sprig for presentation and enjoy this boozy, botanical beauty.

¡Viva Cuba!

Happy Muddling!