Spring Break
Easy summer entertaining
Heather Jackson Staff writer in NEWS
Issue date: 6/19/09 Section: ARTS & LIFE
For summer get-togethers, mojitos are the ultimate drink. This Latin American cocktail combines lime, rum, and fresh mint leaves for a smooth and refreshing reprieve from the oppressive Texas heat.
I learned this recipe for classic mojitos as a bartender in the Knox-Henderson area of Uptown Dallas. Mojitos are very versatile drinks and no two people will make them the same. Follow this basic recipe and try to experiment with your own favorite flavors. I've made mango mojitos, pomegranate mojitos, raspberry mojitos, orange mojitos - I've even tried a lavender and cucumber mojito. Different flavored rums, liquors, and even fruit purees make excellent additions. Some people prefer to mix the ingredients in a blender to make a frozen mojito. The possibilities are endless!
To make one pitcher: 1 cup light rum (i.e. Bacardi Superior)
2/3 cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and hot water)
1 cup lime juice
About 1 ½ handfuls of fresh mint leaves
Club soda
Ice
Directions: Pour simple syrup, rum and lime juice into a pitcher. Before adding the mint leaves, grab a small bunch of mint and tear it in half. Breaking the leaves will help release the oils. Add the mint leaves to the pitcher and use a wooden spoon or any utensil with a wide, blunt edge to gently crush, or muddle, the leaves. Add ice and club soda before stirring the mixture one last time. Serve over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint.
When the sun and the temperature go down, it's time to break out the sangria.
This Spanish, punch-like mixture of red wine, brandy and seasonal fruit is a great summer drink because it combines fresh fruity flavors with a smooth and subtle warmth.
Making sangria can be intimidating for some people, mostly because they fret over choosing the right wine. If you don't already have a favorite wine in mind, a merlot or cabernet sauvignon will be your best bet. Remember that this wine is going to be mixed with a lot of other flavors, so a high-priced bottle is unnecessary.
Like mojitos, sangria can be made an infinite number of ways. Experimenting with different wines, fruits, juices and other factors will help you create your perfect pitcher.
For one pitcher: One bottle of red wine (merlot or cabernet sauvignon)
½ cup brandy
½ cup orange juice
½ cup pineapple juice
1 lemon, 1 lime, and 1 orange, all cut into slices
Directions: Mix all liquids together in a pitcher. Add fruit and allow to sit for an hour or as long as desired (optional). Serve over ice and garnish with sliced fruit.
I learned this recipe for classic mojitos as a bartender in the Knox-Henderson area of Uptown Dallas. Mojitos are very versatile drinks and no two people will make them the same. Follow this basic recipe and try to experiment with your own favorite flavors. I've made mango mojitos, pomegranate mojitos, raspberry mojitos, orange mojitos - I've even tried a lavender and cucumber mojito. Different flavored rums, liquors, and even fruit purees make excellent additions. Some people prefer to mix the ingredients in a blender to make a frozen mojito. The possibilities are endless!
To make one pitcher: 1 cup light rum (i.e. Bacardi Superior)
2/3 cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and hot water)
1 cup lime juice
About 1 ½ handfuls of fresh mint leaves
Club soda
Ice
Directions: Pour simple syrup, rum and lime juice into a pitcher. Before adding the mint leaves, grab a small bunch of mint and tear it in half. Breaking the leaves will help release the oils. Add the mint leaves to the pitcher and use a wooden spoon or any utensil with a wide, blunt edge to gently crush, or muddle, the leaves. Add ice and club soda before stirring the mixture one last time. Serve over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint.
When the sun and the temperature go down, it's time to break out the sangria.
This Spanish, punch-like mixture of red wine, brandy and seasonal fruit is a great summer drink because it combines fresh fruity flavors with a smooth and subtle warmth.
Making sangria can be intimidating for some people, mostly because they fret over choosing the right wine. If you don't already have a favorite wine in mind, a merlot or cabernet sauvignon will be your best bet. Remember that this wine is going to be mixed with a lot of other flavors, so a high-priced bottle is unnecessary.
Like mojitos, sangria can be made an infinite number of ways. Experimenting with different wines, fruits, juices and other factors will help you create your perfect pitcher.
For one pitcher: One bottle of red wine (merlot or cabernet sauvignon)
½ cup brandy
½ cup orange juice
½ cup pineapple juice
1 lemon, 1 lime, and 1 orange, all cut into slices
Directions: Mix all liquids together in a pitcher. Add fruit and allow to sit for an hour or as long as desired (optional). Serve over ice and garnish with sliced fruit.
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