Mojitos: My Favorite Drink

Mojito’s are my favorite!  Ironically since I left Los Angeles and moved to Houston, I have not had a good one.  Note to Houston bar tenders.  They tend to pour drinks like the still is out back…  I like a good shot of moonshine from time to time, but don’t pour Hooch into my Mojito please….  Mojito’s are art, like a finely rolled cigar.

Here is My Ode to Mojitos

A classic Los Angeles Mojito – Using Rose’s Lime Juice, I think this is the trick to a great fresh Mojito.  Nothing else should be added!!  So your Mojito is crystal clear.

Bobby Flay knows what I mean.  In his Cuban Mojo Episode he included a recipe for a simple and clean Mojito.  Ah! Fresca!

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• 2 springs fresh mint
• Squeeze fresh lime juice
• 2 ounces light rum
• Splash club soda
• Ice cubes

Directions

Place sugar and mint in a tall glass and using the back of a spoon, mash the mint leaves into the sugar. Add the remaining ingredients, mix, and serve.

Here are some Recipes for messing with my Mojitos in great ways.

Tyler Florence’s (Food Network!) Blueberry Ginger Mojitos by the Pitcher

Ingredients

For the Ginger simple syrup:

• 1/4 cup grated fresh ginger
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup cold water

For the Mojito:

• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 20 to 24 fresh mint leaves
• 4 ounces ginger simple syrup
• 4 ounces vodka
• 5 ounces club soda
• Ice cubes
• Blueberries, for garnish
• Mint leaves, for garnish

Bobby Flay’s Signature Mojito – Only three stars!  See!  His simple Mojito at the top of the page… 5 stars.   I’m telling ya, less is more when it comes to a good Mojito!!  Still, this is fun to try.

Giada’s De Laurentis’ Cherry Mojitos – I cannot get away from the Food Network!  All of my favorite recipes come from here.   My next favorite Recipe hunting location is Vegan Yum-Yum.  I wonder if she has a Mojito recipe.  These cherry Mojitos look really good.  I like that in this recipe, you’ve combined the lime and the sugar into a simple syrup.  Seems smart.

Ingredients

• 1 pound bag frozen pitted cherries
• 2 cups crushed ice, plus extra to serve
• 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 3 limes)
• 1 cup citrus flavored rum
• 1 2/3 cups Lime Simple Syrup, recipe follows
• Lime wedges and fresh cherries, for garnish

Directions

Place the frozen cherries, crushed ice, mint leaves, lime juice, rum, and simple syrup in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour the mixture into chilled glasses and top with crushed ice. Garnish with lime wedges and cherries.

Lime Simple Syrup

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 3 limes, zested

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lime zest over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for 20 minutes. Strain before using.

Yield: 1 2/3 cups

Thanks for letting me share!  Enjoy!

Faery Rings & Forensics

The knowledge of science and the value of imagination. An article from the Houston Chronicle that illustrates the value of appreciating imagination, make-believe and wonder, as we wouldn’t have science if we didn’t believe we could adventure the edges of the ocean, travel to outer space and beyond, or   eliminate disease.

Click on the Photo for another great modern day faery ring story.

Fairy Rings, by the Plantwoman

“These mysterious circles of fungi are variously known as fairy rings, fairy circles, sorcerers’ rings or circles, elf circles, and pixie rings.  There is a long tradition of folklore that marks them as magical places, usually as gateways to another world.  Other traditions say that they are places where fairies and/or elves gather to dance.

The bacchanalian revels of these other-worldly creatures are especially associated with moonlit nights, with the rings only becoming visible to mortals in the morning.

Inevitably, this fairy ring folklore has nourished superstitions about the dire consequences for mortals violating the perimeter of the fairy ring.  Any mortal who stepped inside the ring would become invisible to other mortals and may find it impossible to leave the circle.  The fairies, as punishment for his transgression, could force him to dance to the point of exhaustion, death, or madness.

And if a mortal dared to destroy a fairy ring, the consequences for him would be just too horrible to contemplate.  (I’m afraid the guys in my lawn service are in big, big trouble!)

Of course, some people with no poetry or mysticism in their souls pour cold water on these traditions.  They will tell you that fairy rings are natural phenomena that are begun by a spore from a sporocarpus which grows outward creating a connected circle of mushrooms… “  more.

http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=plantwoman&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aplantwomanPost%3aa99979cb-d9ec-46fd-997b-3ca300b23e14

Banana Flip Cookies: Make Me Smile

Go Betty

How cute are these?! Totally easy cookies might make back to school blues a little bit better. They at least look like cookies you’d eat on a summer afternoon. I bet you could vegan these up easily as well. Link

Cookies
1/3	cup mashed ripe banana
1/3	cup butter and margarine, softened
2	oz cream cheese, softened (1/4 cup)
1	teaspoon vanilla
1	egg
1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
2	tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
Filling
3	cups powdered sugar
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/3	cup Yoplait® Thick & Creamy banana yogurt
Topping
1	tablespoon powdered sugar

	Print these coupons…
	About Concordance™

1.	Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir banana, 1/3 cup butter, the cream cheese, vanilla and egg until well blended. Add cookie mix and flour; stir until soft dough forms.
2.	With medium cookie scoop or by heaping tablespoonfuls, scoop dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3.	Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4.	In large bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat on high speed about 2 minutes or until lightly and fluffy.
5.	To make each sandwich cookie, spread about 1 tablespoon filling on bottoms of 16 cookies. Top each with one of the remaining cookies; gently press cookies together.
6.	Sprinkle tops of sandwich cookies with powdered sugar. Store between sheets of waxed paper in tightly covered container in refrigerator.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Increase flour to 1/4 cup.

Nutrition Information:

1 Sandwich Cookie: Calories 340 (Calories from Fat 130); Total Fat 14g (Saturated Fat 8g, Trans Fat 1 1/2g); Cholesterol 40mg; Sodium 160mg; Total Carbohydrate 50g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 38g); Protein 2g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 8%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 4% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 2 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 2 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 3

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Aw, How Cute!