time for Mojitos!

Summer has finally arrived! In Roanoke today it was sunny, ninety degrees by 11am, and I drove around town listening to country music with my sunglasses on (and A/C, too hot for windows down). This weather CLEARLY calls for mojitos! I planted a pot of mint for this purpose alone. Oh yes. 

After spending hours reading about how to make the perfect mojito, here are a few free tips in celebration of summer:

          - Bacardi superior white rum
          - crushed ice (not cubed)
          - homemade simple syrup (1 cup sugar/1 cup water boiled together, off heat add 10  
             mint leaves, infuse until room temp, then strain leaves out)

the Perfect Mojito
10 fresh mint leaves
1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
1T simple syrup
1 cup crushed ice
1 and 1/2 ounces white rum
1/2 cup club soda

1. Place mint leaves (tear into glass) and 1 lime wedge into pint glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release mint oils and lime juice. 
2. Add simple syrup and 2 more lime wedges, and muddle again. Do not strain. 
3. Fill the glass almost to the top with crushed ice. 
4. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with club soda. Add more simple syrup if desired. Garnish with the last lime wedge and enjoy!