Happy Fourth of July. It's Mojito time!

image credit

So today Mr. Downeastdoingstuff,  aka Birdman, announces he wants to make some Mojitos. Mojitos??

"Do you know how to make one?", I ask.

"No", he replies.

"Well, I know you have muddle some mint leaves in the bottom of a glass first.", I inform him.

"???"

":-/"

"Muddle?"

(blink...blink)

"Let's just not use mint leaves!", he declares

"No, I'm pretty sure that's an integral part of the recipe.", I say.

So, off I go to my best friend......Google.

Come to find out we need to make something called 'simple syrup'. It's a good thing that this idea of Birdman's came just after breakfast because to make simple syrup you have to make it hot and then let it cool before you actually use it.

I found a recipe and emailed it to Birdman's computer. He's the drink maker around here.

Late afternoon I went to Hannaford's and got the ingredients.

(I picked up 3 Lobsters, too...just in case.)

Here we go:

Rum, simple syrup, mint leaves, lime and club soda.

Muddle the leaves first. 

"???"

Next step? You Tube.

(we'd be in big trouble without the computer)

Important fact learned. Do NOT muddle it too much. Be gentle. Key to a great Mojito.

Easy on the muddling.

Twenty minutes later, 2 great Mojitos. Here's one. (I photographed Birdman's Mojito because mine was half gone already at this point.) ;-/

:-)

:-)    :-)    :-)    :-p

Drinking the Mojito, Birdman is playing with his i-phone.

Next thing I know he tells me that he's looking at the weather radar map. We are having a few storms coming through the area, as you can see....

Then he tells me that he decided to scroll to the right to see if he can get to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean on his i-phone.

I'm, like, whatever. 

This is what he finds....

(apparently the Atlantic Ocean...)

After more scrolling, more apparent Atlantic Ocean. And then....and THEN...here's what he finds!

It's really there! Great Britain. 

Chance of a few showers and no Mojitos in sight.

But then again, it's not cocktail hour there anymore.

....or maybe it's just beginning.....

As Jimmy Buffet says, "It's 5 o'clock somewhere."

Cheers.




the recipe:

Bacardi Mojito

Ingredients

• 12 fresh spearmint leaves
• 1/2 lime
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, cooled) or 4 teaspoons sugar
• Ice
• 1 1/2 ounces light rum (recommended: Bacardi)
• Club soda
• Lime wedge and mint sprig, for garnish

Directions

In a tall glass, muddle or mash together the mint leaves and lime. Add the simple syrup or sugar and fill the glass with ice. Add the rum and top with club soda, stir well.Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.