Tayari's Blog: CARLEEN’S ORANGE MINT MOJITOS

Posted by TayariJones on March 12, 2008 10:29 AM
Filed under Cocktails With Writers

Carleen Brice, who blogs over at The Pajama Gardener, is celebrating the publication of her first novel, Orange Mint and Honey-- the story of how - with the help of the late Nina Simone, a teenage boyfriend, and the mother she thought she'd never forgive - a late bloomer finally blossoms.

Keeping with the spirit, here's her recipe for Orange Mint Mojitos:

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS
3 limes
½ cup orange blossom honey (or any honey or sugar)
12-18* mint sprigs
2 cups orange juice**
Seltzer (orange or plain)
White rum or orange rum

DIRECTIONS

  • Grate the rind of ½ lime. Squeeze juice from that lime and 1 other. Slice 3rd lime into 6 pieces and set aside.
  • Combine honey, 6 mint sprigs, lime juice, lime zest in a saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat until honey dissolves. Remove from heat and steep for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Strain.
  • Combine honey mixture and orange juice in a pitcher. Stir until honey dissolves.
  • Divide honey-orange juice mixture into 6 tall glasses. Place 1 mint sprig in each glass, and muddle (crush) the leaves with the back of a wooden spoon into honey-orange juice mixture. Add ice to glasses.
  • If desired, add 1.5 ounces of rum per glass. Top with seltzer, and stir. Garnish with lime slices.

    *For an especially nice presentation, garnish with mint in flower, a trick I learned from my friend Elizabeth.

    **You can substitute orange liqueur for orange juice, but 2 cups is probably too much! You’ll probably only want a shot or so per glass.

    "Carleen Brice's Orange Mint and Honey, a new novel about real mama drama, will have you hooked from page one. ." - Essence

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    There are 1 comments on "CARLEEN’S ORANGE MINT MOJITOS". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

    Comment #1, by carleen [TypeKey Profile Page]

    Thanks Tayari! I was in LA when you posted this, which is why I'm late to the party.

    Cheers!

    March 22, 2008 11:24 AM

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