AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Mint is the New Sage DATE: 5/08/2009 02:55:00 AM ----- BODY:

In typical fashion for mint, its roots have surreptitiously crept to the far reaches of my garden. When I laid down the mulch a few week ago, I ruthlessly pulled up roots over a foot away from the base hoping to stave off its explosion. Nonetheless, after a few days of warm weather, my mint plant has erupted.

But unlike sage, whose prolific growth I lamented here , here and probably 5 other posts, I can utilize mint in a plethora of recipes.

First on the list, Mint Mojitos:

Mojito
yields 1 cocktail
4 tsp. sugar
1 ½ oz. rum
5 mint sprigs
½ lime, juiced
Crushed ice
soda water or 7-up to taste

Using a muddle or a wooden spoon, crush ice with mint and sugar, until sugar dissolves. Add rum and lime juice. Pour over crushed ice, stir in soda or 7-up. Taste to adjust for sugar, rum, mint or lime.

Mojito Photo Credits to the ExPat Files:

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) DATE:5/08/2009 06:26:00 AM Learn to make peace with the mint! Unless you plant it in a can (and honestly, I never do), it will go where it wants to go -- which is everywhere. I've come to think of mine as groundcover. Friendly groundcover! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger ChristyACB DATE:5/08/2009 06:33:00 AM Oh, and that is why I keep it in pots! LOL. Nothing like a good mojito though, is there? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous limeduck DATE:5/08/2009 11:29:00 AM Seems to me there was a good sage mojito at Casablanca last summer, wasn't there?

Also, I've heard that mint is related to catnip - maybe you can enlist the neighborhood cats in your harvest? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Elra DATE:5/08/2009 11:30:00 AM Hear ... hear ... have them everywhere, grow like weeds, but still happy to have them. Just pull the unwanted one. The regiment can be daunting...

Mojito, love it! This is the other reason why I love mint in my backyard.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Elra ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Geeky Mama DATE:5/08/2009 01:49:00 PM I was actually shocked to find that my mint (in a crumbling pot) has come back this year. I really thought the New England winter would kill it. Looks like I'll be keeping that pot for another year. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Sara DATE:5/08/2009 01:49:00 PM I have a giant mint bush too. When I planted it, I just cut the bottom out of the pot it was in, and then put the whole pot in the ground, leaving the top of the pot sticking out from the dirt. It spreads within its area in the garden, but it doesn't spread to other areas of the yard. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:5/08/2009 06:40:00 PM Julia,
I Love mojitos, and you introduced me! Photo credit to expat, who I clicked through to, and that is an amazing connection that you two connected. Photo is luscious. Judith_deecee aka mom ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Julia DATE:5/09/2009 07:42:00 AM Lydia -- Oh, I have made peace. I'm actually wondering if I can accidentally kill it from harvesting too much too quickly.

ChristyACB -- I thought about that, but then I was afraid I wouldn't have enough.

limeduck -- i think it was a margarita, but yes it was good. Speaking of sage, I sent a bunch to Upstairs on the Square, maybe I should send some to Casablanca too!

Elra -- I think another batch is in store for the weekend.

Geeky Mama -- that's awesome!

Sara -- that sounds like a good compromise for planting mint.

Mom -- I'll be sure to make you mojitos when you visit! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Amy K DATE:5/09/2009 01:24:00 PM Anytime you need to unload somemore mint you are welcome to whip up more mojitos when I am around ;-) Delicious! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous noble pig DATE:5/09/2009 07:46:00 PM Oh I could use that as I just cut back all the roses and am so hot! Mint is also my favorite herb, especially minted strawberries. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Maris DATE:5/16/2009 12:04:00 PM I wish I grew mint - I love mojitos! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Psychgrad DATE:5/18/2009 06:14:00 PM Next weekend is my outdoor herb planting time. I'm going to try growing some mint. The drink looks like it would be great on a patio on a warm day. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Julia DATE:5/19/2009 07:00:00 PM Amy K. - Happy to have you over for more mojitos!

noble pig -- I love minted strawberries! And nothing is really quite as refreshing as mint.

Maris -- I have enough to share.

Psychgrad -- yeah, you're planting herbs. I don't imagine you'll have any trouble with mint. ----- --------