Pages

Friday, July 24, 2009

My Perfect Mojito

 
Making a fresh mojito is so easy! Here's how.

Mary's Perfect Mojito


I have loved mojitos since the first time I ever tasted one, and while Cuba may have been the birthplace of the mojito, they always make me think of Miami and the Florida Keys.

What a beautiful drive that is between the two, and that 7-mile bridge to Key West, a place so laid back that even the dogs saunter around so slowly they appear to be sleepwalking and the few traffic lights seem almost lazy. Where people get around on bicycles and scooters and nobody is in any kind of a hurry.

Traveling that long road, you are completely surrounded by hues and shades of blue and green that it seems no human eye could possibly have ever really seen before elsewhere, and water so clear it's as if you can see all the way through to the other side of the world.

It's breathtaking and captivating and it will bring tears to your eyes because it is truly one of the most beautiful places in this country. Our own little tropical paradise.

And what fun.

Days spent snorkeling off of a reef and making friends with barracuda and nurse sharks, odd looking, fluorescent fish so close you can touch them. Starting your evening with a champagne sunset sail on a schooner, then dinner of conch fritters or chowder, escargots in a buttery, garlic sauce with mushrooms, stone crab claws dipped in drawn butter, Key West shrimp or fresh catch of the day. Ending the night over live music and cocktails at Sloppy Joe's.

Oh take me back now!!

If I close my eyes, I can transport right back to the Pier House Resort, in a chaise lounge by the pool bar, engulfed by a jungle of tall palms and tropical plants, sipping on a mojito, and listening to a band playing songs of the islands, the night sky so clear that you could see every star forever. Ahhh... yes.

Fresh mint is crucial for the perfect mojito, as is fresh lime juice. I have a potted mint plant that I have been nurturing for so many years that I've forgotten how many now, and I started a new one this winter in my Aerogarden (#ad), transferring it to another larger pot. You almost cannot kill mint, so as I suspected, despite beginning it's life as a hydroponic plant, it thrived in soil after the transfer too - which brings me to this.

Do not, under any circumstances, plant mint in your garden. Not anywhere. You may love it at first but in short time it will begin to take over the landscape like a noxious weed, choking out any other plants you have in the same garden and you will not be able to get rid of it. Keep it contained in a pot. Unless, of course, you actually want it as a ground cover.

Find more of my adult cocktails and refreshments on Pinterest!



If you make this or any of my recipes, I'd love to see your results! Just snap a photo and hashtag it #DeepSouthDish on social media or tag me @deepsouthdish on Instagram!


Pin It



Posted by on July 24, 2009
Images and Full Post Content including Recipe ©Deep South Dish. Recipes are offered for your own personal use only and while pinning and sharing links is welcomed and encouraged, please do not copy and paste to repost or republish elsewhere such as other Facebook pages, blogs, websites, or forums without explicit prior permission. All rights reserved.

Material Disclosure: Unless otherwise noted, you should assume that post links to the providers of goods and services mentioned, establish an affiliate relationship and/or other material connection and that I may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything when using my recipes and you should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.
.