Yes, mint is a weed. I didn't even plant the stuff. When I moved into this place nine years ago, the front was a mix of trailing roses with no place to go and a massive mint plantation. I pulled up all of the mint and the stinking roses, planted daylilies, hostas, tulips, daffodils, and columbine. So what do I get to show for all of that hard work? MOUNTAINS OF MINT!!!!!
The stuff is the ultimate in organic gardening - I never fertilize or water it or use any sort of pesticides. I thought if left entirely alone it would wither and die. No such luck. I give it to neighbors. I give it to family. I give it to strangers. I dry it for tea. I give up.
So yesterday was my brother-in-law's birthday - my gift? Mojitos. I generally don't like all of the sugar content, so I asked the local liquor store owner how I could use less. His response was that adding tonic water (which has sugar in it) would replace the granulated sugar and add a bit of a fizz. Normally I just add club soda. Great. So here is my almost recipe - since I never measure anything. I just add until it tastes good.
3 limesA mess of mint leaves
2 tablespoons of sugar
Bacardi white rum
Tonic water
Place the leaves and sugar in a bowl, squeeze the lime juice into said bowl. Find something with a rounded bottom to grind the sugar, mint and juice together. My bro-in-law didn't have a mortar and pestle, so I used a smaller bowl to mash it up - worked just fine.
Fill a small pitcher with ice. Pour the mash over the ice. Add 1 cup of tonic water. Add rum to your taste. If your taste makes the rest of the party screech "OMG! This is too alcoholic!" it may be a bit too concentrated. Add as much tonic water as you need to lighten the drink for normal folks (just add a couple of extra jiggers in your own glass).
A good time was had by all. I'm so glad my daughter is driving now.
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