Daily Archives: June 5, 2010

Rhubarb Mojito

I have this very stylish and sophisticated friend. She almost always wears silk or some other luxe fabric. She has an insanely white carpet that seems to never collect dust or dirt. She can pull off ridiculously large earrings and tunics of every color and pattern.

And she can think of a way to turn almost anything into a mojito.

So, in honor of my dear Krissy, I give you Rhubarb Challenge #3: Rhubarb mojitos!

Krissy suggested this after I explained my challenge to her one night over ginger-beer cocktails at Tate’s.

But of course, I thought, I can boil the rhubarb down into a sugary syrup, strain it and then add it to a classic mojito with rum, fresh mint, lime and club soda.

These were quite yummy and incredibly refreshing. I think the secret is in the rum, not the rhubarb. Get good rum, people, and you won’t feel like you’re drinking something out of your boyfriend’s dorm room freshman year.

The rhubarb adds a nice tart sweetness that matches the minty bubbles of the drink. I recommend enjoying it on someone’s back porch on a warm afternoon, with a little Frank or Ella playing in the background.

WriteGal’s Rhubarb Mojitos

Makes roughly 10 drinks

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz. rhubarb, fresh or frozen, cut into chunks
  • 2 c. water
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 2/3 c. fresh lime juice
  • GOOD white rum
  • Club soda
  • fresh mint, as much as you can cut from your garden

Add rhubarb, sugar and water to saucepan and boil until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Strain into a container and press.

In a tall glass, add five or six mint leaves and muddle with a spoon.

Add one shot of rum, one shot of lime and one shot of rhubarb syrup. Fill the glass with ice and finish with club soda. Stir to combine and taste to see if you need more rhubarb syrup or lime juice. The drinks will be a light pink flavor, so wear a little pink to match. : )

And yes, we matched our drinks…and the napkins and plates. (Note: I normally wear mismatched socks) Enjoy, friends! xoxo

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Southern charm

Hydrangeas

I went on a run through a nice part of town recently. It was pouring down rain and thunder threatened from above. But everything was so warm and beautiful … and I was overwhelmed by the smells of gardenia and magnolias. Hydrangeas in a rainbow of pinks, whites and blues decorated every yard and the bright green leaves and bamboo stalks sagged with the weight of the summer rain. I was soaked and never happier because it was so gosh-durn pretty all around me.

In honor of Memorial Day, and a special guest I entertained over the long weekend, I give you … reasons why The South fits me like a glove (as one friend says):

Fried pickles at Mozelle's

The magnolias are blooming!

We had breakfast on the patio, with Reynolda Farm Market sage sausage, farm organic eggs, heirloom tomatoes and Ollie’s Bakery bread with sweet-potato butter. Oh, and Stumptown Coffee, for a taste of Portland, Ore.!

A farm breakfast on my patio, watching the cardinals play

A nice trip to the farmers’ market yielded a bounty of flowers and vegetables…

Heirloom tomatoes!

Do you look for faces in the tomatoes?

Fresh okra!

Fried pies!

You know you're in The South when...

We also tried, for the first and hopefully last time, real Appalachian moonshine! The poison was made smooth and sweet with the introduction of fresh berries.

XXX

I’ll let your imagination take you where this evening ended…

This was the only rational solution to a night of moonshine.

More to come, friends! xoxo