Basil Mojito and summer cocktails

[esgunn]

I am not usually a hard alchahol drinker - I like my wine. But I do have a few summery cocktails I like. Margaritas and Mojitos. I want to try the salty dog and the ruby sippers. A new fun one - with fewer calories has been a Frescasita - I'll post the recipe below.

But I have heard of a basil mojito. Has anyone tried this? I found a recipe for an orange basil mojito, I am going to try some time soon. Anyone have a recipe they like?

* Exported from MasterCook *

Orange-Basil Mojito

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 orange -- cut into 32 pieces
32 fresh small basil leaves or mint leaves -- (reserve a few for garnish)
16 teaspoons natural raw cane sugar (demerara sugar)
8 cups small ice cubes or chipped ice -- (8 to 10)
8 tablespoons basil syrup -- recipe follows, or simple syrup
2 cups light rum
2 cups seltzer water or sparkling water
Sugar cane sticks -- for garnishing

Place pieces of orange in each of 8 (12-ounce) rocks glasses, and top each
glass with a couple basil or mint leaves. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of cane
sugar in each glass and, using a muddler, crush the orange pieces while
bruising the basil with the sugar. Fill each glass just below the rim with
ice (about 1 to 1 1/4 cups in each glass). Add a tablespoon of the basil
syrup and 1/4 cup of the rum to each of the glasses.

Use a shaker to vigorously shake the contents of the glass together for at
least 30 seconds. Pour the mojito back in the glass, and top off the glass
with seltzer or sparkling water. Place a sugar cane stick in each glass.
Garnish each drink with 1 of the remaining basil or mint leaves. Serve
immediately.

Basil Syrup:

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup water

1 cup packed well-washed fresh basil leaves

Place the sugar and the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil
over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar.
Once the sugar has dissolved, remove the syrup from the heat, and add the
basil leaves to the saucepan. Allow the syrup to sit for at least 1 hour
before straining through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the basil leaves.
Store the syrup in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator
until ready to use. Syrup will keep, refrigerated, for several weeks.

Yield: About 2 cups

Source:
"Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse"
S(Internet Address):
"http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/emerils-orange-basil-moj
to.html"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


* Exported from MasterCook *

The Frescasita

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 part mixable tequila
3 parts Fresca. Yeah. Fresca.
Splash of lime juice
1 Pinch salt

Pour over ice in a salt-rimmed Collins glass. Add soda, splash lime juice
on top.

[cjs]

Well, well MS Erin - they both sound very nice for the summer - I have collected a few new ones try this summer, but haven't made them as yet.

So far, we've only had Brendaritas ('Upscale' Margaritas ) and of course my sour apple martinis.

Hope we hear of some more new drinks that need some testing.

[DFen911]

HHmm the orange basil mojoito intriques me

I'm gonna be so snockerd between these and the corn, cilantro shooters Lab posted.

Ok folks I'm gonna need a designated poster hahaha!!

[iBcookin]

When we went up for Chelsea's graduation last year we celebrated that night at the Escoffier restaurant. She had made friends with the bartender who prepared a grilled peach and basil mojito for me - out of this world!

[foodfiend]

My favorite summer drink, next to a classic mojito, is any kind of fruity daiquiri. I use mangos, pineapple, strawberries, even watermelon and honeydew! I keep telling myself that the fruit is healthy for us...

Erin, I haven't thought about Fresca in years! It sounds like an interesting drink, but I had a bad tequila experience many years ago and my body recoils instinctively at the mere thought of it...

Orange basil mojito? I may opt for the mint sub instead of the basil-- just can't seem to wrap myself around the idea of a basil-flavored alcoholic beverage!

[esgunn]

OK, I made the orange basil mojito tonight as written. It needs some work. Just not much flavor all around. Maybe it was my orange, I also used lemon basil in the muddle - regular basil in the simple syrup. Will try with all regular basil. And more than 4 leaves. It is refreshing though.

Will try round two tomorrow. Don't think I had better take on mojito taste testing while hubby is out of town, might not wake up for the kids.

I really liked the basil simple syrup. I think that might be really good on some berries or infused into whip cream. Trying to decide what else. I am going to have to do that with mint too.

[cjs]

there's so many uses for simple syrup, Erin - you'll have fun with this. Here's one idea that the kids could enjoy with you -


* Exported from MasterCook *

Orange Julius

6 ounces Fresh Orange Juice
9 ounces Crushed Ice
9 ounces Simple Syrup
1 tablespoon Vanilla Instant Pudding

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until fairly smooth. Serve in a sour glass.

Source:
"Manitoba Liquor Control Commission"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Trixxee]

My son would love that orange julius recipe! He loves Orange Julius.

I'm with you on the Fresca Erin! Anything to cut down on the calories. I like to have "light" lemonade on hand too in case I've been driven to partake in a little vodka.

[cjs]

Well, I just searched every inch of the beverage aisle and I couldn't find anything but flavored (I think 2 or 3) frescas. Is that what you guys are using? I thought frresca was kind of a citrus flavor, no?

[esgunn]

It is the citrus/grapefruit. Might be labeled Original