I made this one the other night (from the pre-current, August 2009, issue of
Eating Well):
Cherry SmashCelebrate fresh cherries with this mint-infused cherry cocktail. Black cherry-flavored seltzer gives the drink the most cherry flavor, but plain seltzer also works well.
Makes 4 servings
ACTIVE TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
1 cup pitted fresh or frozen (thawed) cherries
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, plus 4 sprigs for garnish
8 teaspoons sugar
6 ounces (3/4 cup) dark rum
1/4 cup lime juice
3 cups cherry-flavored seltzer
Divide cherries, mint leaves and sugar among 4 glasses. Mash everything together with the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in rum and lime juice. Fill glasses with ice and top with seltzer. Garnish with mint sprigs.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 161 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 2 mg sodium; 131 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (15% daily value).
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 fruit
It did not make 4 servings... rather, 3, and strong ones at that. But we loved them. I used a little less sugar and muddled everything in a small pitcher (like making mojitos), added rum, then divided it between 2 glasses and topped with unflavored seltzer. In fact, I think I'll go and make one now.
It's cocktail hour, and I want to use my cherry pitter again!
I'm Baaaaack!!!Here is how I retooled the
EW recipe, and we both like it better:
In a small pitcher, muddle:
3/4 cup pitted fresh cherry halves
5 large mint leaves, torn into quarters
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Sir in:
3 ounces dark rum
Place ice in 2 12-ounce highball glasses.
Using a spoon, scoop the cherry/mint mixture evenly between the glasses.
Pour remaining liquid into glasses, dividing evenly.
Top with seltzer, and stir gently with a spoon.
Serve with spoons in order to eat the rum-soaked cherry/mint
ambrosia after the liquid has been consumed.
The resulting drinks have a cherry-mojito flavor, and are verrrrrrrrry good! *hic!*
Now, what to make for dinner...