I'm going to the horse races this weekend!! My Mister and some other NWA friends are meeting me in Hot Springs to go to the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. To say I'm excited is probably the understatement of the month: Ryan and I met up at the horse races when we first started dating {silver lining to long distance love: cool weekend trips} so I automatically get a little sentimental at the thought. I am convinced that it will be an amazing weekend with amazing people- totally excited.
So, in honor of this weekend's upcoming festivities: Mint Juleps. Because apparently that's what they drink in Kentucky around this time of year...
Get your mind set. This is a strong drink.
This week I stayed pretty close to the original recipe I found here- I quartered it because... well... we're not big whiskey drinkers around here and we only had one cup.
First, make the "mint extract" (i.e. put the mint in a bowl and splash a quarter cup of whiskey on top of it). Here's what happens when the mint leaves don't have enough alcohol on top of them.
But oh well...
Set them aside and make your simple syrup. It's a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar. Super simple- just stir it over heat and make sure it doesn't burn. Take it off the heat and let it cool down.
After the mint has sat for 20-30 minutes put them in a paper towel and wring them out. That's not the best description... so let's go with... line them up in half of a paper towel and cover them with the other half of the paper towel and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. Dip the mint packet in the same bowl it cam out of and squeese again... and again... and again. Until the mint is un-squeezable. Weird but easy.
Now pour the "extract" into the regular whiskey and add the simple syrup. Regular easy.
You're supposed to let the flavors "marry" in the fridge for twenty-four hours... but I didn't have time... so... next!
Put about four cups of ice into the food processor and blend it until it's the consistency of shaved ice.
Here's the fun part!
Fill your cup (which should be on the smallish side) half way up with ice shavings, add a mint leaf, and fill it up the rest of the way. Then go literally above and beyond by mounding it up... think adult icee...
From here the directions say "Let the ice frost" but my experience says if you leave them too long they will become hard and the liquid that you want to pour into these things will just splash off- no good. Don't let them sit in the freezer too long.
When you do pour it in it will look pretty- like this:
and this
That's it! You're done.
These are good southern sipping drinks, so please go slow. And then sit back and enjoy your spring.
this contest is now closed.
p.s. If anyone plans on being in Hot Springs this weekend give me a shout on twitter (@approaching_joy). If you can't make it out to the races this weekend- would you be interested in a free (giveaway) Alt Summit class? Check out yesterday's second post (or click here) for details! Hope to hear from you either way!
