Summer calls for enjoying the great outdoors. Few things are as relaxing and enjoyable as enjoying a delicious meal on the patio, deck, or backyard after you've prepared part or all of it outside as well. This very experience was recently enjoyed when spicy-sweet grilled chicken found itself alongside a gorgeous salad brimming with fresh fruit and tangy-sweet mojitos featuring fresh mint from the patio garden. It was a meal to behold:
Continuing the journey begun on Monday, this time around, I'm sharing the refreshing beverage chosen for this fun outdoor dinner. A twist on the classic mojito, this drink keeps the white rum and fresh mint and pairs them with slices of tangy lemon and lots of juicy blueberries:
As the summer progresses, I plan to trim my mint and make mojito syrup using either lemons or limes or maybe a combination. Until then, there's something just fun and relaxing about grabbing a few sprigs of mint from the patio and mixing a quick cocktail on the fly. It really is the epitome of what summer ought to be.
Paired with a fresh salad and grilled chicken, it seems like a great part of dinner, but you could also just kick back on the patio at the end of a warm summer day and sip one as you bid the day farewell. It's going to be a lovely summer … and it's only beginning. Make sure you stop in on Friday for the final recipe in this dinner series, a spicy-sweet grilled chicken recipe that will make the meal complete!
Lemon-Blueberry Mojitos
- 3-5 sprigs fresh mint
- 8 oz. lemon-lime soda -- chilled
- 1/2 fresh lemon, cut from top to bottom into 4-6 thin wedges
- 1/2 c. blueberries -- cleaned
- Ice cubes
- 3-4 oz. white rum -- divided
- Additional fresh mint for garnishing
Crush the mint between your fingers (make sure your hands are very clean!) and place the crushed mint into the bottom of a large jar. Add the chilled soda and allow the mixture to rest while you prepare the rest of the drinks.
While the mint and soda are resting, divide the lemon wedges (squeeze some of the juice from each wedge into the glass before placing it), blueberries, and ice cubes evenly between two high-ball or other 8 oz. tall glass (I like using tall jelly jars). Add 1.5 - 2 ounces of white rum to each glass, according to taste. Add the soda, using a strainer to keep the mint leaves from falling into the glass. Stir lightly and garnish each glass with some fresh mint. Enjoy!
- Yields: 2 servings
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes