Bing Cherry Mojito Food

BING CHERRY MOJITOS

Steps:

• Make the simple syrup. Heat water and sugar over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Let cool slightly, then add to a blender along with the 3/4 cup bing cherries. Puree, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small container or pitcher. Set aside.
• In a large, sturdy glass, muddle together the lime halves, mint, and cherries until the lime juice has been released and the mint and cherries are well-smashed.
• Stir in the cherry simple syrup and white rum.
• Fill glass with ice and top off with club soda. Add a wide straw, garnish with a mint sprig and a cherry, and serve.

BLENDED CHERRY MOJITOS

Steps:

• Place the frozen cherries, crushed ice, mint leaves, lime juice, rum, and simple syrup in a blender. Blend until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into chilled glasses and top with crushed ice. Garnish with lime wedges and cherries.
• Lime Simple Syrup
• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lime zest over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for 20 minutes. Strain before using.
• Yield: 1 2/3 cups

BING CHERRY MOJITOS

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool completely. (Makes about 2 cups syrup.) Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
• Put lime juice into a medium nonreactive bowl. Halve and pit cherries; add to lime juice. Stir in syrup. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to overnight).
• Stir cherry mixture and vodka in a large serving bowl. Fill 12 glasses with ice. Spoon 1/2 cup cherry-vodka mixture into each glass. Top off with sparkling water. Serve immediately.

CHERRY MOJITOS

Steps:

• (Do this a couple of hours ahead of time- or longer- so that it has time to chill). > Boil water, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Let cool, then chill in the refrigerator until it has a chance to get very cold.
• In a blender or food processor, blend the chilled simple syrup and cherries. Pour through a strainer, discard the cherry pulp and keep the sweetened cherry juice.
• Place 4 to 5 mint leaves in the bottom of 4 to 6 tall glasses. Squeeze half a lime into each glass. Add 2 ounces of rum to each glass. Use a muddler (or the handle of a wooden spoon) to smash the mint leaves, lime juice and rum together. Divide the sweetened cherry juice between the four glasses. Top each drink off with chilled club soda. Stir, garnish with fresh cherries and serve. Add an ice cube or two, if desired.

BING CHERRY MOJITOS

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool completely. (Makes about 2 cups syrup.) The syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
• Put lime juice into a medium nonreactive bowl. Halve and pit cherries; add to lime juice. Stir in syrup. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to overnight).
• Stir cherry mixture and vodka in a large serving bowl. Fill 12 glasses with ice. Spoon 1/2 cup cherry-vodka mixture into each glass. Top off with sparkling water. Serve immediately.

BING CHERRY MOJITO

Steps:

• Bring sugar and plain water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
• Put lime juice into a medium non-reactive bowl. Halve and pit the cherries; add to lime juice. Stir in syrup. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
• Stir cherry mixture and vodka in a large serving bowl. Fill 12 glasses with ice. Spoon 1/2 cup cherry-vodka mixture into each glass, top off with sparkling water and serve immediately.