Lime Mint Soda Food

SPARKLING MINT LIMEADE

Steps:

• Combine lime juice, sugar, and mint in a 2 cup (or larger) measuring cup then stir until sugar is dissolved, muddling mint in the process. Refrigerate until chilled (the longer you refrigerate, the more mint flavor you will taste in the final drink.)
• Pour the lime/mint mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher then slowly pour in club soda and stir gently. Pour limeade into 8oz glasses filled with ice then serve with extra limes and mint.

LIME-MINT SODA

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup each lime juice, water and sugar, and 1/4 cup torn mint leaves in a medium skillet; cook over medium-high heat until syrupy, about 20 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup more torn mint leaves; let cool, then strain. Add seltzer.
• For each drink, combine 2 to 4 tablespoons flavored syrup with 1 cup cold seltzer in an ice-filled glass.

MINT LIME SODA

Steps:

• Bring mint leaves, water, sugar, and 1 slice of lime to a boil in a small pot. Turn off the heat after 5 minutes and let stand (infuse) for 1 hour.
• Strain the syrup, return it to the pot and simmer down to a syrup over medium-high heat, about 15 minutes.
• Pour the syrup into a bottle and refrigerate. It will keep for months.
• Drink with ice cold sparkling water, fresh mint, and lime slices. Add a splash of white rum to make it a mojito.

LIMEADE AND MINT SODA

Steps:

• Combine the sugar with 1 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Turn off the heat and add the mint leaves. Muddle with a muddler or the back of a spoon. Allow to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Strain and discard the mint leaves.
• Add the lime juice and 4 cups water to a large pitcher. Pour the simple syrup into the limeade. Stir to combine.
• To serve, pour the limeade into glasses filled with ice. Top with some sparkling water. Garnish each with a lime round and mint sprig.

VODKA MOJITO

Steps:

• In a pitcher, combine the Simple Syrup, vodka, lime juice, and club soda. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with mint sprigs.
• In a small saucepan, over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, and mint leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce the 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, pressing on the mint leaves to extract as much syrup as possible.

LIME SODA

Steps:

• In a small pot on medium heat dissolve sugar in water. Raise the heat, add the lime rind and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced. Remove from heat and discard the lime rinds. Stir in the food coloring and cool.
• Fill 4 glasses with ice and distribute the lime syrup and lime juice, to taste, into each glass. Top with seltzer and stir. Garnish with lime slices.

ICE CREAM SODA WITH LIME, MINT AND GINGER

Steps:

• Combine sugar, lime juice, chopped mint and ginger in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and syrup comes to simmer. Simmer syrup 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. Strain syrup into small bowl, pressing lightly on solids; discard solids. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Pour 3 tablespoons syrup, then 3/4 cup sparkling water into each of 6 tall glasses. Stir to blend. Mix in additional syrup or sparkling water to taste. Top each with 1 scoop vanilla ice cream. Garnish sodas with lime slices and mint sprigs, if desired, and serve.

THE REAL MOJITO

Steps:

• Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.