Mint Julep Cheesecake Food

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Place the mint leaves in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass and top with the sugar. Muddle these together until the leaves begin to break down. Add a splash of seltzer water, fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice, and add the bourbon. Top with another splash of seltzer, stir, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Make the mint syrup: Bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the mint sprigs, pressing with a wooden spoon to submerge them. Let cool to room temperature, then remove the mint with a slotted spoon and discard. Refrigerate the syrup until chilled, at least 1 hour. (You will have about 1 1/2 cups syrup; cover and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.)
• Make the drink: Put the mint leaves and 1 ounce of the mint syrup in a small glass or julep cup. Muddle with the handle of a wooden spoon until the leaves start to break apart. Stir in the bourbon. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.

MINT JULEPS

Steps:

• Combine water, sugar and chopped mint leaves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Allow syrup to cool, approximately 1 hour. Pour syrup through a strainer to remove mint leaves
• Fill eight cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice and pour 4 ounces of bourbon and 1/4 cup mint syrup in each. (Proportions can be adjusted depending on each person's sweet tooth). Top each cup with a mint sprig and a straw. Trim straws to just barely protrude from the top of the cups. Serve juleps on a silver platter.

MINT JULEPS FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• To make simple syrup, combine sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan.
• Place over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring the mixture to dissolve the sugar.
• Boil 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add washed mint (still on the stem, just stir it all in).
• Set aside for 24 hours.
• Strain the mixture into a jar and discard the mint.
• Chill julep cups or glasses in the freezer before making juleps.
• Fill them with crushed ice.
• Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of mint syrup and 2 ounces of bourbon.
• Garnish with sprigs of mint, if desired.

FROZEN MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Place mint leaves, bourbon, simple syrup and lemon juice into a blender and pulse for just a second or two.
• Add 3/4 cup of crushed ice and blend until slushy.
• Pour into a chilled, large old-fashioned glass or large goblet and garnish with mint sprig.

MINT JULEP BALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine wafer crumbs, 1 cup powdered sugar, cocoa and nuts and mix well.
• Add bourbon, corn syrup, and peppermint extract and mix together with your hands until the mixture holds together.
• Form the mixture into 1 inch balls and roll them in powdered sugar.
• Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

MINT JULEP SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Combine first 3 ingredients in a 2 quart pitcher. Press mint leaves against sides of pitcher with back of spoon to release flavors. Stir in tea and bourbon. Serve over crushed ice. Garnish with mint leaves.

MINT JULEP CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• To make crust: In a large bowl, combine crushed graham crackers with 4 tablespoons melted butter. Pat the mixture in the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
• To make filling: Combine cream cheese and sugar in a food processor and mix until smooth. Add the sour cream, eggs, and bourbon; mix well. Add 2 tablespoons melted butter and mix again. Pour the mixture into the cooled crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool and refrigerate.
• To make the topping: Combine 3 ounces cream cheese, 4 tablespoons butter and powdered sugar in a food processor and mix well. Add the mint flavoring and food coloring and mix. Spread the mixture onto the baked and cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate.
• Melt the chocolate morsels in the top of a double boiler and add the cream, stirring until the chocolate is melted. Refrigerate, stirring every few minutes, until the mixture is thickened like cream cheese. Spread over the green layer and refrigerate until set.