Mint Julep Granita Food

MINT JULEP GRANITA

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 1½ cups of water to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan; cook, stirring until sugar is dissolved and a syrup is formed, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add mint leaves (save sprigs for garnish). Let sit until room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Strain syrup into a 9″ x 13″ baking dish, discarding mint; stir in bourbon and crème de menthe. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Stir the mixture every 30 minutes using the tines of a fork, scraping the edges and breaking up any ice chunks as the mixture freezes, until granita is slushy and frozen, about 3 hours. Scoop into chilled julep glass and garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

MINT JULEP GRANITAS

Steps:

• In a medium pot, placed over medium low heat, combine the water and sugar. Heat until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Take the pot off the heat and place the fresh mint sprigs in the water mixture; cover the pot and allow it to steep for at least an hour to two hours. Pour the mixture into a large casserole dish and cover with plastic wrap; freeze for 2 hours. At the 2-hour mark, remove it from the freezer and using a fork, scrap the ice until it resembles a slushy and return to the freezer. Freeze for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
• When you're ready to serve, add an ounce or two of bourbon to each cup. Scrap the ice one last time and break up any big ice-y bits. Shovel in the minty/sweet crushed ice into each of the cups and garnish with a sprig of mint and a dusting of powdered sugar.

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 GRANITA

Steps:

• Bring water, mint, and sugar to a boil in a 1- to 2-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 3 minutes. Add lemon juice and pour through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing hard on solids and discarding them, then cool.
• Freeze mixture in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart shallow nonreactive metal container, stirring and crushing lumps with a fork every 30 minutes, until evenly frozen, 2 to 3 hours. Scrape with a fork to lighten texture, crushing any lumps. Spoon into glasses or bowls.

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:

• Shake the bourbon, mint leaves and sugar syrup with ice and strain into a highball glass or julep tin filled with crushed ice. Churn gently with a long-handled spoon and top with more crushed ice. Garnish and serve.

APPLE MINT JULEP

Steps:

• Place chopped mint on a double layer of cheesecloth.
• Gather edges of cheesecloth together, and tie securely.
• Place cheesecloth bag and apple juice in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat; cover and let cool. Pour into a large pitcher; cover and chill. Discard cheesecloth bag, and stir in lime juice.
• Pour apple juice mixture over ice cubes. Garnish with additional mint sprigs, if desired.
• To make Apple Julep Granita: pour apple juice mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Cover and freeze until firm.
• Remove mixture from freezer; scrape entire mixture with the tines of a fork until fluffy.

MINT JULEP MARGARITA

Steps:

• Place the limes in a cocktail shaker. Sprinkle with the sugar and add the mint leaves. Muddle well, making sure the juice is really extracted from the limes and the sugar has dissolved.
• Add the bourbon, orange liqueur and a couple of ice cubes. Cover and shake well, then strain into a glass. Can be served over ice or straight.
• Top off with seltzer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

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.