Mint

Cool, refreshing mojitos, made at home in a flash. Lime, mint, rum, water, sugar and ice, shaken together to create the perfect Homemade Mojitos.

Another bright and beautiful summer Sunday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! There’s always something so nice about finishing up a great weekend, and knowing that the next weekend will be here even sooner than usual. Especially since tomorrow is Andrew’s first official day back to work, and my first day with all three little men! Yikes 😉 With all new things, there’s always an adjustment period. I’m just thankful that our first week back is a shorter one. It’ll be the perfect way to ease us all into our new routine. I mean, so far everything with Charlie and our growing family could not be better! Here are a few fun pictures from our adventures this week.
Andrew first introduced me to mojitos earlier in our relationship. (Speaking of our earlier days together, did I mention that it has been TEN years since we first met? Yep, our first date was literally ten years ago in June! Wow, time flies.) I remember Andrew ordered a mojito on one of our dates and I shared a sip. It was delicious! After that, we occasionally made them at home for a little treat. Although, it wasn’t until last summer that we really got into making mojitos. Andrew bought a huge bag of limes from Costco and I needed some way to use them. What could possibly be a better way to use up those juicy limes than to create the perfect mojito recipe. I recruited Andrew’s help with lime squeezing and recipe taste testing. This recipe for Homemade Mojitos is an improved version of Food Network’s Mojitos. We had a lot of fun making these, and even more fun drinking them 🙂

We loved making these last summer, and are even more excited to bring them back again this year. Perfect for your 4th of July festivities, backyard barbeque, or a much needed weeknight treat. This is a great, easy mojito recipe that is our new favorite!

Homemade Mojitos

Total Time: 10 minutes

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients

Ice
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 5-6 limes)
4 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup light rum
8 mint sprigs, torn
Sparking water
4 slices lime to garnish

Instructions

Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Then add lime juice, sugar, rum and mint, and shake well. Serve over ice, and top each glass with a splash of sparkling water and a slice of lime. Enjoy!

http://elizabethshome.com/homemade-mojitos/

I just LOVE ice cream! I honestly think I could eat ice cream ALL the time! Well, almost. But really, I do think that ice cream is (or at least should be) one of the major food groups. There is just something about finishing my day with a heaping scoop of that sweet, cool, creamy goodness. Guilty pleasure, bad habit, addiction… it really is just my favorite! 🙂

A few years ago I bought an ice cream maker and was determined to make my own ice cream. I remember searching high and low for healthier ice cream recipes, and being thoroughly disappointed with the recipes I was finding. After a few summers of ice cream making under my belt, I finally feel that I am in the groove of making my own ice cream, and that I have come up with some really great recipes. I am so excited to share one of my favorite ice cream maker creations! I mean after all, who says that ice cream can only be eaten in the summer months? Just because we’re supposed to be having near record low temperatures around here for the next few days, that certainly doesn’t mean I’ve put the ice cream maker into hibernation.

The cool mint mixed with the creaminess of the milk and the chocolate chips is rich and refreshing! It is even made with milk instead of cream, so it’s a touch on the healthier side, too. (An added bonus!) I love how easy this recipe is! It seriously takes less than five minutes to mix everything together before pouring it in your ice cream maker.

The best result that I’ve had with this recipe is by using good quality chocolate chips. Measure them and place in a zip-lock bag and pound with a flat meat tenderizer, until they are broken-up a bit.

Light Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4

Light Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Ingredients

3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon pure peppermint oil
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons chocolate chips (crushed)

Instructions

In a medium bowl whisk together the milk, sugar and peppermint oil for about one minute, until the sugar is disolved.
Turn the ice cream maker on and pour milk mixture into ice cream maker. Churn for about 10 minutes, then add chocolate chips to the ice cream and continue churning for an additional 20 minutes until thick and creamy.
Enjoy immediately, or transfer ice cream to an airtight container and allow to firm-up for about an hour.

http://elizabethshome.com/light-mint-chocolate-chip-ice-cream/