The holidays are only a few weeks away, and now is the perfect time to start making homemade mint extract. This mint extract takes less than 5 minutes to make, but it takes 30 days to sit in a dark space before it is ready for use – that means if you make some now, it will be ready just in time for holiday baking.

Not only does this project require little time from your day to complete, it only requires two ingredients and one supply. You may choose to use peppermint or spearmint leaves, and unlike the vanilla extract I made a few months ago, we will be using rum instead of vodka (although either is fine!). Just make sure that the alcohol is at least 80 proof.

Ingredients
1/4 cup mint leaves
1 cup 80 proof rum or vodka
1 air-tight glass jar for storage

directions
Begin by bruising the mint leaves, which is basically crumpling them up in your hands. This process releases the mint oils from the leaves, which chopping the leaves just won’t do as well.

Place the leaves into your jar. Pour in your alcohol – make sure your leaves are covered. Any leaves that are sticking out of the alcohol and into the air could become rotten or moldy. Place an airtight lid on your jar, and shake around a bit. Store in a dark, cool place, swirling the jar around a bit if you get the chance.

After 30 days, you may strain the leaves from the alcohol, and the extract should be ready for use! I’m already imagining the minty lattes, cookies, and frosting I can make with this – here is a peppermint mocha latte recipe if you’re ready to get started. The extract would also be a sweet holiday gift bottled up in a pretty little jar.

What would you make with your own homemade mint extract?

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {diy} {drinks} {extract} {homemade} {mint}

Now that the weather is really getting warmer, it’s time to pull out my favorite weekend drink recipe: the mojito. Using fresh mint and limes, these refreshing drinks offer a unique combination of flavors that really hit the spot. Thanks to their rich ingredients, it is easy to omit the alcohol and drink one anytime.

ingredients

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

mint leaves

club soda

quartered limes

ice cubes

rum

lime slices and mint sprigs to garnish

directions

The first step to a delicious mojito is to make minty simple syrup.  Bring 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to boil together in a small pot. Once a boil is reached and the sugar has fully dissolved, remove pot from heat and add a handful of fresh mint leaves. Let steep in pot for 15 minutes or more.

Once the mint syrup has cooled, start on the drinks. Place about 6 mint leaves and a lime quarter in the bottom of a glass, and press the leaves with a muddler or spoon just enough so that the mint oil and lime juice are released. Top with one to two tablespoons of the minty simple syrup, and the juice from another lime quarter.

Fill the glass to the top with ice. Pour in a shot of rum, and top off with club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig.

If you would like to enjoy the flavor of a mojito without alcohol, simply omit the rum, and add in some extra lime juice and club soda.

Tip: have extra minty simple syrup? You can save it in an air tight container for another day, or add it to your morning coffee or hot chocolate!

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {drink} {lime} {mint} {mojito} {party} {summer}

so, in my new yard where i’m having unknown this and that’s pop up all over the place, i discovered that i pretty much have mint and lemon balm running out my ears.  i was chatting with caroline the other day about garden do’s and don’ts and happen to mention just how much mint i had, and just how much i didn’t know what to do with it!  per her advice, i’ve discovered my new favorite drink: a garden mint and lemon balm refresher.

it’s delicious, it’s easy and it’s straight from the garden.  ingredients:

a squeeze of one lemon

1 tbls of honey

3-4 mint and/or lemon balm leaves

crush the leaves in the bottom of your glass with the ice to help release their yummy flavors, then add the lemon juice, honey and water (add a little sugar if you prefer sweeter).  stir until the honey dissolves and enjoy!

seriously y’all, this is one delectable drink.

to top things off, i walked up to our old house the other day (my sis still lives there) and visited my long forgotten (and long not-watered) square foot garden from last year. to my glorious surprise, my strawberry plant from last year not only was producing, but it had multiplied.  big time.

i’m pretty sure nothing could have made me any happier!  seeing (and devouring) these most beautiful sweet and perfect strawberries, made my day- maybe even my summer.  needless to say, my sister’s going to be seeing a lot more of me.

{photos: bonnie forkner}

wrap up: {drink} {garden} {gladening} {lemon balm} {lemondade} {mint} {recipe} {strawberries}