Make a Delicious Mojito!

This covers how to make a basic Mojito, which is a rum based cocktail of Cuban origin.

Many people choose to modify this recipe by adding flavors like pomegranate and strawberry, so feel free to get creative.

Ingredients that you will need include

- fresh mint
- limes
- ice
- club soda
- rum (this depends on your taste. I like mine sweeter, so I use passion fruit rum. If you like the classic, strong mojito, I would stick with a plain white rum).
- simple syrup (sugar + water)

Equipment that you will need includes

- glass (size just depends on how much you want - if you want to get technical, use a highball)
- something to muddle with (I use a pestle, but you could use the handle of your spatula, if you're stuck)
- a cup larger than the one you're drinking out of or a cocktail shaker.

It's called simple because it is :-)

The ratio is 2 parts water, 1 part sugar.

I was making quite a few Mojitos this night, so I used 3 cups of water and 1.5 cups sugar.

Bring the water to a boil, then add sugar. Stir for about 45 seconds, and turn off.

Remove from heat.

Again, how much you need is dependent on how many drinks you plan on making.

You will need 3 average size slices for each drink.

I start by cutting limes in half lengthwise, and then cutting each half into three slices.

Using your hands, shred your mint into smaller pieces. Don't make them excessively small, as many people don't want a whole bunch of mint in their teeth. You should be able to avoid drinking most of it by using a straw.

It's a personal decision to leave the stems... I do.

Using the glass you plan to drink out of, squeeze 3 lime wedges (add or remove based on preferences). After squeezing, drop the wedges into the glass.

Add a good pinch of mint to the glass. This is a trial and error recipe, so estimate how much you think you would like. I think the equivalent of three whole leaves torn up is a good starting point.

Muddle, to me, means "mash together really thoroughly". It's time to muddle your lime and mint together, in the glass that you plan on drinking out of, if possible. If your glass is too small, you can do this in your shaker or larger cup.

I use a wooden pestle, but if you haven't got on, just find something with a substantial handle and flip it upside down. Muddle together for about 15 seconds, or until there is visible lime pulp in the glass.

*Tip - make sure you've got a good grab on your glass while doing this. It's easy to tip over your glass at this point, especially after the first round.

Add simple syrup to your muddled lime and mint. Again, this depends on your taste, but overall, I prefer to add one part simple syrup, one part soda, and two parts rum.

I like to fill up on ice, because I like my drink cold. I strongly recommend cubes over crushed ice for this drink.

If your simple syrup is still hot, you might want to overcompensate by a cube.

To repeat, it's one part syrup, one part soda, two parts rum. Whatever you put in for simple syrup, double in rum.

Add one part club soda. Don't worry if your glass isn't all the way full - it may fizz after shaking.

Pour your Mojito into a shaker or larger cup, and then pour it back into the one you will be drinking out of.

Don't shake the drink. This will cause it to go flat.

Unless you want a mint mustache, I recommend a straw... but some prefer it without.

I would love to hear about different variations of this recipe!

"Please comment! This is an assignment in Pedagogy II at Marlboro College Graduate Center's Teaching with Technology Master's Program as part of a unit on what makes instructional technology attractive to online users."

(https://gradcenter.marlboro.edu/academics/mat/)