Though it is quite dry and hot here in Central Texas, I have managed to keep my "spearmint" mint plant to stay alive. It has a few stems that are close to 12-inches long! Seeing that there are new buds and shoots growing from the lower part of the stems, can I clip off the top part of some of the stems?
What do you do with the fresh mint leaves? What I would like to find out is a way to use them for some room freshening.
Thanks in advance!
All these ideas are great! Quite a versatile herb!
This is my first try, with my not-very-green thumbs, with mint. In my mind, I was more pleasantly surprised with the hardiness of the mint than trying to say that it was only me keeping it alive in this weather. :)
Thank you all. You are all just plain wonderful!
Slice up fresh zucchini and saute them in a pan with extravirgin olive oil, salt and fresh mint leaves...such a refreshing appetizer (to be eaten cold) or side dish (hot). Buon appetito!
Mint is incredibly hardy! It will survive just about anything and take over your garden if you don't keep it in check.
THere are lots of things you can do with fresh mint. Crushed up in tea or mojitos, make jelly (take LOTD of mint for that) and as a garnish with chocolate cake or anything else you can think of that is remotely mint friendly. You can also chew on the leaves after meals for fresh breath :)
As for a room freshener- not sure about that one. You can dry it and crush it and put in a little sachet bag in a drawer or small space, not sure if would do a whole room, though.
Dear D.-
MINT JULEP:
ingredients
1 teaspoon sugar
1 to 2 fresh mint leaves
2 ounces bourbon
Crushed ice
directions
In a cocktail shaker combine sugar and mint leaves; crush mint with the back of a spoon (or a 'muddler' if yo have one). Add bourbon and ice cubes; cover and shake until sugar is dissolved and drink is very cold. Fill an 8-ounce glass with crushed ice. Strain liquid into glass. Garnish with mint sprigs. Makes 1 serving.
After more than one...you won't mind the heat...or need an air freshener!! lol
You will probably be sleeping!!
Enjoy!
Michele/cat
Yes, you can lop off the top 2/3 of the plant, and it will grow new stems from lower leaf nodes.
Chop the fresh leaves finely and throw some into a cold creamy salad with chopped cucumbers, a little diced sweet onion, a pinch of salt or garlic salt, and enough yogurt to hold it all together. Fabulous with lamb chops, or as a main dish for a summer meal.
You can also hang the stems upside down in a shady place to dry them, then crumble the leaves for use throughout the coming year. You'll need to use more dried than fresh for the same effect.
Cut it and tie a string on the bottom othe stems and hang upside down to dry. You can make tea, good for soothing up set tummies and calming nerves. Sprinkle in the corners of your garage and or basement it repels mice.
Invite your neighbors over and make MOJITOS! :) (Gig Em Ags!)
You can put them in a pot and boil with a little water. The water and steam will freshen the room and you can drink the "tea" later if you want.
We use mint alll the time! I love it in salad's and in tea! I have it growing in my garden too! You can dry it out and use it in the winter. My neighbors LOVE my mint tea! I boil water in the tea kettle then add two tea bags and let it boil for like 3 mins then at the end I throw a bunch of fresh mint. Try it out! Its really yummy!
Also good in smoothies!
Mint leaves are great in mojitos or lemonade.
I put them in my cold tea pitcher, i dry them for future use. Also you can melt some dark chocolate and dip the leaves in them. re-cool the chocolate. use as neat garnish, or just eat em.
Mint is also good in tomato sauce....indians use it their dishes and its heavenly
I have chocolate mint thriving and I make mint tea adding a bit of simple syrup. I've also made smoothies, chocolate mint cookies (just chop and add to recipe), popsicles, indian food, and mint ice cubes. Pinch one mint leave and add in ice cube and you have refreshing cubes and colorful drink. My favorite is still just mint tea which I keep in the fridge at all times. Makes me drink more water during the day: )
Put them in a refrshing non-alcoholic punch.
I would make Mojitos!
I totally agree about mojitos, they are my favorite drink at the moment. I also love mint in fruit salad and with peas (just saute some peas, fresh or frozen, in a bit of olive oil and butter and toss in some finely chopped mint in the last minute or so of cooking-delicious!)
I also just used some mint in a marinade for chicken that was really good.
Toss 1/4 c. mint leaves, 6 cloves garlic, 2 T.salt, 1 T. pepper, 3 T olive oil, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, zest of one lime, 1 T. cumin, 2 t. oregano, 2 t. smoked paprika and 1 chopped jalepeno or serrano into the food processor and process until its a smooth paste. Pour into a ziploc bag with chicken pieces and leave it for 2-6 hours. Grill chicken, enjoy!
