Tasty Tuesdays - Garden Party Cocktails

My sister's birthday was on Saturday, and we celebrated with a garden party at her house on Sunday.  She has the loveliest backyard that includes both a vegetable and an herb garden.  We were served a variety of cocktails, all of which were infused with herbs from the garden.  My favorite of the drinks served was the honeydew mojitos with melon balls and mint.

Honeydew Mojitos with Melon Balls and Mint

Ingredients

• 4 limes, juiced (about 1/2 cup), plus more for garnish and rims
• Superfine sugar, for rims
• 1 honeydew melon (about 6 pounds), quartered, peeled, and seeded
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup packed fresh mint, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1/2 cup medium-bodied golden rum, such as Appleton
• 3 cups small ice cubes

Directions

1. Rub a lime wedge on rims of 8 glasses, then dip rims in superfine sugar.
2. Cut 3 melon quarters into 1-inch chunks. Puree melon in a food processor until smooth. Strain puree through a cheesecloth-lined sieve, and discard solids. (You should have about 4 cups.) Using a 1-inch melon baller, scoop balls from remaining quarter, and reserve.
3. Bring granulated sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and add mint. Let stand at room temperature, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, and discard mint leaves. (You should have a scant 1/3 cup syrup.)
4. Combine melon puree, mint syrup, rum, and lime juice in a pitcher, and refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes. Add ice to pitcher, and divide among glasses. Garnish each with melon balls, mint sprigs, and lime wedges, and serve immediately.

The other drinks served included:

Watermelon Basil Margaritas

Peach and Rosemary Spritzer

Mint Juleps

Pineapple Cilantro Drink Base

Here are some pictures of Jane at her first garden party.  We got her a pretty little outfit just for the occasion.  Her favorite part of the outfit was the ribbons that she chewed on all afternoon.  She has become a dribbling, drooling fool these last few days.  But she has never been cuter!

Cheers!