Tuesday, August 14, 2012

T@t {herbal} Table: A Cucumber Mint Cooler

When people talk about herbs, smell is the number one adjective used to describe them and as I lack a sense of smell, herbs challenge me.  I use them in the food I make only when directed to in recipes and always follow the exact amounts.  Herbs are like perfume to me - I have no idea how to use/wear them so I don't, unless directed too.  

So what am I doing here playing along with Debbie's Tuesday at the {herbal} Table? Trying something new to see if I can get out of the empty {herbal} box I've been in for years.  I decided to start with Mint and incorporate it into a beverage. 

I sliced up some cucumber slices and placed them in the bottom of my glasses.
 Heaped on some crushed ice from my food processor.
Added about 2 teaspoons of simple syrup (1 cup of sugar + 1 cup of water + heat = simple syrup)
 Ripped some mint leaves and placed on top.
 Topped it with cold water.
 And went and enjoyed in my sitting area just outside my kitchen.  It was delicious!


This was fun as I've never created a beverage before.  Could I smell the mint?  No...but I loved the slightly sweet cucumber mint liquid mixed paired with crushed ice.  Next time I'll add more crushed ice.  

Thank you Debbie for helping me break out of my {herbal} box!  
Please visit Debbie's Tuesday at the {herbal}Table to see what she has for us this week - I saw an amazing looking Arugula, Prosciutto and Grilled Asparagus Salad that I must make.  

Happy Tuesday everyone,
Susan

5 comments:

  1. Oh how lovely. I adore growintg herbs. My favorite is taragon. However, I have been growing a lot of basil and putting pots by my doors as it deters Mosquitos. They must have a good smeller. Now off to see about that salad. Yum!

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  2. Sounds delicious! Kudos to you!

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  3. oh good for you on more than one count! The bev sounds so refreshing! Can't tell you how much I appreciate (& enjoy) you trying to expand your herbal horizons! And I hope you keep discovering more ways to use them for yourself too!

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  4. I am a bit confused ...doesn't the sense of taste outweigh the the sense if smell when cooking/eating? As talented as you are in the kitchen I would think you would know what every herb tastes like and therefore know what it complements and such.

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  5. That is so funny! I had the same thought when I read about the herbs, since I can't smell well either. I CAN smell mint and basil, and can usually tell when dill is used, but frankly, most of the others don't have much of a taste for me either. Fresh is better than dried. Maybe some day they'll come up with a "cure" for us smell-handicapped people, eh? I had a cold attack my very bad sense of smell several years ago, and couldn't even smell or taste garlic, onions, or mint, couldn't even smell natural gas :-O. Luckily some of it has slowly come back... Do you use Penzey's Spice blends? I LOVE them, because they're already mixed and I don't have to spend time adding lots of spices that I can't taste... just add the mix!

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