Mocktails

What's a girl to do when for various reasons (pregnancy, antibiotics or masochistic sacrifice) one finds herself unable to drink?  This has of course come up for me on several occasions recently.  There are only so many bad sparkling juices a girl can drink before she has to resort to coming up with her own concoctions.  Luckily, I have not had major cravings for alcohol.  I'm too busy craving ice cream.  But this completely gorgeous and summer like weather had me craving a summer drink.  I really wanted a cool and refreshing mojito and was just starting to banish the craving to July when I realized a mojito is actually a good drink to have with or without alcohol.  I whipped one up and to my pleasant surprise, this is one refreshing drink I'd have even if I could have alcohol.  It lead me to come up with a n/a version of my other favorite cocktail, the Cosmo.   My CosNo isn't quite as satisfying booze free but it is a good substitute when the need arises.  Feel free to make these mocktails cocktails by adding a healthy dose of booze. 

Fauxjito (Faux Mojito)

Start by making a simple syrup.  In a saucepan over low heat, add four tablespoons sugar and four tablespoons water.  Shake the pan over the heat so it mixes and let it simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Turn of the heat and set aside.  Zest 1/2 teaspoon lime into simple syrup.  Let cool.

Meanwhile, put a few sprigs of fresh mint in the bottom of two glasses and with the bottom of a wooden spoon muddle (pound) the mint leaves so they are bruised, but not torn.  Add ice to the glasses and squeeze the juice of half of a lime in each glass.  Depending on how juicy the limes are will depend on how much simple syrup you'll need to add.  You will probably want to add two tablespoons of the simple syrup to each glass (more sugar for a really juicy lime.)  Top each glass with club soda and stir.  To make a true mojito, add a healthy splash of light rum.  (Serves 2)

 

CosNo  (Cosmopolitan No alcohol)

In a cocktail shaker, add ice.  Add cranberry juice, two splashes of Rose's Lime Juice (next to the grenadine in the alcohol aisle or add a few squeezes of fresh lime juice), and two big splashes of water.  Shake and add to a martini glass.  Add a lime twist.  (Serves 2)