ISO fresh mint recipies

[dval]

My hubby bought a peppermint plant for me and I'd like to find some recipies to use the leaves. Does anybody have any recipies?

[cat lover]

They are good, hand crushed and added to ice tea! Are you looking for beverage recipes, home remedies or what?

[dval]

I've heard of peppermint tea but never thought about putting it in iced tea. I have some in the fridge now...hmmmm
It doesn't matter what kind of recipie.
When I googled peppermint all I could find were liquor recipies. Like drinks I could add it to, and even a recipie for peppermint schnapps. I'm not a drinker except for like maybe once a year so that stuff doesn't work for me.
I was going to try to make peppermint tea with it but all the recipies I found used dried peppermint not fresh. I don't have any way of drying the leaves.

[cat lover]

One way to dry them is just let them sit in a really warm place on some spread out newspaper for about 5 days(turn them every day) and they will dry.

Another way is to take an old window screen and attach some chain to the four corners; hang it up high where it won't get mositure and they will dry in several days.

Or, cut a bunch and tie together in small bunches leaving enough string to hang them upside down and hang from a loop you make in the end of the string. These will dry this way also.

You can use any of these ways without having an electric dryer; just crumble after they are dried (make sure they are completely dry or they will mold) and store in a tightly covered jar.

I'm sure I have a few recipes; I'll go look through the book I think I have them in; I'll post some after I find them.

[cat lover]

Mint Cookies


Blend together:
1/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar

Add and stir well:
1 egg
1 tbsp crumbled dried mint

Sift and stir in:
1 cup sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes 2 dozen

[dval]

Sounds good, really good...mmmm.
But nobody else in the family likes mint. That means I will HAVE to eat ALL the cookies myself! LOL!

I was kind of looking for something where the peppermint would not be the main attraction

[cat lover]

I'll see what I have on that order! Let me know though if you make the cookies and like them!

[ajrsmom]

I thought that this site (http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/Specials%20and%20Holidays/Mint%20Origin%20Uses%20Recipes.htm) was an interesting read. There are recipes at the bottom of the page -- the mint chocolate sauce caught my eye. ;)

[ajrsmom]

This might be a good one for next spring/summer:

Strawberry Peppermint Sorbet
Recipe:
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
4 cups sliced strawberries
1 tbsp lemon juice
12-16 fresh peppermint leaves, finely chopped
fresh strawberries for garnish
fresh peppermint leaves for garnishBring water and sugar to a boil. Reduce heat to low, simmer for 10 minutes. Refrigerate in a bowl to achieve syrupy consistency.
Meanwhile, in a blender, purée berries. Stir in lemon juice and chopped peppermint. Refrigerate.
In the bowl of an electric ice cream maker, combine syrup and purée. Process until mixture is firm but not hard.
Freeze in an airtight container overnight. Serve garnished with strawberries and peppermint leaves.

********

Another Yummy-sounding recipe!

Peppermint Shortbread

Be sure to have copies of this recipe ready when you serve this shortbread. It is always a hit, with adults and children alike. This recipe is from the delightful book " Along the Garden Path" by Bill and Sylvia Varney. The shortbread keeps very well and can be made a week ahead. My little girls like these made in miniature number shapes for their birthdays. Don't skip the fresh peppermint. It's the secret to the great taste of the shortbread.

List of Ingredients
· 12 TBSP. unsalted butter, softened
· 9 TBSP. sugar
· 1 1/2 TBSP. brown sugar
· 1 egg
· 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
· 3/4 tsp. peppermint extract
· 1 TBSP. finely chopped fresh peppermint leaves
· 1/8 tsp. salt
· 2 cups flour
Instructions:

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.

In a mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and extracts. Add the flour on low speed. Stir in the peppermint leaves and salt.
Divide dough into three portions. Place on plastic wrap and roll into cylinders 1 1/4 inch in diameter. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm. (1 hour)
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap dough and slice into 1/4" thick slices. Rotate the cylinder to keep it round. Keep the slices even and thin. They do not spread much, so you can place them close together on the sheet. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until the bottom edges are just barely brown. Remove to rack to cool.
For cut out cookies, divide dough into three portions and place on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Place another sheet on top and pat or roll the dough out into a very thin sheet. Chill the sheets of dough until firm, about 30 minutes. Remove and cut quickly with miniature cookie cutters. Bake 8 minutes - watch these little cookies can brown very quickly. Remove immediately to rack and cool.
For square cookies, shape logs with flat sides and chill and slice as above. This dough can be made and frozen unbaked. Thaw slightly in refrigerator before baking.

Copyright 2000 and 2001 by Renee Van Hoy, All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Renee is the owner and author of a Renees's Tea Party, a website full of wonderful recipes and tea party menus. She is also a wife and mom, as well as a gracious hostess. Visit her at Renee's Tea Party (http://www.geocities.com/rpvanhoy/Renees-Tea-Party)

[ajrsmom]

Not edible but this sounds nice.....

Peppermint-Inhalation Bath
Make an infusion by pouring 4 cups boiling water over 2 cups fresh peppermint (or any variety of mint) leaves and stems. Cover, steep until cool and strain. To strained infusion add 1 teaspoon jojoba oil, 1 drop essential oil of peppermint, 5 drops essential oil of tangerine, 2 drops essential oil of neroli and 2 drops essential oil of petit grain. Add this peppermint infusion to warm bathwater to feel fresheshed and renewed.

*******

Here's another forum with members sharing ideas: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/recipex/msg050945311235.html

[ajrsmom]

One more good tip:

Do a search here on MM at the top of this page. Type in mint into the article search box. You will find a lot of recipes and ideas for using mint.

Hope these help you!!

Tami

[dval]

Thank you! The smoothie sounds divine!

[cat lover]

Here is one from care2; I haven't made it , but it is on my list to make! Sounds really good!



Zucchini and Mint Soup

2 tsp olive oil
1 large white onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3 medium zucchini, roughly diced into cubes
2 cups water
1 vegetable stock cube
2 handfuls of fresh mint
salt and pepper to taste
In a large pan saute the onion in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Add garlic and zucchini and saute quickly, no more than one minute. Add water and vegetable stock cube and bring to a boil cover and reduce heat and let simmer five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in mint (reserving a few sprigs for garnish). Puree in a blender in batches, but be careful!. If you like a little texture, leave some of the soup chunky. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls garnished with remaining mint

[dval]

That one sounds like something I could spring on hubby :)

[cat lover]

Let us know if you get away with it! LOL

[dval]

I went outside this morning to see how many usable leaves I could get from my plant and I found it on the ground pulled apart!!:eek:
It must have gotten knocked off by one of the outside cats or maybe the big racoon I caught on the porch 2 nights ago. Perhaps his way of getting back at me for taking away the cat food he was eating!

Anyway, I think I have salvaged about half the plant. I repotted it and put it in a more stable spot. I'll have to keep a close eye on it. I'm afraid to take leaves off it right now and the ones from the other half look like they've been chewed on. Maybe the racoon was trying to soothe his upset tummy (from eating cat food!).

I'm going to wait about a week and see how the plant fares. In the mean time, I'll save these recipes. I'll have to wait to poison the hubby:p (Donna wrings hands while laughing insanely, nay maniacally) ROFLMAO

[cat lover]

Are the roots intact? If so it should come back okay; not sure how your weather is getting up your way. If it is getting cold you can take it inside and put in a bright window; just not direct hot sun. Keep it watered and it should be fine. Good Luck!

[dval]

Most of the roots are in good shape. About 1/4 of the root ball was still mostly clumped together. The other 1/4 I salvaged was the other 2 large pieces of root ball. The rest was completely trashed. I only have one window that gets any light and that is usually early morning light only. I might be able to bring it to my office if artificial light is ok for it.

[cat lover]

Your office light might work, I guess give it a try and see how it does. Just be sure to keep it watered, but not overly so. Hope it makes it! It really should and usually you can re-root it in just a glass of water. Good Luck!

[cat lover]

Smashed Minty Peas

1/2 cup chicken broth
1 lb frozen peas, not thawed
2 cups chopped Bibb lettuce
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
4 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp sugar
salt & pepper

Bring broth, peas, lettuce, mint, butter, sugar, and salt & pepper to taste to simmer in a pan. Cover and cook till peas are thender about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to food processor and pulse till coarsely mashed, about ten 1 second pulses. Serves 4

[dval]

Oh no! Pea soup! Aaaaaaarrgghh!

LOL!

That wouldn't work for this house. ROFLMAO
I hate peas and hubby hates pea soup. LOL

[cat lover]

I tried! LOL

[cat lover]

MInty Orzo & Beans

1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp margarine
2 cups cooked northern beans
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint


Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet saute onion and garlic in margarine till tender. Add beans and cook for 2 minutes or till tender. Add the lemon peel, salt, pepper and orzo and heat through. Stir in mint. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.