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Hi, there!

There’s nothing like sipping a cool drink on the porch or by the pool on hot summer days. Two of our program hosts—David Venable and Rick Domeier—heartily agree, and they’re sharing their favorite drink recipes (both with a touch of mint) to prove it!

Like most herbs, mint has a long and storied history. It’s been used for everything from medicine to insecticide. Known in Greek mythology as the herb of hospitality, one of its first- known uses in Europe was as a room deodorizer. Mint was strewn across floors to cover the smell of the hard-packed soil (stepping on the mint helped to spread its scent through the room). Today, it's more commonly used for aromatherapy through the use of essential oils.

Mint essential oil and menthol are widely used as flavorings in breath fresheners, drinks (as we’ll soon see!), mouth wash, toothpaste, and candy, as well as for cosmetics and some perfumes. Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach aches and chest pains. It's also used as an environmentally friendly insecticide for its ability to repel some common pests.

Now that you have the background on mint, let’s get to David Venable’s drink recipe with zippy zing! “If you’ve been lucky enough to taste homemade lemonade, wait until you taste ginger-mint lemonade,” he told me. “The ginger adds a pop of flavor that’s unmatched. When it’s chilled and ready, wave over your next-door neighbors, pour them a tall glass, and listen to the kids play in the yard as you catch up on what you did this summer. I can hear the ice clinking against the glass now.”

Ginger-Mint Lemonade

Ingredients

2 cups water

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 Tbsp fresh ginger, chopped

26 fresh mint leaves

6 cups ice

1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1 lemon, thinly sliced

4 cups club soda

Preparation

1. Combine the water, sugar, and ginger in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and simmer until the sugar has melted.
2. Remove the pan from the heat, add 16 mint leaves, cover, and let the leaves steep for 10 minutes. Using a fine strainer, strain the mixture into a glass container and refrigerate until well-chilled.
3. Add the ice, sugar mixture, lemon juice, remaining mint leaves, lemon slices, and club soda into a large pitcher. Stir to combine, then pour the lemonade into glasses.

Look for this recipes (and more!) by searching “David recipes” on QVC.com.

Rick’s recipe also uses mint. Take the classic minty Cuban Mojito and combine it with the sweet, colorful fun of a fresh summer watermelon, and voilà! You may have just discovered your new favorite summer drink.

The Wonderful Watermelon Minty Mojito (serves 4)

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups seedless watermelon, cut into small chunks

12 fresh mint sprigs

6 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (gotta have fresh limes, no bottled lime juice!)

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

7 oz. rum—any rum will do, but light rum is best

Ice cubes   

4 lime slices and 4 mint sprigs for garnish

Preparation

1. Place the watermelon chunks into a Vitamix or Ninja blender and purée until smooth.
2. Combine the mint, lime juice, and sugar in a small pitcher. Muddle the ingredients with the back of a wooden spoon until the mint releases its fragrance. (This is easier to do than you think.)
3. Pour the watermelon purée and rum into the pitcher. Stir vigorously.
4. Fill 4 tall collins glasses with ice and pour the mojito mixture over the ice.
5. Garnish with a lime slice and sprig of mint.

Enjoy!

Troy

QVC editor