The Hollywood set loves to travel to Louisville, KY every year for the annual horse race and this Saturday May 5 will be no different. If you aren’t traveling out to the races and just want an excuse to do some day drinking, try out Rachel Ray’s recipes for a delicious mint julep and her tasty mint julep melon bites.
Mint Julep
Ingredients
1 teaspoon confectioners sugar
5 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnish
½ cup bourbon (4 ounces)
Crushed ice
Directions
Muddle sugar, mint leaves and a splash of bourbon in your glass until a paste forms, then add ice and bourbon and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Mint Julep Melon Bites
Ingredients 2 cups sugar
½ cup packed fresh mint leaves and tender stems, plus whole sprigs for garnish
½ cup bourbon
2 cantaloupes peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
Juice of 1 lemon
Directions
In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup water and the sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced by half, about 15 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in ½ cup mint leaves and the bourbon. Cover and let steep for 1 hour.
Place the cantaloupes in a serving bowl. Strain the syrup over the melon; stir in the lemon juice to taste. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Top with mint sprigs.
