Mint Extract

  I have two different types of mint growing in the yard, and I don't do much with them. This year I decided to make some homemade mint extract. I used a recipe I found on the Mommypotamus blog as a rough guide. I bought some cute Fido jars at TJ Maxx that have a small chalkboard paint label area on them.  I picked about a cup of mint leaves and washed them up. 

    Then I laid them out on a paper towel, covered them with another towel to dry them gently.

   Then I put them in the jar and covered them with rum. Vodka is what was in the original recipe, but I didn't have any. You can use bourbon too. The ratio is roughly 1cup leaves to 1 1/2 cup alcohol.

  
 Close the lid and leave it alone for about a month. You can test it then, and if it's minty enough strain out the leaves. It should last indefinitely. 
  I plan to use it in hot chocolate, whipped cream, and brownies. Yum!