Here’s the recipe I googled and came up with. It was kind of meh. Not enough lime juice. For the right amount of lime kick I had to add lime extract. Also, while it skips the step of making simple syrup, the end result is leftover sugar in the bottom of the glass that just wouldn’t dissolve. An easy recipe, but not a go-to one.
We took our mojitos to the screen porch, which we opened a few weeks ago during a hot spell. Since then, it has turned cold. And then pollen season happened. So everything on the screen porch that I had carefully wiped and vaccumed is now covered in a thick layer of yellow dust. No matter; I was determined to enjoy the warmer than usual afternoon, my mojito, and The Imitation of Christ.
This edition is from the Catholic Book Publishing Corporation, circa 1993. It's a lovely little size that fits perfectly in one's hand, with print in a readable size and paper that won't rip if you look at it cross-eyed. Cheesy illustrations aside (why, why, WHY are so many biblical illustrations so baaad?), it's a terrific edition.
It came into my possession from a friend who had dowloaded it to her Kindle and no longer needed the real deal. In my non-Kindle world, this was a happy occasion. I recently woke up with a deep longing to read a good book of spiritual teaching. "Get up and get into a GOOD BOOK" was the message that resounded over and over in my head, and so I turned to Thomas a Kempis.
After only reading the first few pages, I'm completely hooked. A Kempis' writing is simple and easy to understand, while at the same time his message is utterly profound. A few sentences that jumped out at me were, "Nothing is so beneficial as a true knowledge of ourselves, which produces a wholesome self-contempt." Yes, oh yes. "If you see another commit a grievous sin, or whose faults are flagrant, do not regard yourself as better, for you do not know what you would do if similarly tempted." Yep.
And especially, "Do not open your heart to everyone, but only to one who is wise, God-fearing, and who can keep your confidence." Oh, yes, lesson learned this year, big time.
I'm already leaning towards the idea that this book should be given to every neophyte, perhaps at the conclusion of the RCIA year. What a perfect gift to help continue the journey of Catholic spiritual growth that we need after RCIA.
Mojito recipe review: two stars.
Imitation of Christ review: five stars!
The book was definitely better than the drink.