Cocktails Anyone?

If you are anything like most of the people I know, you enjoy the occasional libation... I bought a watermelon a few days ago and my first thought aside from devouring that ice cold coral flesh (with a little sprinkle of kosher salt) was cocktails!  A watermelon mojito is the perfect thing to have in hand when it is blazing hot outside.   It is fruity, light and refreshing.

For my watermelon mojito I use a watermelon rum,  but if you can't find that just use a plain light rum or experiment with whatever sounds good to you. (Bacardi makes a red peach rum or a dragonfruit rum that would be delicious).
What's the worst thing that can happen?  If you don't like it, pour it out and crack open a beer...

The inspiration for the drink came from a recipe for Watermelon Daquiris by the Domestic Goddess herself, Nigella Lawson.

Watermelon Mojito
Start with the simple syrup:
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup water
2 fat sprigs of mint

-Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pot until the sugar is completely dissolved.  remove from heat and let it steep for 15 minutes.  Remove mint leaves and chill in refrigerator.

12 - 2 inch cubes of watermelon, frozen
1/2 cup rum (flavored or light)
1/4 cup mint simple syrup (more or less to suit your taste)
half a sprig of mint, leaves roughly torn
juice of half a lime

Put everything in the blender & whirl into frothy pink perfection.

A few suggestions for watermelon bites to go with your pretty pink drink:
-watermelon with feta cheese
-watermelon cubes with a drop of aged balsamic vinegar (NOT the stuff from the grocery store. This is the thick, sweet, syrupy stuff in a tiny glass bottle that'll set you back a few pennies)
-watermelon, proscuitto & basil
-watermelon, tomato & basil

Happy Summer Days!