Herb Twist Cojito Recipes

ROSEMARY RAISIN TWIST

Steps:

• Cook 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon minced rosemary, 2 tablespoons golden raisins and some pepper in a skillet over medium heat, 3 minutes; let cool. Brush a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of the oil; add an 11-ounce package French bread dough. Make a slit down the length of the dough and fill with the raisins and most of the oil; pinch to seal. Twist the dough and brush with the remaining oil. Bake at 350˚ F, 30 minutes.

RASPBERRY-APPLE JUICE TWIST

Steps:

• Add the apples and raspberries to a medium pot over medium heat. Fill the pot with water until it is level with the fruit and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the fruit begins to soften, about 10 minutes. Once softened, use a wooden spoon to lightly mash the fruit, concentrating on the raspberries. Let simmer for 5 more minutes. Line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth and put over a bowl. Pour the contents of the pot into the sieve and using the wooden spoon, press all of the moisture out and, if necessary, release the cheesecloth from the sieve and squeeze out the excess juice. Add sugar, to taste, and refrigerate until cold or serve over ice in glasses.

COJITO (MOJITO W/COCONUT RUM)

Steps:

• In a pitcher, add the mint, sugar, and lime juice and muddle with a wooden spoon to crush the mint leaves.
• Stir in the rum, making sure the sugar has dissolved, then add 4 cups of ice.
• Top each tall glass with club soda and garnish with lime slices and make sure some mint goes into each cocktail.

GARLIC HERB BREAD TWISTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Lightly oil 2 large (17- by 13-inch) baking sheets.
• Stir together rosemary, thyme, 1/4 cup cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Stir together oil, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in another bowl.
• Divide dough in half. Keeping half of dough covered with a kitchen towel (not terry cloth), gently roll out other half into a 15-by 10-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin. (Use your hands to pull corners. If dough is very elastic, cover with towel and let rest about 3 minutes.)
• Sprinkle one half of dough (crosswise) with half of herb mixture, then fold dough in half crosswise and roll lightly to form a roughly 10- by 8-inch rectangle. Cut lengthwise into 9 strips (less than 1 inch wide) with a pizza wheel or a sharp heavy knife. Keeping remaining strips covered with a kitchen towel, twist each strip from both ends and place on baking sheet, arranging twists 1 inch apart. Brush with 1 tablespoon garlic oil and let stand while forming remaining bread twists.
• Roll out and form more bread twists with remaining dough and herb mixture, then arrange on other sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon garlic oil and let stand 5 minutes.
• Bake bread twists, switching position of sheets halfway through, until golden, 20 to 25 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, stir together parsley and remaining 3/4 cup cheese in a shallow baking pan.
• Immediately after baking, brush bread twists with remaining garlic oil, then roll in parsley and cheese until coated. Serve warm or at room temperature.