by Amanda Goetz

Patio weather is finally here! Halle-freakin-lujah! I don’t know about your house, but we’ve been craving warmer weather like Lindsay Lohan craves bad press. The other day we pulled out all the patio furniture and outdoor kid’s toys and I welcomed back the season that makes my yard look like a poorly organized rummage sale. The weather was so great we had a spontaneous barbeque lunch on the patio. Nothing special, just hot dogs, crudité and some corn on the cob, but oh my jeebus that was a tasty lunch! I know hot dogs are all bad for you and stuff, and who the heck knows what’s in them, but you slap one of those suckers on a grill or roast one over a campfire and I’m your new best friend. After we cleaned up I couldn’t help feeling like our little lunch al fresco was missing something (besides a slip’n’slide and a yard full of our friends), then it dawned on me… dessert!

I had some cupcakes in the kitchen, and we have loads of ice cream in the freezer, but I was craving something light and springy (and quite frankly boozey cause the kids were all hopped up on fresh air and were loud!). I hit the recipe book cupboard in my kitchen, pulled out a bunch of magazines and cookbooks, piled them on the patio table and started flagging summer recipes I want to try with my little 3M stickies. When I got to this recipe I stopped and went to check if I had everything I needed to make them right then and there. The only thing I was missing was Rum (so bizarre, I have no idea where that bottle got to…) so a quick trip to the Liquor Store the next morning (I was enjoying the patio way too much to head out that afternoon) and I was in business!

This bar tastes just like a mojito. It has the texture of lemon meringue pie (minus the meringue) and was super easy to make. It would be great to take to a barbeque or picnic, who doesn’t like the person that says “Hey everyone, I brought Mojito Bars!”?

I’m looking forward to a lonnnng, hot summer filled with meals outside… and if a couple of cocktails happen to be poured for me I wouldn’t complain. Bring on summer!

Mojito Bars taken from Betty Crocker’s It’s Summer magazine

3 tablespoons light rum or 1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract plus 3 tablespoons water

16 fresh mint leaves, chopped

3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons grated lime peel

2/3 cup fresh lime juice (from 6 limes)

2 to 3 drops green food color (optional)

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

1. In a small bowl, combine rum and chopped mint. Set aside.

2. Heat oven to 350° F. Lightly spray 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray.

3. In large bowl, mix butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar together with electric mixer on medium speed.

4. Mix in 1 3/4 cup of the flour on low speed, just until well combined.

5. Press in pan. Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until set and lightly browned.

6. Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix eggs and sugar, with whisk.

7. Add remaining 1/4 cup flour and salt, mix with whisk until blended. Mix in lime peel, lime juice, food color and milk.

8. Place strainer over medium bowl; pour rum mixture into strainer. Press mixture with back of spoon through strainer to drain liquid from leaves; discard leaves.

9. Mix strained liquid into egg mixture, with whisk until well combined.

10. Pour over partially baked crust. Bake 25 to 27 minutes longer or until center is set.

11. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Store bars, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.

Amanda Goetz is a WAHM to 3 kids under the age of 5. Her love of cooking was fostered when she was a preschooler helping her grandma in the kitchen. After a year long stint as a sous chef, she left the industry to continue cooking as a hobby before the stress and politics of a professional kitchen killed her love of cooking. Now she creates delicious dinners and delectable desserts for her family and friends and blogs about it at The Best Mom on the Block.