it’s that time o’ year again… everyone is irish! how about going naturally green, instead of chemically food coloring green? it’s simple…

GREEN GIN INFUSION:
place one cup shredded organic spinach and 750 ml gin in a container to sit together for at least 12 hours. the longer you leave it, and the more spinach you use, the darker the green will get. strain back into original bottle (agitating expediates the process).

the intensity of the green in this G & T was weakened by the tonic water. to serve a REALLY green drink this st. paddy’s day, make a GREEN GIMLET instead…

the popeye strong spinach plant is – you guessed it – ruled by the hardiest of planets, saturn. so spinach, my friends, is a capricorn. similar to the capricornian pansy, it is supposed to be an annual plant in these parts. however, it also will survive the cold, long northeastern winter if planted at the right time of year. spinach will be the last veggie you pick before the snow completely encases you, and the first one you pick after the “tundra” melts. spinach is there for ya baby… whada capricorn! dependable, reliable, diligent, responsible… they’re a barrel of laughs. the funny thing is though, they really are. some of the greatest comedians (howard stern, Julia Louis-Dreyfus) of our day have been capricorns. so here’s to spinach, alcohol and laughter, three of the world’s best medicines…

As they say in Ireland–Sláinte!

GREEN GIMLET:
1 1/2 oz green gin*
1 oz simple syrup*
3/4 oz fresh lime juice

GREEN G & T:
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
4 oz tonic water
3 oz green gin
twist of lime for garnish

pack collins glass with ice. add tonic water, green gin, lime juice and stir. oversized twist of lime for garnish.

* simple syrup is a mixture of 50% water/50% sugar. use raw organic sugar for best flavor and most eco points. do not heat. place in container and shake until dissolved. store in fridge.

thanks to KOCHTOPF for hosting WEEKEND HERB BLOGGING #122.