Very Cherry Mojito

Ingredients:

1/2 oz. Monin Mojito Mix
1 oz. Monin Cherry Syrup
3-5 Mint Leaves
2 Lime Quarters
Ice
1 1/2 oz. Citrus Flavored Rum
Club Soda

Directions:

Add mint leaves, limes, Monin Mojito Mix and Monin Cherry Syrup to shaker.  Muddle gently. Add ice and rum. Cover and shake for 15 seconds or until very cold. Serve in a tall beverage glass and finish by topping off the drink with club soda and a gentle stir. Garnish with lime, cherries and/or a fresh mint sprig.

Blackberry Bliss Mojito

Blackberry Bliss Mojito

Ingredients:
1/2 oz.
 Monin Mojito Mix
1 oz.
 Monin Blackberry Syrup
1 1/2 cups Ice
1 1/2 oz. Citrus Flavored Rum
1/2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
4-6 Blackberries
3 Mint Leaves (torn)
5 oz. Club Soda


Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, shake citrus rum, Monin Mojito Mix, Monin Blackberry, lime juice and mint leaves with ice for 15 seconds. Top with club soda and stir. Garnish with lime, blackberries, and/or mint sprig.

Lovely Lavender Blueberry Mojito

Lovely Lavender Blueberry Mojito

Ingredients:

8-10 mint leaves

1 1/2 parts White Rum

1 oz. Lavender Syrup

1/2 oz Blueberry Syrup

1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice

10-12 blueberries

Pinch of Ground Cardamom

Club soda

Directions:

Gently muddle mint leaves, Lavender syrup, Blueberry Syrup, lime juice, blueberries, cardamom and white rum in a tall glass.  

Muddle just enough to combine flavors, not to crush or pulverize.

Add crushed ice and top with club soda.

Gently Stir.

Add a Mint leaf and/or blueberries to garnish

Watermelon Habanero Mojitos

Watermelon Habanero Mojito

If you are looking for a fun and delicious summer cocktail, the refreshing flavors of watermelon and mint, paired with the spicy zing of habanero make this mojito stand out from the crowd.  Not to mention its beautiful bright pink hue!  

Recipe for Watermelon Habanero Mojitos



Ingredients:

3 cups watermelon, cubed

3 cups ice

1/4 cup Lime Syrup

1/2 cup Watermelon Habanero Syrup

1/4 cup packed mint leaves, plus more for garnish

2 1/2 cups white rum

Directions:

Combine watermelon, syrups, ice, and mint in a blender and puree until smooth.  Strain into a pitcher. Mix in rum and more syrup if necessary, to taste. Serve in glasses filled with ice and garnish with mint leaves.

Sweet Bacon Maple Pork Rub

Sweet Bacon Maple Pork Rub

Ingredients:

4 TBS Brown Sugar
2 TBS Torani Maple Syrup
2 TBS Torani Bacon Syrup
1 tsp Black Pepper
½ tsp Sea Salt
¼ tsp Cayanne Pepper

The measurements listed above are applicable for 4 Pork Chops, 3 Sirloin Cuts or 2 Shoulder Steaks. It is the shoulder steaks that are in the photos.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and spread over one side of the pork. DO NOT put on both side or you will have a fire on the grill. Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer (longer is always better, but not necessary). Grill over low/medium heat until cooked though starting with the rubbed side up. With the sugar and salt mix in the rub it keeps the pork moist even when using frozen chops. Let pork rest about 5 minutes before serving.

I wanted to get this out in time for summer cookouts. Now, I am from the northeast, so I always thought that cookouts were for burgers and dogs. I also thought that pork was either bacon, ham or a roast cooked within an inch of its life. Well, then I moved to the Carolinas for over a decade and really learned about cooking pork. The recipe above is so you can get a great sweetened pork wet rub flavor without having to spend 9 hours standing next to a smoker in 100 degree heat. If you don't count the time it takes to whip up the rub (maybe 3 minutes) this will take you 20 minutes total and that's if you have a long walk to the grill. I will be the first one to tell you that the worst thing you can do is to overcook pork. Those shoulder steaks in the photos were cooked for 7 minutes on each side over quite low heat. That's it.

The rub is so simple that you can increase/decrease the quantities to fit your needs for the day. You can also whip up more in about 45 seconds, so don't sweat it if you run short. You can mix up a large quantity and use it as a wet rub for a pork shoulder roast (or picnic if you're in the south) if you like. I recently took this rub and marinated a loin roast that I then froze. 6 weeks later I put it in the cooler and took it camping with us. I roasted it on a spit over an open fire for about 7 hours. I always try to hit an internal temperature of 130 to 140 degrees when doing a roast. The combination of the long soak time, the open fire (with hickory of course) and the ultra long/low heat cook time yielded the best pork I think I have ever had. Is that what you would do this saturday between mowing the lawn and going to a baseball game? Probably not. But that is why this rub is so great. It is quick, simple, versatile and very very tasty.

Impressive Meringue Cookies

What you will need:

3 large egg whites (or about 3 ounces)

¼ tps cream of tarter or salt

½ cup superfine or castor sugar (If you can't find castor sugar, you can put granulated white sugar in a food processor for 30-60 seconds)

¼ cup syrup of your choice 

food color to desired hue.

Let egg whites come to room temperature.  Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Put egg whites in a bowl that is clean and completely dry.  Whisk with an electric mixer on med-low until foamy.  Add cream of tarter and continue to beat until whites hold soft peaks.  Add the sugar and syrup, a little at a time making sure that each addition is blended thoroughly before adding more. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and continue mixing until whites hold very stiff peaks.  Add garnish if desired and finish mixing.  You will be able to tell the meringue is done when the mixture feels smooth when rubbed between finger and thumb.

Drop meringues into cookie sheet in 2-3 inch rounds using two spoons.  For a more decorative effect, use pastry bag with a tip.  Do not handle meringue with your hands while you are putting it onto baking sheets.  If mixture begins to get soupy, beat on medium-high again until stiff peaks return.

Bake meringues for approximately 1.5 to 3 hours rotating baking trays at least once to ensure even baking.  Meringues are done when the outside forms a shell.  Turn oven off and open door.  Allow meringues to cool for several hours or overnight. 

Bakers note:  Nothing about baking meringues is difficult, but it is time consuming.  When using syrup flavors, baking times may increase as it takes longer for the syrup to dry enough to form a shell on the cookies.  Be patient, and check them about every 15 minutes after the first two hours.  Making smaller cookies will increase your ability to control the texture of the finished cookie.

Pictured:

Monin Blue Cotton Candy Meringues

Monin Spicy Red Cinnamon Meringues

Monin Toasted Marshmallow Butter Cream Icing. Toasted Marshmallow Butter Cream Icing Recipe

sweetsaurus.com in July Issue of InStyle Magazine!

Just wanted to share our most recent piece of buzzworthy news:

sweetsaurus.com in July Issue of InStyle Magazine

Here is the link to Elderflower Syrup used in the recipe

Almond Blossom Cupcakes

These delightful Almond Cupcakes are beautiful, absolutely delicious, and a breeze to make!

Ingredients:

Cupcake:

1 box cake mix (I dig the “Super Moist”) and all ingredients called for on package

 ½ cup of Monin Almond Syrup

Icing:

1 cup unsalted butter (chilled and cut into big chunks)

1/8 tsp. Salt

3 ½ cups powdered sugar

½ tsp milk

3 tsp Monin Almond Syrup

Garnish/Topper:

 2 cups sliced Almonds

 Directions:

• Mix cake as directed, substituting ½ cup of Almond Syrup for ½ cup of the recipe’s instructed amount of water
• Bake as directed.
• Let cupcakes cool completely.
•  Chill cupcakes for at least 15 minutes before icing.
• After icing, arrange almond slivers on top of cupcakes to garnish

Click here for recipe download

Simply Delicious: White Chocolate Cupcakes with Blackberry Filling

Ingredients:

Cupcake:

1 box cake mix (I dig the “Super Moist”) and all ingredients called for on package

 ½ cup of Monin White Chocolate Syrup

Icing:

1 cup unsalted butter (chilled and cut into big chunks)

1/8 tsp. Salt

3 ½ cups powdered sugar

½ tsp milk

3 tsp Monin White Chocolate Syrup

Filling and Garnish/Topper:

 2 cups fresh blackberries

½ cup Monin Blackberry Syrup

 Directions:

• Mix cake as directed, substituting ½ cup of White Chocolate Syrup for ½ cup of the recipe’s instructed amount of water
• Bake as directed.
• Let cupcakes cool completely.
• While cupcakes are baking, prepare Blackberry filling by drizzling blackberry syrup over fresh blackberries in a shallow bowl.  Gently toss mixture to fully coat blackberries.  Refrigerate until you are ready to use.
• Once cupcakes have cooled, use an apple corer, to hollow out a portion of the cupcake’s center approx. ½ inch deep. Be careful not to remove too much of the cupcake’s center.
• Spoon blackberry filling into the hollowed section of the cupcake.  Do not overfill.  The filling should not overflow onto the cupcake’s surface. Chill cupcakes for at least 15 minutes before icing.

• To prepare icing:
• In a medium bowl, beat butter and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy. (about 2 Mins) Reduce speed to low, gradually add powdered sugar and beat until incorporated.  Add syrup and milk.  Beat until smooth.  Add additional syrup one tsp at a time if frosting does not have a spreadable consistency.

• Make sure cupcakes are thoroughly chilled prior to icing.  
• Top iced cupcakes with a fresh blackberry and use any remaining filling as a garnish once plated.

Recipe

Cherry Vanilla Bean Milkshake- Yum!

This Cherry Vanilla Bean Milkshake is sure to sweeten your day!

Cherry Vanilla bean Milkshake Recipe

Tijuana Hurricane: A summertime cocktail with some punch!

Don't let the old-fashioned glass fool you, this drink is definitely alive and kickin'!  

Tijuana Hurricane Recipe Card

Blood Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake

Today, we welcome guest Blogger, and sweetsaurus.com's very own culinary creative genius, Delee, as she shares her tips for great cheesecake and her original recipe for "Blood Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake."

Enjoy!  We know we sure Did!

Candied Apple Soda

Candied Apple Soda

If you love experimenting with your home soda maker then you need to give this drink a try.  It is more than delicious.  It's truly an experience that will make you fall in love with soda all over again.

Click here for the recipe card.

True Blue Sparkler

True Blue Sparkler

A perfect summer refresher and a great choice for any patriotic holiday get together.  This version is non-alcoholic, but can easily be adjusted into a great cocktail too!

Click here for the recipe card

Watermelon Slushie Bliss

Watermelon Slushie Bliss

This icy treat will cool you down and pick you up on even the hottest summer days.

Watermelon Slushie Bliss Recipe Card

Want to share a recipe with sweetsaurus?  Email us at sweetsblog@sweetsaurus.com

Smoothie Me Over

When it comes to making a perfect smoothie, the process is usually anything but smooth.  Any barista will tell you that smoothies are usually the most time consuming beverage on the menu due to the addition of fresh fruits, juices, the perfect amount of ice, and careful blending to achieve the just right consistency.

Unfortunately, the extra effort and fresh ingredients that make smoothies so delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day also make them a pretty expensive choice for a summer refreshment and not easy to replicate at home.  Until now....

New blender ready smoothie mixes are the newest and hottest product release for summer.  These easy to prepare smoothie mixes are almost too good to be true.

 Only three simple steps: 1) Pour 2) Blend 3) Serve to making perfect smoothies??

It's true, if you have a blender and ice cubes, you can make delicious, real fruit smoothies in seconds.

Available in flavors like Mango, Peach, Strawberry, Strawberry-Banana, Raspberry, Green Apple, Wildberry, and Superfruit, it shouldn't be hard to find flavors to please everybody.

And made from real fruit and all natural ingredients!  These summer treats aren't just healthy and delicious, they are quick, easy, and inexpensive too!

So don't leave the smoothie making to the professionals, make professional smoothies yourself!

Don't forget to share your smoothie pictures, tips, and recipe creations with us!  

We can't wait to see what you create!  

Email us with your smoothie experiences at sweetsblog@sweetsaurus.com for a chance to be featured in a future article and win a SweetSaurus.com goodie bag filled with sweet treats!

Our New Forum: Sweet-Talk on Sweetsaurus.com

We are proud to announce the launch of our new forum, Sweet-Talk on Sweetsaurus.com!  Please stop by and introduce yourself and help us to create an active, informative, and fun community.

We will regularly be posting recipes, drink ideas, product reviews, and more!

And even better, SweetSaurus CEO, Annie Quinio, will be on the forum answering your questions on a daily basis.  As a professionally trained barista, trainer, and product expert, she is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to make professional quality beverages of all kinds in their own home.

We will also use the forum to announce new products, promotions, and exclusive offers.  So make sure to register now so you don't miss out on all the sweet deals.

We hope you will take a moment to introduce yourself and help get the discussion underway.

Here is the link one more time:  http://forum.sweetsaurus.com/

Does Your Morning Coffee Need a Splash of Flavor?

Getting bored of your morning coffee?  Try adding a splash of flavor!  Here are two new syrup flavors that will make your morning coffee an experience to look forward to again.

Monin Blueberry Pie Syrup

Unlike some fruit flavoring syrups, Monin Blueberry Pie syrup is formulated for use with dairy products, so it won't separate or cause the cream in your coffee to curdle.  Just add 1/2- 1 ounce to fresh brewed coffee, add milk or cream, and enjoy the classic flavor combination of ripe blueberries and graham cracker crust.  It's a morning treat that you just might want to enjoy all day.

Torani Salted Caramel Syrup

If you are a fan of caramel flavor with your coffee, then this one is a must try.  It still has all the classic goodness of rich, buttery caramel flavor, but it adds a touch salty sweetness that will keep you coming back for more.  Torani Salted Caramel syrup is also available in sugar free!

You can find lots of other great flavoring syrups for coffee here.

How SweetSaurus Saved My Summer with Sugar-Free Soda!

Hello Internet, my name is Neil and I’m the newest member of the SweetSaurus team! Since working here one of the greatest perks I’ve found is how I’m no longer restricted to a scant few selections when it comes to everybody’s favorite carbonated beverage.

You see, I unfortunately do not handle sugar very well. I am a big fan of the taste, but my stomach and head don’t share my fondness. A trip to the cooler of any local convenience store can tell you the story of my sadness, as the shelves are stocked to the brim with a wide array of flavors of soda pop, but mostly all contain my forbidden sweet love. Leaving me with very few sugar-free arrows to pierce my thirst’s achy heart.

Working with the SweetSaurus team, I have our entire library of sugar free flavors to beat the heat stocked in my quiver. No longer restricted by the imagination (and cooler space) of others for my soda drinks, I’ve felt compelled to experiment with a wide variety of combinations, the results of which I’d like to share throughout the Summer. In turn, I hope to hear from you guys about your favorite custom sugar free soda drinks. I assure you I will have plenty of  opportunities to try them out and let you know how much I enjoyed them!

You’ll be hearing back with me very soon with a my first list of favorites, but don’t hesitate to send me your Carbonated Combos!

This Summer is going to be SWEET!
-Neil

The Tale of Sugar-Free

Once upon a time, adding flavor to coffee, soda, and cocktails inevitably meant adding sugar.  Sure, every coffee shop offers one or two "skinny" lattes, but let's face it, Sugar-Free options have been very limited.  Sugar-Free was more about limitations than freedom of choice.

A great selection of sugar free flavors was the stuff of fantasy, day-dreams, and romantic longings.

We pined away for flavors like Sugar-Free Coconut, Peanut Butter, Mango, Black Cherry, Pomegranate, Gingerbread, Blackberry, Amaretto, White Chocolate, Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Cookie Dough....

We had dreams of Sugar-Free Lime, Orange, Salted Caramel, Banana, Macadamia Nut, English Toffee, Vanilla Bean, Pineapple, Lemon, Peppermint, Strawberry, Peach, Almond, Watermelon.....

We wished for Sugar Free Raspberry, Cinnamon Vanilla, Almond Roca, Huckleberry, Dulce de Leche, Blueberry, Hazelnut, Chocolate, Triple Sec, Kahlua, Chai Tea Concentrate, and Toasted Marshmallow.

Don't worry though, the tale of Sugar-Free finally has its "happily ever after."  One by one, the Sugar-Free flavors of our dreams came true.  Sugar-Free options are no longer the stuff of fairy tales, and finally flavor is "free" from the confines of sugar.

Browse our selection of Monin, Torani, and Davinci Sugar-Free syrups 

Can't find the flavor you want?  We are always hunting for more flavors to add to our selection, so please, tell us the Sugar-Free flavors you are still craving.

How 'Bout These Apples?

I know that with summer fast approaching a flavor like Granny Smith Apple may not be the first flavor you would think to include in your liquid refreshment line up, but this tart, sweet, and fun flavor is the perfect choice for the early days of summer and beyond.

Who knew that going green could be so fun and delicious?   It will give your Italian sodas, cocktails, mocktails, and even smoothies a vibrant burst of flavor that is sure to delight at summer social gatherings.

Here are a few of our favorite recipes to get you started:

Granny Smith's Favorite Italian Soda

1 1/2 oz. Monin Granny Smith Apple Syrup

ice

club soda

1. Fill glass with ice. 2. Add Monin Granny Smith Apple Syrup and club soda. 3. Stir gently and garnish.

Sour Apple Martini

1/2 oz. Apple, Granny Smith

1 1/2 oz. Premium Vodka

1 oz. Sour Mix

 Ice

Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add Premium Vodka , Monin Green

Apple and sour mix. Shake well and strain into a chilled , sugar

rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a floating apple slice.

Electric Apple Lemonade

1 1/2 oz. Monin Granny Smith Apple Syrup

10 oz. Lemonade

Ice

Fill glass with ice. Add Monin Granny Smith Apple and lemonade. Stir.

Drink your breakfast with Torani Bacon Syrup

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our SweetSaurus syrup family.  Meet Torani Bacon Syrup.  This little fella has caused a little controversy in the culinary and specialty beverage community.  He is a little bit of a rule breaker, a rebel if you will.  He has dared to defy the norms of flavoring syrups.  He combines savory and sweet.  Unlike the hundreds of flavors in his Torani syrup family, he is the first to find his inspiration from an animal based meat product.

He may seem odd sitting next to the more traditional, usual suspects like hazelnut, vanilla, or caramel but that doesn't mean he isn't delicious. He is perfect for the person who can't get enough of their favorite breakfast food or even someone experimenting with new and unusual flavor pairings. A pump a in your coffee adds new layers of complexity to a dull morning or a splash in your favorite cocktail to make it a touch more hearty.

This 350ml of pork based syrup can be called a number of things, but none of those things would be "boring."

Add some more bacon into your life!

Very Berry

http://www.sweetsaurus.com/berry-flavored-syrup/

I have to admit, lately I've been suffering from berry boredom.  Flavors like Raspberry and Strawberry have been fan favorites for a long time in the specialty beverage world, but aren't there any other berries out there that want to break onto the scene?

The unequivocal answer is YES!  Here are my top 3 remedies for beverage berry boredom:

1) Huckleberry

Torani Huckleberry Syrup

 This berry has a distinctive sweet-tart taste.  Reminiscent of raspberry but lighter and tangier with hints of blueberry.  These rare berries emerge each summer from the hills of the Pacific Northwest.  Try it in an Italian soda or add it to iced tea and enjoy!









2) Blackberry

http://www.sweetsaurus.com/monin-blackberry-syrup/

Monin Blackberry Syrup

The blackberry is native to the entire temperate Northern Hemisphere.  Although its flavor profile ranges from very tart to very sweet, this blackberry syrup captures the perfect flavor of a wonderfully sweet late summer berry.  It also has hints of honey and floral flavors. 









3) Blue Raspberry

Torani Blue Raspberry Syrup

Torani Blue Raspberry Syrup

This syrup takes me back to hot summer afternoons at the local swimming pool.  Sweet, tangy, and vibrantly blue, its a fun and tasty syrup that is perfect for Italian sodas, frozen beverages, and desserts.