What do do with dried peppermint and spearmint?

[MaggieTheCat]

So, as some of you may recall me mentioning, I ordered some dried peppermint and spearmint last week that I'm going to use to make homemade extracts with.

I did not realize that 4oz of dried leaves was going to be so flippin' much!

I have way more than I'll ever use for extracts, especially in any kind of timely fashion. Since I have so much, I would definitely like to try doing some other stuff with it. The labels suggest steeping it in hot water, either on its own or with tea, and making candy out of it. But I don't have any candy recipes and even with extract, tea, and candy, I still have way more than I know what to do with.

So, who here has some good peppermint and spearmint recipes they'd like to share?

[KiaKat]

Any dish that calls for basil, use a pinch of peppermint with it. Brings out the brightness in food. Especially if it's Mediterranean or Middle Eastern.

I'll look in my books and see if I have any mint-focused recipes.

[Amusement Gal]

Put equal parts spearmint, peppermint, green tea leaves and black tea leaves inside a tea ball. Make some tea. I've heard it's delicious. Lamb is also good with mint. You can also make a mint jelly? The two mints together make an awesome tea too. And if you make candies, you'll be ready for the holidays.

Edit: Chocolate-mint cookies sound good too. Mint is edible, so it's not like you need an extract for stuff like that if you want a more subtle flavor.

[lupo pazzesco]

mint tea is really good. make a tisane, not so much a tea and just steep the herbs themselves in hot water. Or make a simple syrup with the mint, and use the mint syrup for various recipes.

Make a mint oil. Homemade aromatherapy, REALLY good for easing stress.

That's all I've got for now. Too tired to think of anything else.

Oh! I'm a big believer in herbal baths, too. Get some cheesecloth, or some muslin tea bags and basically make baths out of tea. Soaking in it is really good for your skin, kind of detoxifying, and smells good while you soak. I like it, even if that makes me weird.

[Food Lady]

A couple of leaves in a glass of lemonade is good. Anyone have a recipe for minted strawberry salad?

[lupo pazzesco]

fresh brewed iced tea with mint!! Mmm...tea...

[AdminAssistant]

Ooooh, I had mint lemonade last weekend and it was really good!

[Dave1982]

Mojitos? I know that calls for fresh mint but I'm sure there's a way it can be adapted for dried mint.

And yeah....4 ounces of dried leaves is a lot.

[Whiskey]

Mojitos? I know that calls for fresh mint but I'm sure there's a way it can be adapted for dried mint.

And yeah....4 ounces of dried leaves is a lot.

couldn't you just rehydrate it in a cup of boiling water? Might suck the flavor out though.

[CoffeeMonkey]

Cat toys! cats like mint. It's in the same family as catnip.

I second the idea of tea, and of cooking it down in a simple syrup.

[DeltaSierra]

I second the aromatherapy oil - its a fantastic stress reliever, and I have always found that smelling essence of peppermint can calm an upset stomach.

[KiaKat]

Simple syrups are good, and those can be used in lieu of fresh mint for a quickie mojito, or in a lemonade for a little fresh burst of flavour. Also good for cooking, baking, or anything else that calls for both sugar and water.

[lordlundar]

couldn't you just rehydrate it in a cup of boiling water? Might suck the flavor out though.

Doesn't work so well with herbs, especially if they're not whole. You lose way too much oil out of them in the drying process which not only is part of the flavour, but also is what holds it together so it can be reconstituted.