Caipirinha

• 3 limes
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 quarts ice
• 1 cup Cachaca (Brazilian brandy made from sugar cane)
• Lime slices or sugarcane swizzle sticks, for garnish, optional
• Special Equipment: martini shaker

1. Cut each lime in half, then cut each half into 8 pieces.
2. Place 12 pieces of lime in each of 4 double old-fashioned glasses (or other 12-ounce glasses.)
3. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar into each glass.
4. Using a muddler (or the butt end of a large wooden spoon), mash the limes into the base of the glass until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally.
5. Fill each glass with 1 1/2 cups of the ice and 1/4 cup of Cachaca.
6. One glass at a time, transfer the contents of the glass into a shaker, and invert the glass onto the top of the shaker to act as a lid.
7. Shake the glass and shaker together to combine the sugar and Cachaca, shaking until well-chilled.
8. Lift the glass from the shaker, and pour the contents back into the glass.
9. Repeat the process with the remaining 3 glasses.
10. Garnish with a slice of lime or a sugarcane swizzle stick if desired.

limes, sugar, quarts ice, sugar, swizzle sticks, martini shaker

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/caipirinha-recipe4.html (may not work)