The Happiest Hour {Blood of the Tropics}

Life changed forever here last week. Whole Foods opened! Walking in was like walking into a completely different world. Items that have been impossible to find down here were all of a sudden right in front of me begging to be bought and turned into deliciousness. From Meyer Lemons to craft beer from far away lands, I wanted to buy everything in sight. But the biggest excitement came when I walked into the produce section and spotted my beloved blood oranges. I've had this blood orange obsession since my first trip to Italy many many years ago. However, trying to find them here was like trying to find gold at the end of a rainbow. Over the years mediocre blood orange juices and sodas popped up at places like World Market, but nothing ever compared to the pure juice that came from squeezing the fruit myself. Once spotted, I grabbed as many as I could without looking like a weird-o. The mission was to create the most delicious blood orange cocktail I could and the end product ended up being better than expected. A tropical blend of coconut rum, pineapple juice, and fresh squeezed blood orange juice was exactly was I was looking for as an afternoon sipper on warm afternoons. Refreshing and light but full of flavor, I could drink them all day long. Plus, the color (and name!) is perfect for upcoming Halloween bashes! Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients ::
1 Blood Orange, juiced
3 oz Pineapple Juice
3 oz Coconut Rum

:: Directions ::
Combine ingredients in a rocks glass over ice. Stir to combine, garnish with a blood orange round and sip!

Indulge In {Rum Punch Granita}

This blog would be nothing if I wasn't honest with you. So in the spirit of being honest, this post started as rum punch pops. It clearly turned out to be an almost epic fail. In the process, I learned that making pops with an abundance of alcohol is just about impossible. But, I did learn that making granita with it is surprisingly easy and delicious. Because of the alcohol, you don't have to scrape it like a normal granita. It freezes nicely and makes a delicious, cooling summer dessert when accompanied by some fresh fruit. Serve it up after a backyard BBQ or a fun day at the beach. The best part is that when it melts, it turns into a yummy (ice cold!) cocktail. Here's the recipe..

:: Ingredients ::
*Makes 2 Servings*
1 oz Coconut Rum
1 oz White Rum
1 oz Dark Rum
1/2 oz Spiced Rum
3 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Orange Juice
1.5 oz Grapefruit Juice

:: Directions ::
Combine ingredients in a tupperware. Place in freezer and freeze for at least 24 hours. Using an ice cream scooper, scrape out serving. Top with fresh seasonal fruit and serve.

The Happiest Hour {Rum Cocktail Round 2}

After the research I did last week, we decided that this was a good weekend to attempt our signature rum cocktail again. This time, Rob participated in the mix up and things went a bit smoother than they did the first time. Now, we are actually on the right track. We started by trying to recreate our favorite rum drink, The Blaster, and got pretty darn close. After 5 attempts, we finally settled on the base and I actually managed to write it down so it can be recreated. This is my biggest problem with most recipes I try. From here on out, it's just a matter of adding our favorite flavors to create the perfect combination. I'd love to get your opinion on the base and what you think we should add. Here's the recipe so far!

:: Ingredients ::
*Makes 2 cocktails
1 oz Malibu Coconut Rum
1 oz Flor de Cana Dark Rum
1 oz Flor de Cana White Rum
.5 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
3 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Orange Juice
1.5 oz Grapefruit Juice
1 Cap Full Grenadine

:: Directions ::
Combine all ingredients and shake to combine. Strain over ice and serve.

The Happiest Hour {Dancing Flamingo...Round 1}

So there's this tradition in the Bahamas that I've been dying to bring back to the states for years. Every place you go has a signature house rum drink. Armed with names like The Blaster and The Guana Grabber, these cocktails can't be beat. It has been my mission lately to create our signature recipe. Something that we can whip up in big batches and serve by the pitcher at all gatherings. Creating the perfect recipe isn't something that happens in a single try though. I know the base, coconut rum, and some flavors I'd like to include, strawberry and orange. Everything else though is up in the air. Join us on the journey to creating the perfect house rum cocktail and whip up this first attempt. I'd love to hear your feedback! Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients ::
1.5 Parts Strawberry Juice
1.5 Parts Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
2 Lime Wedges
1 Part Coconut Rum
1/2 Part Grand Marnier

:: Directions ::
1. Combine strawberry juice, orange juice, coconut rum, and grand marnier in a shaker and shake to combine.
2. Squeeze lime wedge over ice and strain cocktail into glass. Garnish with an additional lime wedge and serve.