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Piña Colada – Puerto Rico’s National Drink…

24 Sep

This is a post originally published as a guest post on Flanboyant Eats…   Here is the link to the Original.   Thanks Bren for the opportunity!!!

 

I have to thank Bren for always extending me an invitation to get featured in her awesome blog…

She asked us to bring forth something that would represent my Hispanic roots to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. I could not think of a more iconic drink than the Piña Colada. The Piña Colada has become the signature drink of the Caribbean, vacations and the beach.

According to the plaque, it was born on the streets of Old San Juan, on Calle Fortaleza. But there are stories the Piña Colada was invented by a barman in the Caribe Hilton Hotel. What I do like about both these stories – they both agree the Piña Colada is Puerto Rican. No doubts about that… one of our many, many contributions to the world.

I’ve seen many versions of this typical creamy beverage, but an authentic Piña Colada has merely 3 ingredients – Cream of Coconut, Pineapple Juice and Ice. You could add a little rum if you want, but the alcohol does not make the drink. A virgin, karma-free version is equally as satisfying, if not more, in my humble opinion.

This is a Piña Colada version that adults and kids alike can enjoy and feel as if they’re swept away into a beachy retreat… if at least for a few sips at a time.

VIRGIN PIÑA COLADA

1 cup of cream of coconut – I like Coco López
1 cup of pineapple juice – I like Lotus
6-8 ice cubes
Pineapple chunks and cherries for garnish

 

  1. Blend all the ingredients well in a blender. The coconut cream will make the mixture frothy and creamy. It will also provide all the sweetness you’ll need.

This recipe makes 4 drinks… or 2 very large ones.

 

Mango Passion Fruit Lassi

4 Sep

Believe it or not, I’m getting ready for my 4th trip to India next year… We will be visiting at early in the year to ensure we do not combust from the India heat felt April on. You would think that growing up in the Caribbean would prepare you for the Indian heat – NOOOOOO!!! We have breezes and sea around us… the heat in India feels 200 times hotter than any summer in Puerto Rico.

But I do love to visit India, especially for spiritual trips like the one I am about to make. Our love for mangos is something both our cultures, India and Caribbean,  coincide in. Lassis are one of the first things I learned about Indian cuisine and I just love to drink them (the sweet kind, of course) when I travel there. They’re a great way to keep the heat at bay – the heat from the climate and the heat from the spicy food you eat. And as much as I love eating a mango just as a fruit… I also love to make it into a smoothie.

This version of a lassi yogurt drink is something I came up with the other day as an experiment. The combination is tangy and not too sweet, just like a refreshing drink should be. It’s like India and Puerto Rico combined in a glass… maybe not too traditional but very, very delicious.

 

MANGO PASSION FRUIT LASSI

1 cup of mango, cut into small pieces
1 cup passion fruit nectar or juice
½ cup greek yogurt
2 tbs agave nectar
3 ice cubes
  1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend at a high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Enjoy as part of your breakfast or as a snack.

Buenos Aires loves freshly squeezed Orange Juice

7 May

Ever since we started walking the street of Buenos Aires I noticed something really peculiar…

In many, many corners of the city you would find carts selling freshly squeezed orange juice. In Florida Street, a very popular shopping street, we saw between 4 or 5 in a 10 block strip.

We had the chance to get on a double-decker bus to get a snapshot of the city and those orange juice carts were everywhere. We also took a walking-tour of the city and the carts were waiting for us in every corner.

I just could not leave Buenos Aires without tasting an orange juice squeezed right in front of me. In San Telmo we had the first chance to drink it and it was super sweet and delicious. I wish I could have drunk so many more… But it will be on my next trip, because I wish this was only the first time I visit this wonderful city.

So if you visit Buenos Aires, please have SEVERAL orange juices in my name. Just say that your friend at KarmaFree Cooking sent you… 🙂

White Sangría

26 Mar

I am a sucker for a white sangría… Ever since I visited Spain for the last time about 5 yrs ago, I prefer sangrías made with white wine/grape juice than sangrías made with red. They seem fresher and lighter to my taste.

We made this sangría at Alison’s recently when she invited me to “teach” her a few easy recipes she could make at home for her husband. It was funny because it started like a cooking class, yet we ended up with a nice party entertaining her friends and family celebrating the inaugural issue of the online magazine Karma Life & Style. You might recognize someone as the food editor… hum, hum.

Sangrías are so simple to make and excellent to entertain a crowd. Just mix in a large pitcher, keep cool and enjoy. And make sure to have extra ingredients to make additional batches. I’ve never been able to make just one batch… it goes down smooth like juice!!!!

WHITE SANGRIA

1 bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider or grape must
1 32oz bottle of natural ginger ale
½ can of passion fruit juice concentrate
1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored and sliced thinly
1 orange, sliced
  • In a pretty glass pitcher, mix all the ingredients together. Let the flavors meld together for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.
  • Serve over ice.

Serve over ice.

Cantaloupe Juice

21 Nov

My friend Rosani is a cantaloupe melon fanatic… she really is. And her remedy for anything is cantaloupe juice.

You are not feeling quite right in the stomach… cantaloupe juice.

You need some energy… cantaloupe juice.

You need a sugar fix… cantaloupe juice.

So during our recent trip to NYC, Rosani treated us to her signature best juice concoction, cantaloupe juice. It’s delicious and creamy. Hope you guys like it too.

 

CANTALOUPE JUICE

1/3 of a cantaloupe melon, seeded and peeled
2 tbs brown sugar or agave nectar
Water
  1. Blend all the ingredients together in a blender.
  2. Rosani likes her juice on the thicker side, so you don’t need to add that much water, about 1 cup more or less.
  3. Pulse well a few times and let it go a few minutes to make sure the melon is well pureed into the juice.

Drink immediately. This is not the type of juice you make to save in the fridge. It’s best enjoyed right after it’s made.