Thirsty Thursday ~ Strawberry Watermelon Cooler

Summer time and the livin' is easy.  Kids are swimming and the sun is extra hot.  

Don't you want to cool down?  What better way than with an icy fresh beverage with what else...RUM!

During the summer, fresh fruit is bountiful....especially strawberries and watermelon.  They are the inspiration for this week's drink! 

Strawberry Watermelon Cooler

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh watermelon, roughly chopped
• ½ cup fresh strawberries, diced
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 tbsp. agave nectar
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup of white rum (I like Bacardi)
  

Directions:

1. In a blender combine watermelon & strawberries.  
2. Strain the mixture so that the seeds are removed.
   
3. Then combine the fruit mixture, coconut milk, agave nectar, rum and ice; pulse until smooth.
4. Divide between 4 glasses. You can optionally add one shot of rum or tequila to each glass. Serve with a straw and garnish with strawberry slices or watermelon wedges.
5. Serve immediately.
   

How's that for summer fun??  I hope you enjoy!!

Alexis

Thirsty Thursday ~ Blood Sucker

I want to suck your blood!!!

Oh I love me some vampires!  I've read all of the Twilight books, seen the movies, and watch Vampire Diaries religiously.  The whole concept is so intriguing!  Here is a Halloween type cocktail inspired by those handsome blood thirsty characters:

The Blood Sucker

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Bacardi O
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau
• 2 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 Tbs. strawberry or raspberry puree

Preparation:
In a shaker with ice, pour rum, Cointreau and juice. Shake and pour into a rocks glass. Dip the end of a drinking straw into the puree, hold the tip of your finger over the other end and use the straw to squirt puree into the bottom half-inch of the drink, where it will sink in red blobs. Do not stir.

Then you can rim your glass in this wonderfully bloody concoction from Hostess {with the mostest} that would make any vampire's heart melt!

The “blood rim” is made from the same kind of mixture as you’d use to make hard candy. It’s actually pretty easy, but you will need a candy thermometer (which you can find at most grocery stores). 

Ingredients:
1 c. Sugar
1/2 c. Karo Syrup
1/2 c. Water
Red Food Coloring

Directions:
Combine sugar, syrup and water. Cook without stirring to hard crack stage – which is 300 degrees F. Add food coloring.

Turn off heat. While the mixture is still hot, dunk the top of the cocktail glass into the mixture to create the red rim. If you need to do several glasses, keep the mixture hot so it lasts longer (instead of turning heat off, just reduce slightly).  You can go anywhere from just along the very tip of the rim to part way down the glass – whichever you prefer. Flip the glass right side up to cool. The thick consistency of the mixture will cause “drips” as it hardens on the glass!

Alexis

Thirsty Thursdays ~ Strawberry-Coconut Daiquiri

Make summer last a little longer with this yummy cocktail!  Here's the best part...it's only 112 calories!!  This wonderfully low-cal treat is a great way to use up the last of summer's strawberries, or bring summer into your fall/winter by using frozen strawberries.  

Strawberry-Coconut Daiquiri 

(From Fitness Magazine)

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups  chopped fresh or frozen (not thawed) strawberries, (about 12 ounces)

3 tablespoons  sugar

2 tablespoons  lime juice

3 cups  ice cubes

3/4 cup  coconut-flavored rum, such as Malibu (see Variation, above)

Directions

1. Combine strawberries, sugar and lime juice together in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add ice cubes and rum and blend until frothy. Transfer mixture to a pitcher and serve.

ENJOY!

Alexis