tropical paradise

It is hot here in Memphis. It always is this time of year. I don't mind it nearly as much as the carnivore does. I like to sit on my porch even when it is in the 90s...as long as I have a nice cool beverage in hand. This is my latest concoction.

First, let me say a little about how it came about. The other day I made a fruit salad to take to my best friend's baby shower. As I was about to toss the juice from the pineapple (I'm all about fresh fruit, but I am not about to slice open a pineapple myself) but I stopped. I remembered this amazing pineapple water I had at a Mexican place last week. I wasn't sure if I could recreate it, but I knew I couldn't toss the juice. So I put it in the fridge, along with the left over juice from the mandarin oranges.

So the next day when I was ready to sit on the porch and do some work on the computer while the carnivore did some work in the yard, I decided it was time to do something with those juices. At the carnivores suggestion, I made it an adult beverage.

I combined the pineapple juice and the mandarin orange juice (about 1 cup total) with several ice cubes and three shots of rum and blended them until smooth. (No rum needed if you are making a pregatini.) I topped each glass (because this recipe makes several glasses) with a squeeze of fresh lime. The lime is key here. Trust me on this one.

It was a like glass of a tropical paradise right on my front porch. Plus, I made it from the juices I would have normally just thrown out! You can't beat this drink in this economy - or this heat.