Mango Piña Colada

So here’s out little love story.  Mike and I met each other 10 1/2 years ago.  We worked at the same restaurant.  He was the head bartender and I waited tables.  We talked at work, and he was just the nice guy behind the bar.  We were both dating other people.  Fast forward almost 4 years.  I’m being made a bartender the next week, and Mike asked me to come hang out with him and some of his friends.  I did.  That was Sunday.  I had never thought of him in any kind of romantic way, but it made me kind of giddy because he had a bitchin’ car, tattoos, and was pretty cool.

Tuesday I go hang out with him again.  We start spending almost every day together and text all the time {when we say we’ll call each other, we mean text}.  I get behind the bar and we work Monday nights together.  Couples behind the bar was a no-no {to avoid drama}, but no one even knew for like 3 or 4 months cause we know how to keep it professional.  But he would come whisper in my ear and flirt with me a little at work which was fun.  And here we are, almost 7 years and 2 kids later.  He’s still my favorite, and I’m glad I got him for the long haul.

One of the best bartending tricks Mike ever taught me is not to use sweet and sour in blended drinks.  9 times out of 10 they’ll get sent back.  So stop putting S’n’S in your blended daiquiris and coladas.  Instead use fruit juice – pineapple,  orange, or sometimes even cranberry – depending on the drink.  You will become everyone’s favorite mixologist.

Celebrate Sweet Vidalia Flavors of Summer with the great tastes of fresh Vidalia Onions, Avocados from Mexico, Gourmet Garden Herbs, Johnsonville Italian Sausage, mangos, watermelon and Stemilt Cherries. Great food and good friends make everyday a party to remember so start entertaining and visit www.flavors-of-summer.com for recipes, coupons and entertaining tips.

Don’t forget to head over to the Flavors of Summer giveaway I’m co-hosting to enter for your chance to win one of seven prize packs.  Each prize includes a $50 Visa gift card, and “I Love Avocados” t-shirt, a copy of  Summer Thyme {cookbook}, fresh Vidalia onions, and squeezable herbs from Gourmet Gardens {love their herbs!}.

One Year Ago: SSBB: Summer Threads

Print

Mango Piña Colada

Prep Time 8 minutes

Total Time 8 minutes

Servings 2 cocktails

Author Julie Espy {White Lights on Wednesday}

Ingredients

• 4 ounces Bacardi Superior rum
• 1 ripe mango peeled, pitted, and rough chopped
• 1 cup ice
• Coco Real {Cream of Coconut}
• Pineapple juice if needed
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Add rum, mango, and ice to a blender. Pour in enough Coco Real until the blender is filled almost to the top of the ice.
2. Put lid on blender, and puree until pina colada is smooth. If the drink is too thick, add a little splash of pineapple juice {or Coco Real, but this stuff gets pretty sweet} and re-blend; repeat until your desired consistency is reached.
3. Pour cocktail into tall glasses and garnish with whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

You could add a 1/2 teaspoon of Gourmet Gardens cilantro to this pina colada for a little extra oomph. I made a mini cocktail with the cilantro, and it was good, but I left the photo batch regular.