Is it hot enough for you this summer? Goodness, we’re all just baking and melting away! Plus my home town of Ames, Iowa is completely underwater this week from the extreme flooding of these two normally harmless rivers that flow through it. All of that water with temps in the high 90’s make it a very undesirable environment to be in right now. I’ve already called and Facebooked my family and friends in Ames to check on how they are doing. My parents have the best attitude — they’re boiling water, living without showering, etc. etc. At 82 and 90, they are such troopers, having lived in the days of outhouses and bringing in water from a well pump oustide, so this is not terribly difficult for them. But I digress (as usual).
So for those of you who DO have clean water and household amenities, yet it’s still hotter than ‘broil’ on the oven, here’s some fantastic, oh-so-yummy cocktails from the Tropics to share with you. The photos were taken from our trip out there last week, and the recipes are authentic from the sources that I’ve cited. So come on, light that kitschy tiki torch hidden in the garage or basement, grab your best rum, and mix up some tropical good times!
For my husband and me, there is one tropical drink that we both absolutely love: The Lava Flow. It’s like a strawberry shake, with a little coconut and banana whipped in, plus rum. Since my hubby’s favorite thing is ice cream and his fave flavor is strawberry, this cocktail is easy for him to give in to. Be careful, you think you’re just drinking a strawberry shake and so after 2 or 3, you may fall flat on your face from the rum that is extremely well hidden! You can also make this a VIRGIN Lava Flow without any alcohol and still have a great summer beverage!
Lava Flow
Ingredients
- 1 oz. coconut syrup
- 2 ozs. pineapple juice
- 2 ozs. light rum
- Splash vanilla ice milk (or ice cream)
- 1/2 cup ice
- (1/2 a banana, optional)
- 1 1/2 ozs. strawberry puree (we like another ounce added for more strawberry-ness!)
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients except strawberry puree.
- Pour into a cocktail glass and gently pour in the strawberry puree (which is to resemble ‘lava flowing’).
We enjoyed these Lava Flows at the infamous Duke’s Canoe Club and Barefoot Bar on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. This landmark establishment sits right on the beach where guests dine and drink under palm-leaf thatched and bamboo umbrellas and sit in beach-y rattan chairs. Memorabilia from Duke Kahanamoku, the famous Hawaiian surfer who won Olympic medals in swimming, are placed all over the restaurant. If you ever go, you MUST try the salad bar’s FAMOUS Caeser Salad — the best on the planet . . . and that’s the truth! Duke’s even serves anchovies for your Caeser, which most eateries are eliminating due to the expense (yet some still have them listed in their salad’s ingredients on their menus! I think that’s bad business myself!)
Here is another version straight from “Hawaii” magazine on how to make Lava Flows the way they are made in Hawaii:
http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2009/8/30/_lava_flow_hawaii_tropical_cocktail
Just a fun tropical drink menu!
Mai Tai at Along Wong’s with THREE rums!
Back in the 1940’s a guy named Trader Vic concocted this now world-famous cocktail and introduced it to Honolulu for the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider hotel bars. Apparently there is an ongoing debate on how to prepare this drink, so instead of referring to my cocktail recipe bible, I did my research and found the original, classic Mai Tai recipe from Francesco Lafronconi, a highly esteemed and respected author on the history of American cocktails (as a research professor myself, I wonder why I didn’t choose that research focus!)
The Original Mai Tai
Ingredients
- 1 lime
- 1/2 ounce orange Curacao
- 1/4 ounce simple sugar syrup
- 1/4 ounce orgeat syrup
- 2 ounces rum (one ounce dark Jamaican rum, one ounce light Martinique rum)
- (Alan Wong's uses 3 ounces of rum!)
- Fresh mint leaves
- Pineapple slices
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Cut the lime in half.
- Squeeze all of the lime juice over ice (preferably shaved or crushed ice) in a double old-fashioned glass.
- Save the lime rind for garnish.
- Add the remaining ingredients with the light rum poured in first and the dark rum poured in second.
- If necessary, fill the glass with more ice.
- Decorate the cocktail with the lime rind, fresh mint leaves, fresh fruit on a stick, and if possible, a colorful little paper umbrella and an orchid!
during these intensely hot summer days! Salute’ and ching ching!
.
I love mai tai, it’s been a while since I made this.
Ahhhh . . .this brings back memories of my husband and my trip to Duke’s about 5 years ago . . . so lovely (althought it actually RAINED for 3 out of the 5 days we were on the island – BUMMER!) But the drinks – ah! Even the rain couldn’t spoil those!!! LOVE the recipe – can’t wait to try it.
Oh boy! It’s morning here in Casablanca but I’d like to have Lawa Flow right now! 🙂
I’m in from Java’s FF, have a great weekend!
Inviting drinks! With reference to the weather it seems to have gone crazy all over the world this year 🙁
I hope things turn out well for your friends and family in Iowa! This has been a brutal summer! I love the beautiful tropical coolers that you have shared. I haven’t had a Mai Tai in years and I just hate to think of the Tiki Bar being lost. Makes me sad to consider that. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. Blessings~ Candace
These cocktaisl will take us away from the sweltering heat for even a fre moments. Hope all is well in Iowa.
They all look so good. I’m following you from 40 & over Friday follow.
Wow. You’re blog is so YUMMY looking!! I’m glad I found you! I’m hoping to be inspired!
If you get a chance, follow me back at http://www.smookiestyle.com!
Loved you post and recipes!
Have a great Friday!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2010/08/when-is-it-time-to-move-on/
oh, i could so use a drink right now!!! have a great weekend, roz!!
anne
http://www.anniebakes.net
Just wanted to say hi. I just popped over from Java’s FF. I’m a homeschooling mom, dressmaker and artist.
Trudy
http://www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com &
http://www.artisticcreationswithtrudyblogspot.com
Those cocktails look amazing – I am glad I found your blog through Friendly Friday Follow and I’m happy to be your newest follower.
Fiona
http://fionadesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/FionaDesigns
Your blog looks yummy enough to eat! YUM!!! Following from Fun Follow Friday 🙂
Hey Roz, hope the family fends well. Could one of those fine cocktails right about now. My daughter in law was raised in Hawaii. She’s actually Samoan-Korean but as far as I’m concerned, she’s Hawaiian! Never been and need to go sooooon. Haven’t seen my son in way too many years now.
wow. You have some great recipes ont his blog! I will be going through it throroughly. lol.
Looking forward to more.
Aspiring Millionaire
and SavvyMumma
Your blog gives such a breath of fresh air. Following on the Friday Social, please come by and visit and follow me too.
Oh my they all look delicious!! I’m bookmarking this post!!
I didn’t want you to think that I forgot about you! I decided not to have guest hosts anymore because it is too hard to get everyone organized! lol…so I decided to showcase a blog each week instead! I’m hoping yours will get picked soon because I love you and your blog very much!
Hope you have a great weekend Roz!!
Java
Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m already a follower 🙂
AAAH! This post made me thirsty and wishing I were in Hawaii!
Visiting from the tea party! Have a great Saturday!
They all look wonderful to me!! Mai Tai always reminds me of the Keys. Seems I might have had a few while there. 🙂
Those look so so so yummy
Thanks so much for participating fun Follow Fridays
I’m your newest follower.
Lynette
xo
http://myweeview.com
I LOVE Lava Flows! They are my fave cocktail. Glad you had a great time in Hawaii and sorry to hear about the flooding. :-/
Sorry so late but thank you for stopping by my blog! Following back. 🙂
Thank you for the Duke’s Lava Flow recipe! I’ve been craving one since we returned from our honeymoon in September. Duke’s was our favorite place in all of Waikiki–we ended up eating there 3 times! 🙂 The picture of the lava flows on the deck brought a tear of happiness to my eye as I remembered that very special moment in our lives. Can’t wait to make these this weekend and ring in our first New Year as husband and wife!!!
Hi Roz,
Wa Hoo, I got here just in time. This is a perfect time to stop and take a break with one of these wonderful beauties. Hope you have a great week end and thanks for sharing with Full Plate Thursday!
Come back soon,
Miz Helen