Several years ago, my girlfriend Teresa and I went to visit our friend, Holly, for a long summer weekend. Holly is a lot of wonderful things. She is kind and funny and sassy and smart; and at the top of that long list of attributes would be Hostess. She is an incredible hostess. All Teresa and I had to do was just think about something, and *poof* there it would be!
A midnight snack of queso and chips?
A warm towel delivered to our shower door?
An early morning surprise run to Starbucks?
Holly thought of it all and made it happen.
But my favorite thing that Holly did? Pool Punch. One afternoon, we were out swimming, and Holly ran in to grab something for us to sip on…and out came Pool Punch. (I don’t think that’s what it’s actually called, by the way. I just started calling it that to my family, and it stuck.) It was some cool, slushy concoction of heaven on earth. I drank it until I made myself sick.
Now, I probably need to tell you now that I am not a drinker. I abhor the taste of alcohol. Red wine is so beautiful in those big, huge glasses, and I wish I liked to drink it like Kerry Washington in every episode of Scandal, but I just can’t. It’s awful. And yes, I know that Vodka has no taste, and I should mix it with orange juice and enjoy it with pancakes, but uuggghhh. I tried. It made my arms feel like 50 pound weights, and I sweated through my shirt. So, knowing this, Holly made Pool Punch alcohol free. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
Here’s a little secret about the women in my family. And I’m not just referring to Remi and myself. I’m talking about my mom, my Aunt Melba, my cousin Meridith, my cousin Michelle…all of us! WE LOVE PUNCH. Wedding punch, baby shower punch, Hawaiian punch. We’ve been known to go to baby showers and wedding receptions of people we honestly don’t care for, just because we thought there might be a big crystal bowl of punch! We regret nothing. Heck, if it gets too hot, we send one of our husbands to the store for sherbet and 7-Up and call it a day! I even have a Pinterest page dedicated entirely to PUNCH. Is this weird? Don’t answer that.
So with the temperatures rising and people jumping back into the pool, I was wondering: what is your version of Pool Punch? What is that one thing that you just craaaaave in the summer to quench your thirst? It’s okay if your recipe has alcohol in it. I can substitute! So, share your version of Pool Punch. Here’s what is keeping me cool in the 100 degree temps…
1 46oz can of pineapple juice
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
2 liters of Sprite
- Mix together, and freeze overnight.
Enjoy in your favorite swimdress!
Several years ago my husband and I took a Carnival Cruise and while we were on the ship we had a drink called "Kiss Me On The Lips". It was so refreshing and it didn't have very much alcohol in it at all so you could enjoy several of them and never feel like you were tipsy or anything. So I went on the cruise ships website to see if they gave out the recipe and they did and here it is for you, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!!!
1 1/2 oz of peach schnapps
5 oz of Premium Mango puree mix (bought at any liquor store)
1 tablespoon of grenadine
2 cups of crushed ice
Mix in blender and pour into a cold glass and enjoy!!
I like to think I made this up but there’s probably a drink that really exists! Anyway, it’s 7-Up, Malibu Rum & Limes & my husband calls it Miami Vice. Lol! So refreshing! Enjoy!