one month from today, my family and i will be getting off a plane in brazil for the olympic games. 

on thursday, we are headed down to san diego for the official olympic team announcement where we are expecting to hear that my youngest brother joshua has qualified for the 2016 rio games. and if for some reason he doesn't qualify, i'll be spending almost three weeks with my feet in the brazilian sand. fuck zika.

yesterday, in addition to celebrating our nations birth, the samuels clan celebrated josh, his long road coming to a climax, and just being together as a family. 

and i couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with a refreshing, bright summer cocktail. i'm usually a standard vodka soda drinker, but this lightly fruity but crisp concoction really hit the spot on a summer day spent by the pool. 

cucumber pineapple smash
prep time: 3 minutes
serves: 6 oz
ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 4 oz club soda. 3 sprigs cilantro. 3 slices cucumber. 3 large fresh pineapple chunks. ice.

in a pint glass or shaker, combine the cilantro, 2 of the cucumber slices and the pineapple. using a muddler or a tablespoon, smash together the herbs and fruit till they are pretty well smashed. 

add the vodka to the glass/shaker, fill with ice and shake well. 

fill a tumbler with ice. strain the vodka and fruit mixture over the ice. 

top the vodka with the club soda. garnish with remaining cucumber slice and any of the pineapple chunks if you like and serve. 

xoxo
a

cucumber pineapple smash
prep time: 3 minutes
serves: 6 oz
ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 4 oz club soda. 3 sprigs cilantro. 3 slices cucumber. 3 large fresh pineapple chunks. ice.
in a pint glass or shaker, combine the cilantro, 2 of the cucumber slices and the pineapple.
using a muddler or a tablespoon, smash together the herbs and fruit till they are pretty well smashed.
add the vodka to the glass/shaker, fill with ice and shake well.
fill a tumbler with ice. strain the vodka and fruit mixture over the ice.
top the vodka with the club soda. garnish with remaining cucumber slice and any of the pineapple chunks if you like and serve. 

tacos are great and all, but let's be real.

cinco de mayo is all about the margaritas.

and margs are a great blank canvas for all kinds of awesomeness. 

you can pretty much throw in any of your favorite sweet, sour or spicy ingredients and make it work. 

lucky for me, someone passed along some tasty pink lemons to me the other day. if you don't happen to find yourself with any pink lemons (i didn't even know they existed till they were given to me) you can swap out that juice for your favorite or whatever you have on hand. don't be afraid to get creative. 

pink lemon margaritas
serves: 1
time: 3 minutes

2 ounces your favorite tequila. 1 ounce triple sec. .5 ounce rose's lime juice. .5 ounce fresh pink lemon juice. club soda. lime for zesting. lime ice optional but always encouraged. pink lemon and salt for garnish. 

zest .5 tsp of lime zest and .5 tsp of pink lemon zest. if you do not have the proper tool, you can use a small cheese grater or peel off a slice of the skin and chop it finely. 

in a mixing glass or shaker, combine tequila, triple sec, and juice. mix or shake well to combine. 

rub the edge of your glass with the pink lemon garnish and dip it in salt. add your ice to the glass. 

poor the shaken or stirred marg over ice. 

fill the glass with club soda and sprinkle with zest. garnish with lemon and serve.

pink lemon margaritas
serves: 1
time: 3 minutes

2 ounces your favorite tequila. 1 ounce triple sec. .5 ounce rose's lime juice. .5 ounce fresh pink lemon juice. club soda. lime for zesting. lime ice optional but always encouraged. pink lemon and salt for garnish. zest .5 tsp of lime zest and .5 tsp of pink lemon zest. if you do not have the proper tool, you can use a small cheese grater or peel of a slice of the skin and chop it finely.
in a mixing glass or shaker, combine tequila, triple sec, and juice. mix or shake well to combine.
rub the edge of your glass with the pink lemon garnish and dip it in salt. add your ice to the glass and poor the shaken or stirred marg over ice.
fill the glass with club soda and sprinkle with zest. garnish with lemon and serve.