it has been a very interesting week. and i'm sure just like me, you are ready for a cocktail. 

autumn is upon us and in the spirit of the change of the seasons, i decided to mix up my life a bit. i've gotten it in my head that not only is it a good idea to pick up some classes as an indoor cycling instructor, but those classes are at 6am. 

yes, you read that correctly. 6. in the morning. like, before the sun is up. i foolishly thought this early hour was behind me when i stopped swimming competitively, but i guess i thought wrong. 

i'm a little bit nervous. i'm really excited for the new challenge and for how fit i'm going to be. but mostly, i just want to have a tasty libation as i scour music and build playlists. 

summer might be over, but i'm still dreaming of rio and my passion fruit ripened at the perfect moment. while this drink is traditionally made with brazilian cachaca, but it can also be made with a light rum or vodka. if you haven't yet noticed, i don't often differ from my vodka cocktail so that is what i used.

passion fruit caipirinha
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 2.5 oz cachaca, vodka or light rum. .5 lime, sliced in half. pulp from .5 passion fruit. 1 tsp white sugar. 1 cup crushed ice (if you don't have crushed on hand, you can crush yours in a plastic bag with a muddler or rolling pin. 

in the glass you are serving in, muddle together the ice, sugar, lime and passion fruit. when the ingredients are well muddled and the sugar appears to have dissolved.

pour the liquor in, stir well and serve.

xo, a

passion fruit caipirinha
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 2.5 oz cachaca, vodka or light rum. .5 lime, sliced in half. pulp from .5 passion fruit. 1 tsp white sugar. 1 cup crushed ice (if you don't have crushed on hand, you can crush yours in a plastic bag with a muddler or rolling pin.
in the glass you are serving in, muddle together the ice, sugar, lime and passion fruit. when the ingredients are well muddled and the sugar appears to have dissolved.
pour the liquor in, stir well and serve.

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.