Pineapple Cocktail Recipes: Pineapple Mint Mojito & Pineapple Cosmopolitan

It's a long holiday weekend and there's lots to do! Start the weekend out right by relaxing with one of these delicious pineapple cocktails, perfect for the end of summer. Try a refreshing and light Pineapple Mojito with rum, pineapple, and mint. Or if you're in the mood for a Cosmo with a sweet spin, try my Pineapple Cosmopolitan. Either way, have a great holiday weekend!

PINEAPPLE MINT MOJITOS

Makes 6-8 depending on serving size

1 cup pineapple juice

1 bunch fresh mint leaves- no stems

½ cup sugar or use mint simple syrup to taste, recipe below

2 limes, sliced

1 cup white rum

1 cup club soda

Ice

*Splash Malibu Pineapple Rum, optional

*Sugar cane sticks, optional

Put the sugar, lime, and mint leaves into a pitcher or divide into serving glasses. Use a wooden spoon or a muddler to crush the mint, sugar, and lime together. Add the ice and top off with the pineapple juice, white rum, and club soda. Stir with a sugar cane stick if you can find it and garnish with pineapple wedge. 

Note: I added a splash of Malibu Pineapple Rum to mine and it was even better! It is too sweet to make the whole drink but a splash kicks the flavor up a notch.

For more mint flavor in your Mojito, use my MINT SIMPLE SYRUP

PINEAPPLE COSMOPOLITAN

FYI: You can make your own pineapple vodka or buy one like Skyy or Van Gogh Pineapple. It takes at least two days up to two weeks to infuse the vodka.

Makes 6

2 cups chopped fresh pineapple

2 cups vodka

1 cup cranberry juice

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Ice

Lime slices for garnish

For the pineapple vodka: To infuse the vodka with pineapple flavor, put the pineapple in the vodka and let sit for at least two days in the fridge. A week is best.

Strain the vodka into a pitcher, discarding the fruit. Add the cranberry and lime juices and the crushed ice and stir well. Strain into chilled martini glasses and serve garnished with lime slices.

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Party Music: Summer Playlists!

Lately, I've gotten several emails from readers asking for ideas for party music. Making music for a party is easier than ever if you have an iPod. It may be a little old school, but I still love having a band and live music for any party I throw. It just adds an element of excitement you just don't get from your iPod. Second choice would be a DJ--- again, that live element makes the party so much more fun. BUT-- if your budget doesn't allow for either of those options (and believe me, you can get a band or DJ for a lot less than you may think) head to iTunes and put together a playlist that fits the theme. You can make a variety of playlists: start with some quiet tunes as guests arrive and ramp up the volume and the beat as the night progresses.

Here's a starter for those of you looking for ideas for your summer party playlists: 

Top 25 Summer Songs Playlist

Good Vibrations- Beach Boys

All Summer Long- Kid Rock

California Love- 2 Pac

Three Little Birds- Bob Marley

It Must Be Summer- Fountains of Wayne

Summertime- Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff

The Boys of Summer- Don Henley

Summertime- Kenny Chesney

Hot in Herre- Nelly

Smooth- Santana with Rob Thomas

Summer Breeze- Seals & Crofts

Beautiful Day- U2

Hot Fun in the Summertime- Sly & The Family Stone

Summertime Blues- Alan Jackson

Summer Nights- From Grease- John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

California Girls- Beach Boys

Island in the Sun- Weezer

Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison

Margaritaville- Jimmy Buffett

Summer in the City- The Lovin' Spoonful

Heat Wave- Martha & The Vandellas

Dancin' in the Streets-  Martha & The Vandellas

So, we've left the last spots open for your favorite summer song! Email us and tell us your summer favs!

Martie's Pomegranate Lemonade

I love PAMA-- pamegranate liquor! This deliciously intoxicating elixir is one of my summer favs--- we mix a pitcher of Pink Pama Lemonade almost every weekend. It's my own concoction and super simple. Just a couple of ingredients. Here's the recipe: In a shaker mix 5 ounces FRESH squeezed lemonade. (Don't bother if you're going to use the carton stuff.) Add one ounce PAMA and one ounce Absolut Citron. Add ice, shake, and pour into a glass filled with ice and lemon slices. Delish! I'm working on my favorite fall cocktail--- something perfect for tailgating or to drink while watching the incredible sunsets down on the bay. It has to be orange-- the color of the late summer afternoon sky. Stay tuned! Check out more PAMA drinks and recipes on their website.