Alcohol-Free Pina Coladas

Summertime makes me so happy.

 What's not to love?

 Sitting on my deck, surrounded by flowers.

 Love. It.

 Even the window boxes that I put up this year are filling in nicely.

We spent the past weekend in Vermont, Erin had a softball tournament there.  It was wonderful to spend some time with our favorite softball families.

 We spent a lot of time hanging out on the hotel balconies, enjoying the view and the cool breeze coming from the river.

 We spent more time at the ball field, though..........three games on Saturday and Erin's team was seeded #1. That led to more games on Sunday.

Have you ever seen a more spectacular view at a ball field?

On Friday night, we were all sort of exhausted from traveling.  We went out for dinner and then called it a night, as we had to be at the ball field by 7 a.m.

 Look at the size of this bug on the window!  (For those of you who are wondering, the bug was on the outside.)  It was HUGE.  Probably about 3 or 4 inches long.  I couldn't help but snap a picture.

The table by the bug was not occupied while we were eating dinner, but as our group of twelve was leaving there were people being seated by the bug.  The woman that was sitting at that window was oblivious to the creepy-crawley bug on the window, but I think at some point she would have noticed and I like to imagine that she let out a nice shriek.

I admit it, I smiled (okay, I smirked) as we walked past the Inferno with its promises of "music, temptation and booze."  

This pina colada recipe that I'm about to give you is family-friendly so there is no alcohol in it........but if you're tempted to booze it up, add a splash of rum!

Today's Playlist

• "Seven Nation Army"........The White Stripes
• "Love Interruption"......Jack White
• "Buddy Holly".........Weezer
• "Badfish"......Sublime
• "Steady, As She Goes".....The Raconteurs
• "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?"......Jet
• "Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night".......The Fratellis
• "Ghost Riders In The Sky".......Me First & The Gimme Gimmes

Virgin Pina Coladas (serves 4)

• 4 cups ice cubes
• 3 cups pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup cream of coconut
• fresh pineapple wedges, for garnish

Gather your ingredients.

I did not list it in the ingredients, but if you have any tiny umbrellas, now would be the time to use them.  

It's only my opinion, but every frozen, fruity concoction deserves a tiny little umbrella.

Slice your pineapple into wedges.  

Put the ice cubes, pineapple juice and cream of coconut into your blender.

Blend on HIGH until the ice cubes are pulverized and turns this lovely combination of pineapple and coconut into a slushy drink of paradise.

I feel the need to tell you that after I washed the blender carafe I dropped it and it shattered into oblivion.  It was only a matter of time, as ME + GLASS = DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.  I've already ordered a replacement, so I will be creating more tropical concoctions soon.

I also feel the need to tell you that I do not have pina colada glasses.  You know the tall, curvy kind of a glass that you're supposed to serve them in?  Ironic, it  is, because this is by far my favorite drink and I would actually use the pina colada glasses if I had them.

Unlike the trove of beer glasses, wine glasses, martini glasses and reading glasses (squint) that take up space here and never get used.

Today, I served my pina coladas in margarita glasses.

Serve immediately, garnished with fresh pineapple wedges (and little umbrellas, if you have them), no matter what type of glasses you use.  

 Enjoy!!