Ha, ha, just kidding, that wasn't our boat, it's one of the abandoned liveaboards anchored off Key West that I used in MURDER WITH GANACHE.
I freely admit that I'm not much of a sailor, acting mostly as ballast. As we set off that first morning, I had great expectations. The scenery couldn't have been more gorgeous. The company was outstanding.
However, I was not cautious enough about my tendency to seasickness--even on calm seas. I will spare you the gory details, except to tell you that at the end of the first day I was happy to swim ashore and crawl onto a small island away from the water. With my head pounding and my world swirling, I did not even notice until an hour later that SOMETHING SMELLED TERRIBLE. When I finally sat up, I saw that I was lying in close proximity to a dead goat...
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| Feeling so much better--with John! |
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| Sue and Jeff--the real sailors |
One of our favorite ways of celebrating the end of a day on the water was to go ashore and enjoy an island cocktail called a Painkiller. You do not need to wait for a sailing vacation to try this--it would work very well over the holiday weekend.
Knockoff Painkiller cocktail
4 ounces pineapple coconut juice (Knudsen for me)
2 ounces orange juice
1 to 2 ounces Pusser's or other dark rum
Sprinkling of fresh nutmeg
Combine the liquids in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir well, then pour into glass filled with ice and garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg. This is definitely tasty enough to serve without the rum too, if you prefer. (KILLER TAKEOUT is not in the glamour shot above, but the painkiller played an important role in that mystery.)
What will you be drinking over this long weekend? Care to share the recipe?
Oh, goodness, Lucy . . . sailing and I do not get along very well, either. I can get sick just looking at the waves, so you can imagine what it was like the year I took my class of first graders whale-watching . . . .
ReplyDeleteYour cocktail sounds marvelous . . . I have no idea what’s on the holiday drink menu [that’s John’s department], but we’ll celebrate the day with family.
And you always have a great time with your family Joan--enjoy!
DeleteSo glad you figured out how to enjoy the vacation! I had my first gin and tonic of the season yesterday and it was marvelous.
ReplyDeleteThat seems late Edith:). Congratulations on your Mccavity nomination
DeleteThanks. I am still floating!
DeleteWow! Edith way to go!
DeleteI always wanted to take a sailing vacation, although I suspect I'd be seasick, sunburned, and miserable. I do love the ocean, though, or any body of water. Close to the shore or riverbank is where I prefer to go when I want to rejuvenate myself.
ReplyDeleteAnd drinks this long holiday weekend? I'm betting on lots and lots of water. This is a working weekend for me. Everybody wants to hear "Stars and Stripes Forever" played by a real band, so we've got three different concerts scheduled--down from my career high of five in one weekend, but still a lot of work. Two of the three are outdoors, and Texas has been hovering in the mid-90s all week, with lots of humidity, so hydration is going to be key. If I survive until July 5, maybe I'll hit Debs up for one of her dad's fabulous margaritas.
GIgi, next year for the fourth, we must have a video of your band playing Stars & Stripes forever OK?
DeleteGigi, hope you can get this up on You Tube for my listening/watching pleasure. Thanks in advance.
DeleteYou can catch the end of last year's performance here: https://youtu.be/oiRs7_8lzeQ We were joined by a lot of piccolo players.
DeleteFrabjous!
DeleteI'm a big prosecco fan--so light and chilled! And yes we had our first gin and tonics --yum! We always chill the glasses. And we have Agathas: pink grapefruit fizzy soda, vodka and a squeeze of fresh lime in a chilled martini glass . So delicious!
ReplyDeleteI am finally home from traveling--I've been on a long trip for the last three weeks and I am zionkef!
And yes congratulations Edith!
The Agathas sound delicious Hank, and perfect for you! Welcome home...
DeleteThank you, Hank! I don't think I'll get over feeling stunned (in a delightful way) for a long time.
DeleteDrinks aren't my big thing although I have to admit I'm enjoying the renaissance of fancy cocktails on the rare occasions we go out with friend for drinks and tapas.
ReplyDeleteProsecco, on the other hand, is the nectar of the gods. I'm with Hank. Add a splash of cassis and you have a kir royale, more or less anyway.
Our annual family Jth of 4-ly BBQ on the beach is cancelled due to the flooding along the south shore of the Big Lake, and I'm having the Alien removed, or at least tucked back in, the day before, so I doubt I'll be drinking.
Our big libation experience of the summer is to see what kind of infused water I can create. So far the favorite is cucumber lemon mint although watermelon orange mint is a close second. Today I'm thinking of adding a splash of jasmine tea.
We are both going thru gallons of this stuff, and it's practically free, so good for a body.
Ann is cool rainy Rochester
A friend of mine likes to drop a watermelon ball into her glass of prosecco.
DeleteI could deal with that
DeleteLOL. I am waiting to make a cucumber infused drink as soon as ours arrive in the garden. We have the pot of mint on our patio waiting...
DeleteAnn, infused water sounds refreshing. A couple of my coworkers have been trying it out.
DeleteDeb Romano
Buddhist and recovering alcoholic here. The 'adult' beverages are a thing of the past. I finished my first home made cold brewed coffee this morning. Now sipping ginger honey iced black tea. Raising my glass to all. Grace HAPPY CANADA DAY! It's 9 AM 83 degrees with humidity at 88% in Tampa eeeep!.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photo of the derelict sailboats from Key West. I remember seeing these sad abandoned homes. Were they ever removed?
DeleteNo, most of them are still there. The tea sounds delightful!
DeleteCoralee, you are inspiring me to get creative with the iced tea this weekend!
DeleteDeb Romano
Thanks, Coralee for the Canada Day greeting!! Living in Ottawa meant I was at the biggest party in the country. We had to dodge rain in the morning and heavy thunderstorms in the evening but we managed to enjoy ourselves with plenty of festive activities.
DeleteI love being on the water, but I've never done for such a long time that I'd get sick. I mean, I was fine for the "three-hour tour" things I've done, but who knows? I might get terribly sick if I had to do a longer voyage.
ReplyDeleteThe Painkiller sounds yummy and I'll have to try it. But with the summer heat finally here, I see a lot of sangria in our weekend:
1 bottle dry-ish red wine
Orange Juice (1 cup)
Lemon Juice (1/4 cup?)
various cut-up fruit (oranges, limes, lemons, apples)
Put it all together and let it mellow - then enjoy! (Or we cheat and buy it - there's a Spanish brand we really like at the local liquor store.)
Mary/Liz
Sounds good Mary, I've never tried making sangria
DeleteI love Sangria! It can be dangerous, though. It's almost like juice!
DeleteYou can't get me on a boat for anything. I love the water, being in it. But put me on a boat and I would have to have a constant Dramamine feed.
ReplyDeleteI am a poor excuse for an Irishman (or rather, of Irish descent) because I don't drink. Tried beer, wine and hard alcohol. Hell, I even tried that Mike's Hard Lemonade stuff. I couldn't stand any of it.
But if I was a drinker, I'd probably try some Trooper ale (a beer made with the hands on input from the band Iron Maiden), or some Irish whiskey.
When I take myself out for my weekly Saturday lunch, I'll be two fisting some boring basic Pepsi or strawberry lemonade.
Input from Iron Maiden! that's a marketing coup. happy lunch Jay!
DeleteLucy, not just input, but the band was directly involved in everything from the start. The beer was the most successful launch in the history of the brewery that makes it.
DeleteLucy/Roberta,
ReplyDeleteI'm not a drinker but I might want to try the non-alcoholic version of your recipe. My idea of a drink at a restaurant is club soda.
As far as being the on the high seas, I take the Bridgeport/Port Jefferson ferry once or twice a year to visit friends on Long Island. Oh, when on vacation I sometimes will sign up for one of those two or three hour tours. I love the water but as a non-swimmer I would never get on a teeny- tiny boat.
Edith, congratulations! I am not at all surprised!
Deb Romano
Oh yes, it would be hard to be comfortable if you didn't know how to swim!
Delete" being on the high seas" is what I meant. I read/ reply to JRW on my cell phone, and have uncooperative fingers!
ReplyDeleteDeb
My husband makes a great Dark and Stormy, which is rum, ginger beer, and lime. I'm also a big fan of Moscow Mules: vodka, ginger beer, and lime. I do not like gin or whiskey so no gin and tonics for me.
ReplyDeleteI love boats and being on and in the water. A few years ago, however, we were on a sailboat in the Virgin Islands, and were becalmed. The boat did a sort of rocking motion for a long time, almost in slow motion, and that did not feel so good! Lucy, I laughed out loud at the image of you by the dead goat! You really must have felt awful not to notice the corpse!
It was a very low moment! And I am not exaggerating LOL
DeleteThat drink sounds fabulous, Lucy! Right now I'm a boring pour me frosty cold beer because 115 degrees outside!
ReplyDeleteI had my first painkiller on Cudjoe Key when we moved there a few years ago. Yummy! I'll be sticking with wine though. It's my go to, that and the bottle of Prosecco in the fridge should see us through the holiday. Happy 4th all!
ReplyDeleteThe closest to water I will be is the shower and sitting on the patio at our daughter and son-in-law's house enjoying steamed Maine lobster and clans. My beverage will possibly be a Lime Rickey as that is a summer favorite. Enjoy your holiday.
ReplyDeleteI am normally not one to drink much.. but I have come to like something that I'm not sure if it has a name or not. (This was my drink of choice at my girlfriends wedding.. I had at least 10 and they were served in cups a little smaller than a "red solo cup"..)
ReplyDeletePeach schnapps, orange juice, absolute vodka and a splash of cranberry juice.
This weekend we have no big plans, besides getting our yard up to par.. ugh how I hate weeds and yard work.I am not good at it :(
When we go in August to our family vacation spot, there is a private beach, and a lake yo kayak in and veg all week long.. I wish it was here already.
Have a great weekend!! :)