{ pineapple cocktail }

I love pineapple juice cocktails, but often times they're too sweet for more than a taste or two. And finding a pineapple mixed drink that doesn't include [Malibu] rum is a rare occurrence.

Until now.

I love this drink because it retains the taste of the pineapple juice, yet also adds undertones of citrus. And the vodka gives it a bite worthy of a martini glass.

A perfect Friday (or Tuesday!) night cocktail. Salud!

Pineapple Cocktail
(adapted from FoodNetwork.com)

• 1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce orange liqueur
• 1/2 ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
• sugar, for the rim
• Maraschino cherry

Chill a martini glass in the freezer. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the pineapple juice, vodka, orange liqueur and lime juice. Shake vigorously until combined (about 30 seconds). In general, by the time the exterior of the cocktail shaker is coated with condensation from the ice, the drink is ready.

Using a lime wedge, completely coat the top edge of the rim of the glass, and then dip into sugar (on a plate). Strain/pour the drink into chilled glass and garnish with a cherry.

Sip, sip, repeat.

... oh, and she likes orange polka dots

My  most recent cookie order was so random, it was fun.

A friend requested cookies for his fiance's grandmother, who is visiting America from Germany. Incorporating the German and U.S. flags was an obvious choice, so I planned my design and rolled with it; however, late in the game, my friend (a guy), casually let me know that his future grandmother-in-law also loves orange polka dots (and could I somehow add them to the order?).

Huh?

Typical guy -- leave out that vital piece of information until late in the game. No biggie, right?

So I scrambled, and the result was a rather colorful assortment of international hearts that would probably confuse most, despite the fact that they go together perfectly ... like Wiener Schnitzel and apple pie.