Piña Ginger Fizz

Building on our theme from last week, “I need an adult” – I think at 30, going on 31, I’m finally starting to get a handle on what it means to be an adult. Kind of.

I spent many Saturday and Sunday mornings in the last decade luxuriating in bed until 10 a.m., pretending to sleep, scrolling endlessly through social media or nursing a hangover. All the while, my friend Mary Anne (same age, same lifestyle) would be up at the crack of dawn, heading to a workout class, then off to Costco to get 7 lbs of chicken and a 64-pack of Lysol wipes, cleaning her bathtub, and plotting total world domination.

Whenever Mary Anne would ask me what I got up to on a Saturday or Sunday and I was somewhat productive, I’ll say, “I had a real Mary Anne day.” We affectionately call this commitment to the weekend warrior lifestyle, simply, “running errands.”

These days, since becoming a homeowner and moving to the heart of the city, my weekends have slowly started to transform. The last couple of weekends, I’ve stayed in on Friday nights to wake up refreshed and well-rested on Saturdays, I’ve bundled up and made my way to the 9 a.m. Saturday Greco class. Afterwards, I’ve made myself breakfast, planned my meals for the week, and got groceries.

Often I’ll have some kind of self-care appointment like a pedicure or haircut. Maybe I’ll have a friend over for dinner or make something elaborate for the blog. Sundays are for cleaning and book club once a month.

The other day, in speaking with Mary Anne, it dawned on me: this is what adulting looks like.

Mind. Blown. Listen, I’m not about to buy a spade and take up gardening on weekends, I have to draw the line somewhere, but there is something gratifying about doing more than melting into your couch for the entire day on a Sunday.

This past weekend was very unproductive by comparison to my recent efforts. I got my hair cut on Saturday and went out dancing with some girlfriends. I paid for my sins all day Sunday and by the time Sunday night rolled around, I felt lazy and gluttonous, like I’d squandered some opportunity to make more of the time I had.

This drink is a good way to start your weekend, whether you’re planning to “run errands” or Netflix and chill. With only 1.5 ounces of rum, fresh pineapple, mint, ginger beer and demerara sugar, it is a light and tropical cocktail.

The spice from the ginger beer balances the sweet acidity in the pineapple and the mint brings a touch of freshness. The broiled pineapple garnish adds a nice caramelized topper and rounds out the island vibe.

This weekend, I’ll be raising a glass to you, after a solid day of adulting. Cheers!

Piña Ginger Fizz

5 from 1 vote

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Piña Ginger Fizz

Prep Time

2 mins

Cook Time

6 mins

Total Time

8 mins

 

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Caribbean

Keyword: Piña Ginger Fizz

Servings: 1 cocktail

Ingredients

• ½ cup chopped pineapple
• 6 torn mint leaves
• 1½ oz spiced rum
• 4 oz ginger beer
• ½ oz Demerara Simple Syrup, recipe follows
• 3 broiled pineapple chunks, recipe follows
• 2 pineapple leaves, for garnish

Demerara Simple Syrup

• ½ cup boiling water
• ½ cup demerara sugar

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine ½ cup chopped pineapple, 6 torn mint leaves, 1½ oz spiced rum and 3 ice cubes. Shake well and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer, and drizzle over ½ oz Demerara Simple Syrup (see recipe below). Garnish with broiled pineapple chunks (see recipe below) and two pineapple leaves. 

Demerara Simple Syrup

1. To make Demerara Simple Syrup, pour ½ cup boiling water over ½ cup demerara sugar. Stir to dissolve sugar and refrigerate until chilled.

Broiled Pineapple Chunks

1. For the broiled pineapple chunks, cut pineapple into chunks and brush lightly with Demerara Simple Syrup. Place on foil-lined cookie sheet and broil for 4 to 5 minutes or until caramelized.

Recipe Notes

Recipe from: St. Once, Christopher. “Ambrosial Ginger Fizz.” Food & Drink. Holiday 2013.