Recipes for National Pina Colada Day
The expression "it's five o'clock somewhere" might hold more weight today in honor of this national holiday. The official drink of Puerto Rico, a pina colada is made with rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice. The drink is believed to have been created by Ramón Marrero for the customers of the Caribe Hilton's Beachcomber Bar.
While the drink is delicious, it can pack a punch of up to 425 calories. Instead, opt for this lighter version at only 125 calories from Cooking Light.
Recipe: Lighter Pina Coladas
2 cups flaked sweetened coconut 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated fat-free milk 2 cups cubed fresh pineapple 2 1/2 cups ice cubes 3/4 cup gold rum (such as Bacardi Gold) 1/4 cup pineapple juice 2 tablespoons light agave nectar 8 fresh pineapple slices
Combine 2 cups coconut and evaporated milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and cook until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil), about 7 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Arrange pineapple in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze at least 1 hour or until firm.
Strain coconut mixture through a sieve over a medium bowl, pressing coconut with the back of a spoon to remove as much milk as possible. Discard solids.
Combine pineapple, ice cubes, rum, juice, and agave nectar in a blender; process mixture until smooth. Add milk mixture, and process until smooth. Serve with pineapple slices.
Visit cookinglight.com for a step-by-step guide to this recipe.