Summer Cocktail Series: The Mango Monster

Today I've learned that no matter how charming a pre-war (as in pre-WWI) apartment is, you really shouldn't rent an apartment without air conditioning. All the high ceilings, marble fireplace mantels and 6" windows in the world do not make up for the miseries of June. With 3 large fans going, it still might be in the mid-80's in the apartment.

So I did what any other gal in this situation would do: Make a cocktail.

I had a near over-ripe mango languishing in the refrigerator, awaiting some sort of use. So why not puree and spike it with a spirit of some sort?

This had its pros and cons. Pro: Mangoes are easy to puree into deliciousness. They can pair with any type of common bar spirit (except maybe gin, I'd guess). Con: If you puree it without straining afterwards, you end up with disgusting little mango "hairs" in your cocktail glass. And if you don't dilute the puree with something else, you'll feel like you're eating boozy baby food. Water works fine, but I used lemonade to cut the sweet mango. But really, you need to strain it. Mango hairs=disgusting.

The Mango Monster
Serves 2, but who are we kidding?
1 very ripe mango
2 oz+ rum (light or dark, depending on preference)
splash triple sec (optional)
splash lemonade or water, to get the texture right

Cut up mango (taking the skin off of course), puree the dickens out of it. Add rum, optional triple sec and lemonade, puree some more. If it's too thick, add more lemonade. Strain through a sieve, pushing around the pulp with a spoon to get things flowing, into martini glass. Enjoy as you read a 1962 printing of Sex and the Single Girl--after all, Helen Gurley Brown didn't have air conditioning either.

Let's take a cupcake break...

My brother's birthday is coming up at the end of the month, so I used that as an excuse to whip up a "test run" of Mario Brothers-inspired cupcakes. The most successful design, it seems, is of the little mushroom guy. I have no idea what its name is. But he was delicious (vanilla/vanilla, so what, I'm plain).

Next time, instead of piping on the mushroom spots, I'm going to cut large marshmallows into rounds and stick those on top.

First apron design...

Ta-da! Here's a test run of a summer apron design, with a v-neck bodice and circle skirt, trimmed with hand-made bias tape and rosette. Perfect for cocktails, as you can see. More pics to come!