Crazy days and a Pineapple-Jalapeno Margatini

I need a vacation…

The last several weeks have been a mixture of stress, sadness and just about every other emotion you can think of. On top of that, we are preparing (thankfully) for a trip and I feel like I’ve lost complete control of my to-do list that only seems to be getting longer. I am definitely feeling the effects of this roller coaster ride I’ve been on and cannot wait to kick my feet up and relax. 

I will be the first to admit that I don’t handle excess stress well. Eventually I hit my breaking point and it’s not pretty. I mean, I’m not a total basket case or anything, I just like to feel more in control of things, and I have felt anything but lately. Andy, on the other hand, is the type of person who listens to the original Muppet movie soundtrack at times like this.

Yes, you read that correctly. Yesterday morning, as I was getting out of the shower, I heard a familiar tune coming up the stairs. It was none other than Kermit the Frog, strumming away on his guitar, singing about rainbows. Andy, who has himself had a full plate, some big meetings, and a crazy wife to deal with, was going about his morning routine, feeding the dog and presumably humming along with Kermit and Fozzie, while I was going over my mental to-do list for the hundredth time that morning. It actually made me stop and laugh. My kingdom for that kind of ability to put it all aside, if only for a few moments, and enjoy a normal morning before the days gets away from you. But with the Muppets?? I’ve haven’t yet told him how adorable I thought his choice of music was, but adorable it is. It sort of makes my heart melt a little…

Okay, okay…enough with the mushy stuff. Let’s move on to cocktails!

I’ve mentioned before how much we both hate the made up words that your encounter online, like blogosphere, blogiversary, blogvertising, etc. What? You don’t have time to say “blog advertising?” That’s just waaaay too long. Well, I know people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, but with the name of this cocktail we’re chucking those stones as hard as we can. Andy (somewhat) jokingly called this a “margatini,” obviously a combination of martini and margarita, and I have to admit, although begrudgingly, that I kind of liked it. So here it is, the margatini. (I promise you will never hear me say blaudience or blogerati. NEVER EVER. I draw the line at cocktails.)

Pineapple-Jalapeno Margatini

Makes 1

1 ounce jalapeno-cilantro simple syrup (recipe follows)

2 ounces pineapple juice

1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco

1/2 ounce triple sec

squeeze of lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold. Strain into a glass. (Rim glass with salt first if desired.)

Jalapeno-Cilantro Simple Syrup

Makes 5 ounces

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1 jalapeno, sliced

1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over high heat. Let boil for a few minutes until sugar is dissolved and mixture is clear and slightly thickened. Strain and let cool.

Please, please, please make this. It’s addictively spicy, but not overtly, and the flavors are so right together. This would make for the perfect Cinco de Mayo cocktail, or might be just the right choice for when the Muppets aren’t cutting it.

**If you haven’t entered my giveaway for the OXO 5-lb digital scale yet, there’s still time. Click here to enter through 4/26.**