Cheers to Summer! {Banana Daiquiris}

Even though Hope's & Nick's graduations have come and gone, I still feel like celebrating.  I mean, it is summer vacation, after all!  That in itself is a huge reason to celebrate.

No more waking up before the sun comes out.  No more kiddies to send off to school.  No more rushing to pick them up on time.  No more graduation planning committee meetings to attend.  And no more stress or worries about it all to keep me up at night.

And best of all, my life will finally return to some kind of normalcy.  (I hope!)  I couldn't be happier!

So, to celebrate I am jumping right back in with my friends at I Heart Cooking Clubs.  This week's theme is "Salud!" (Cheers!)   I chose to make Rick's Banana Daiquiris.  They're sweet, cool and creamy.  And the bright color is so bright and cheery.   Banana Daiquiris are wonderful way to toast to family, friends and just about anything else on a sunny, summer afternoon.

Salud! 
  

Banana Daiquiris
(Recipe slightly adapted from Rick Bayless)

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 ripe banana, peeled
• 1/2 cup orange juice 
• 1/4 cup white rum
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• A splash of vanilla extract (optional) 
• Orange slices, for garnish

Directions:

Puree the ice cubes, banana, orange juice, rum, sugar, and vanilla in a blender until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses.  Garnish with orange slices.  Enjoy!!!

* For a sweet & fruity Strawberry Daiquiri substitute 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries in place of the banana; omit the vanilla extract.  




IHCC theme: Salud!