In 1979, British-born American singer Rupert Holmes wrote a single with a wacky title Escape (The Pina Colada Song). With its catchy tune, this song about rekindling romance through a shared love for Pina Colada and rain has been used in the soundtrack of popular movies such as Guardians of Galaxy, Grown Ups, and Shrek.
The lyrics of Holmes single are so simple that the words get stuck in your head and makes you crave for Pina Colada and go dancing in the rain or maybe somewhere out there to a beach. Perhaps to the idyllic beaches of Puerto Rico, where Pina Colada was first made? Just a year before Holmes wrote his song, Pina Colada became the national drink of the Caribbean Island in 1978. Puerto Ricans are so proud of their creation that they celebrate National Pina Colada Day every year on 10 July.
Made with pineapple juice, coconut milk, and rum, the cocktail has a Spanish-origin name. Pina Colada literally means ‘strained pineapple’. The credit for the original recipe of Pina Colada is owned by Puerto Rican bartenders: Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez and Ramon Portas Mingot.
According to one story, Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez made the first Pina Colada drink by mixing rum and coco lopez, that is, cream of coconut. This was in 1954 at Caribe Hilton Hotel’s Beachcomber Bar in San Juan where Perez worked. Another story claims that Mingot created the drink in 1963 at Barrachina Restaurant in Old Juan.
Perez and Mingot were given the formal ownership of the drink in a contest held all over Puerto Rico. However, despite these claims, the original Pina Colada has a far more interesting story. Roberto Cofresi, a Puerto Rican pirate, saw that his crew was losing their enthusiasm. To energize them, Confresi, who was also known as El Pirata Confresi, concocted a beverage by mixing coconut cream, pineapple juice, and white rum. Thus, this sweet cocktail has its origins in the 19th century
Who would have known that such an innocent-looking beverage with its sweetness and fruity aroma would have such a beginning in the wild wild world of Puerto Rican pirates? Apparently, the original recipe was lost after the death of El Pirata Confresi. According to official records, Perez and Mingot revived the drink, which was later made popular worldwide by the Rupert Holmes song. The next time you order a Pina Colada, you will know the innocent-looking tropical drink has had a far more interesting story than you would have imagined.
We are a coffee-drinking nation and every form of the beverage – decaf, regular, expresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and ristretto is consumed everyday by millions of us. It’s the first thing we need in the morning and the last (for some) after dessert. Black, with cream, with sugar, no sugar, flavored, each of us has a preference with regard to strength. Nespresso’s taken heed of this and given us a gift in a pod with the Nespresso capsules. Available in the regular Arabica and Robusta capsules, they have some amazing seasonal flavors as well.
Nespresso capsules are hermetically sealed in a capsule that holds 5-7 gms of coffee – enough for one serving of coffee. They offer five ranges in Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml), Decaffeinated (40 ml and 110 ml) or Flavored (40 ml).
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Ristretto range are:
Ristretto Origin – Made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has toasted flavors with cocoa notes and woody undertones.
Ristretto Origin India – A blend of the finest Arabicas with a smidgen of Robusta from Southern India, this full-bodied coffee has hints of spices.
Ristretto Intenso – A strong blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabicas, the Ristretto Intenso is a full-bodied coffee with a creamy texture and peppery notes.
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Espresso range are:
Espresso Origin Brazil: A pure Arabica coffee, it has a mild sweet flavor.
Espresso Leggero: A blend of South American Arabicas and Robusta, it has smooth notes of cocoa and cereal.
Espresso Forte: Exclusively made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has an intensely roasted balance of espresso and fruity notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Lungo range are:
Lungo Leggero: Lightly roasted East African, South and Central American Arabicas, with mild notes of jasmine is what makes up this delicious brew.
Lungo Forte: A complex mix of South and Central American Arabicas, this coffee has heavy roasted notes with a slight hint of fruit.
Lungo Origin Guatemala: A mix of Arabica and washed Gourmet Robusta coffee, Lungo Origin Guatemala is smooth and well balanced with dry and malty cereal notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules in the Decaffeinated range are:
Espresso Decaffeinato: Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta enhances the cocoa flavors and roasted cereal undertones of this decaffeinated espresso.
Lungo Decaffeinato: This is a slightly more complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas. It includes toasted cereal and sweet notes with subtle and floral hints of East African Arabicas.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Flavored range are:
Espresso Vanilla: This silky-flavored coffee is the result of a base of Espresso Forte, which is a complex and heavily-roasted blend of South and Central American Arabicas and a slightly caramelized aroma of vanilla. Espresso Caramel: On a base of Espresso Forte, this complex and intensely roasted blend made from South and Central American Arabicas has the sweetness of caramel.
Here are a few easy and healthy recipe ideas that are both quick to make and light to digest on hot summer days. With very few ingredients, the preparation of these recipes is a breeze. So go on, enjoy these easy, healthy recipes that are brimming with nutrition and taste heavenly too!
Greek Cucumber Rolls
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
This is popular among easy and healthy recipes. Slice cucumber into thin flat strips using a vegetable peeler and arrange them in slices of two on a clean tray. Smear the hummus on top of each slice, then toss some feta cheese, black olives and cut tomatoes on each of the cucumber strips. Squeeze a little lemon juice and sprinkle some finely chopped dill and cilantro. Finally, roll the strips, serve the Greek cucumber rolls and see them being gobbled up by the young and old alike!
Flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
Cook the fettuccine pasta according to the directions on the label. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped garlic and shallots. After about a minute or so, add the other vegetables along with salt and toss them gently for a few minutes. The vegetables must cook and be crunchy at the same time. When they are done, add the cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, and some freshly ground black pepper to it and mix well. Serve this flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables for lunch or dinner as a filling, yet light meal.
Sunshine juice
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Direction
Squeeze juice from the oranges and blend the strawberries in a juicer. Then in a pitcher, take the orange juice, strawberry juice, and chilled water together and mix well. Refresh yourself with this yummy sunshine juice with ice cubes on a hot day.