On my first ever cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, we had a port of call in the Cayman Islands. I tend to get a teensy bit seasick so I was looking forward to getting some land legs. As we got off the ship, there was a line of vendors selling souvenirs and cocktails and I asked John to get me ‘something fun.’
I was off looking at handcrafted items and he walked up with the largest plastic cup I’d ever seen and I assumed it was a Coke. No, ladies and gentlemen, it was a piña colada. I laughed out loud knowing I could never ever drink that much.
After the first sip through the straw, it felt like I was drinking candy and after about 15 sips I realized there was a fair bit of rum in that cup. I drank the whole thing and he bought me another one. I’ve never forgotten how much I giggled that day. I have no recollection of being seasick but I did have a bit of a headache the next day at sea and it was all John’s fault.
I’m not a big drinker and when I do drink it’s usually scotch and a little water over ice and one drink can last the whole night. Plain and simple – like me, really.
Recently I was asked by Crazy Sales if I’d like to collaborate with them to review one of their small appliances for Orgasmic Chef. Like most of my readers, I’ve got nearly one of everything because I can’t resist new toys but I didn’t have an ice maker. I have an ice maker in my freezer but the refrigerator is too big for the space so we built that in with a coffee machine and combi-oven. We have no water to the fridge where it sits now so no ice other than dribbling trays of water from the sink to the freezer.
The Maxkon 3.2L Portable Ice Maker I asked for arrived the other day and after the required amount of time to let it sit and get used to its new home, I filled it up with water and waited. This is a well made, sturdy machine. If you’re in Australia, read all the way to the bottom because one lucky person can win one of these ice makers. If you don’t want to wait, you can buy one of these babies for only $270.
I figured it would take a few hours to get ice so when I heard a little crash in the kitchen, I yelled at the dog thinking he was in the pantry trying to get treats. Again. It wasn’t the dog — it was new ice. It only takes 10 minutes to get the first cubes in the bin. After tossing out the first couple ice cubes or bullets, it was time to make something.
That’s when I remembered that first visit to George Town and those gigantic piña coladas. Recently my daughter-in-law in Atlanta sent me some cream of coconut (Coco Lopez) as a gift and I’d put it away like you’d put away a treasure, only I couldn’t find it. After about an hour of looking (and it’s always in the last place you look) there it was in the back of the pantry where I’m sure I’d looked at least 50 times.
My ice was ready (the ice maker makes up to 20 kilograms/44 pounds of ice every day), I had the cream of coconut and some pineapple juice, a fresh pineapple and some maraschino cherries. Don’t abuse me for having the cherries because I bought them for something and then never made whatever it was I had in mind.
All the ingredients, including the ice went into the blender along with some rum and the aroma instantly transported me back to the Caribbean but first I had to take some photos. When I was done, I emptied both of these glasses. Then I drank what was left in the blender.
A friend walked in and gave me that look that says, “What is wrong with you?”
“Whut??” I said in my best American voice.
“Nothing… you look odd,” and walked out the door. No judgement.
If you’re like me and you like ice but don’t have an ice maker in your refrigerator and don’t like fiddling with tray after tray of water to the freezer, check out one of these portable ice makers. I wish I’d thought about this 3 years ago.
On the other hand, if you are craving a piña colada now, here’s how I made these. If you use a straw, it doesn’t feel like alcohol at all.
- 120 ml (4 ounces) cream of coconut (I used Coco Lopez)
- 120 ml (4 ounces) pineapple juice
- 88 ml (3 ounces) rum
- 2 cups ice cubes
- maraschino cherries and fresh pineapple wedge for garnish
- Place everything in a blender and whiz until there are no pieces of ice and the mixture is partially frozen.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with a cherry and a wedge of fresh pineapple.
Very nice! I adore cocktails anyway but something so frothy with coconut and pineapple sounds wonderful.
Now we’ve got the perfect accompaniment with these lovely maple candied nuts of yours! You know, I’m not into cocktails much but this looks great and may even push over the wine when the weather gets hot. My brother lived in the Cayman islands for a year and was doing Scottish voice-overs for ads in the voice of Sean Connery. Who knows, perhaps he was living on this stuff!
What a fun drink, Maureen! I agree, we all need to make time to celebrate. I like your tip about using a straw 🙂
Ha! You sound like me – I couldn’t entire glass of that admittedly delicious piña colada, though I want nothing more than to do just that. Guess I’ll be saving this recipe for when I want to make a small glass for myself at home though! Thanks for sharing, Maureen!
i wish i can afford that fancy kitchen toys!!!
the pina colada looks refreshing too….
I love a good piña colada! As does Mrs KR — it’s one of her favorite drinks. I usually shake them up, but really need to do a blender version again. Yours looks perfect. Love the story, too. And that ice maker looks pretty nifty!
This one awesome drink, Maureen!!! I’ll bet it tastes better than the one you had on the cruise 🙂 And that little ice maker looks like a handy gadget! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I really enjoyed your story! You made me smile! =)
This looks like a wonderful ice maker and Drink recipe!
Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed your story! It made me smile! =)
Sounds like a really great ice cube maker and drink recipe!
He, he – that story made to smile first thing in the morning – I’m sure I will think about it through the day – thanks Maureen and have a great day with or without Pina Colada:-)
Lol…You’ve got to love a spontaneous party in the kitchen. :))
Hope you cranked the music up a little…
You go girl! xxx
That IS a good husband especially when you’ve got a pina colada buzz on. Coco lopez is my friend. It’s good in pina colada cheesecake as well. 🙂 I wish my blender would crush/grind ice. Right now, whatever ice is formed is immediately melted by the overheating motor.
Ahhh, this is a lovely cocktail! Ok, I think you’re going to have to have a party now that you’ll have ice to fill coolers! Lucky!
So that’s the cure for sea sickness. I’m going to try a glass or two of those good looking pina colada you have there.
This TOTALLY reminds me of the Caribbean! And it is like candy. Dangerous!
Except my glasses are way too small for the Carib!
Hello Maureen, glad I found your blog. This cocktail looks so amazing! I love coconut with pineapple, and back home (in Brazil) we experiment all kind of recipes with them together.
I’m going to pin your recipe, and I’ll try it with no doubt.
By the way, your cocketail picture is so beautiful, it’s perfection.
Thanks, Regina, lovely to meet you!
I would love to go to the Caymans. What a fabulous story. I’m one of those who refills the ice trays and makes many trips back and forth to the freezer. Apparently no one else knows how to refill an ice tray. Drives me to drink! That ice maker would be handy and I’m impressed at how much ice it can make and how quickly. It would be good for parties xx
So what would you make so you can enter to win one of these? 🙂
That Pina Colada looks delicious! And what a nice memory of your cruise as well. The first thing I would make with a bucket of ice would be a strawberry daiquiri!!
I love those too, Courtney!
I just got back from a vacation in the Dominican Republic and I couldn’t get enough of the pina coladas!! I usually don’t drink when I go out to dinner, but since I was on vacation I treated myself to a LOT of these. This looks just as delicious! The coco lopez stuff is the best for making drinks!
Well, well, well, just what the doctor ordered with 90″F in California today! I’ll take 2 please and a nap!
It has been years since I had a pina colada and being the cheap date that I am, it may only take one! This is a beautiful drink and giggling sounds pretty great too!
I would love to make a coffee frappacino with it and having just read your story and recipe, I would love to try adding some spiced rum to it just to tickle it up a bit!! lol How good to sit around the pool drinking one!! 🙂
What a perfect appliance for the girl who has everything! Especially one who lives in a tropical area.
Cool drink! Summer is coming to my area, I hope, the would be the perfect drink to cool off. Sound like a really nifty ice maker.
I’d use the ice to make vodka daiquiris, mmmmmm
That looks like a very good Pina Colada. I’m in Hawaii for a week and they have a lot wicked drinks that tastes fantastic. If we were in Germany we would say “Prost” .
I thought I just posted but I’m not sure. That’s a very good looking Pina Colada. I’m in Hawaii for a week and they have some wicked drinks here with lots of rum and fresh fruit .
There is nothing better than a frozen drink in the islands…something about it, makes it perfect. The islands make and serve up fabulous rum too which helps thos epina colada”s 🙂
Living in Florida ice is arequirement 🙂
Velva
ice cold Mocha Frappe, weight watchers friendly!
Maureen, this was exactly the story I needed to read after a long day. Thanks for the smile — and the recipe! My hubby & I never had a fridge with an ice maker either (until recently, xo!) and it took a week or two to acclimate to those strange middle of the night sounds… What was THAT? Do you think there’s an armadillo under the house? An opossum in the cupboards? LOL! Your new ice maker looks like it puts out some ‘just right sized’ cubes for an ongoing supply of pina coladas… now all you need are some giant plastic glasses. (Well… maybe not!) Thanks for the drink inspiration. 🙂
You reminded me of Vegas. I swear I went to the card tables just to gulp down glasses of fabulous pina colda. This looks pretty close. So yummm!
I did not know you can buy a portable ice cube maker. This is totally brilliant and very ergonomic as well. If I was lucky enough to win one I would pick some lemons from the tree and make a decadent frozen margarita like we used to buy at the old Bourbon and Beefsteak in Kings Cross. In huge glasses topped with a lemon slice and indeed, a straw it would be divine with fresh ice cubes.
I’ve never had a pina colada in Australia that tasted anything like the ones in the Caribbean. They all used coconut cream, pineapple juice and rum and a lot of ice. I was expecting dessert in a glass. 🙂
I love your pina colada, it certainly does transport one to a warm Island full of sunshine. Lovely photographs Maureen 😀
Your Pina Colada looks very inviting. I’m in Hawaii for a week and they have some wicked drinks with fruit and lot of rum.
Brings me back to a wild few weeks my Momma and I spent in Puerto Rico many years ago, the resort we were staying at had the most magical happy hour prices, the Aussie in us sure emerged then. LOL!
Need to get me one of these ice makers, there never seems to be enough.
I always wanted an ice maker on the fridge but with this there’s no need! Very clever!
You are hilarious! Well I guess the headache is better than seasickness. I’d definitely choose a headache or hangover to seasickness! 😛
Wow, imagining sweet, rhummy, coconutty and cold! Two for the road, please!! 5 stars!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Wow that is an impressive amount of ice! You could start up your own business with the prices they charge at the servos. Delicious looking drink!
Just hope all that ice doesn’t break your blender. Great machine, but luckily I’ve got a huge fridge with generally only has ice cubes and ice cream in it!
Eastern Caribbean cruise sounds really awesome! And your pina colada is definitely on point for summer! I’m afraid once I make these I’ll drink too much 🙂
OMG! THat pina colada is just orgasmic! I imagine lots of margaritas and pina coladas if I win one… Woot wooot!
Ohhhhhhh yeahhhh, I know what I’m making this weekend!! Perfect for the warm weather that is finally on the way here in NH! 🙂
Great recipe, Maureen!
Thanks, and so glad you had a lovely vacation!
Wishing you well,
Carol
I first had pina coladas in Panama and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since! The photos in this post are lovely, by the way!
This is my kind of cocktail! And having a portable ice maker would be pretty convenient.
That looks spectacular!!!! I have always thought Pina Colados were too sweet – as you thought too after your first sip . This looks more like ice cream. YUM!!!
I know they’re too sweet and that’s probably why I drank both of these. 🙂
I LOVE these. I’ve gotten brave and made them for guests. Brave in the fact I know zip about making cocktails, but I am finding it’s fun. I don’t drink much
either. I do get sea sick at times. And boy howdy I don’t envy you the headache that drink ‘gave’ you. Ha!
I know and I forgave him too. sort of makes me a saint, don’t you think?
Nothing wrong with a little hangover as long as the night before was spent giggling and enjoy your company! I could get the giggles after a couple of these as well. 🙂
It’s 90 degrees right now and one of these coladas would be fabulous – that creamy texture looks heavenly! Bring on the rum ;).
My favourite thing to make in the kitchen!
Piña Colada is the favourite’s cocktail of my husband ! Your frozen version will love it !
Lol @ you. And THIS cocktail? My fave. Made them last night and well I had to ask my husband the same question your friend asked you!
Fiddling with ice is not my favorite thing so your ice maker does seem to present a wonderful solution. I’m not a big drinker, either. But I do believe I’d drink your frozen delight with the coconut cream from Atlanta. P.s. Rum makes me giggle, too =)
I can’t wait to try this Maureen!! We went on a small river cruise and this was exactly what I had on it too! 🙂
It looks absolutely heavenly and perfect for the coming summer!
Oooh, this would be a yummy way to cool off on a hot summer’s day! It looks perfect–though who knows what I’d do if I drank two!! Lightweight here.
i wish to have that in my kitchen
Really nice, perfect in a hot day in front of a beach front property 🙂
I’d make Chocolate Frappes, and save myself from spending a fortune at a certain fast food “Cafe” when the family and I get the hankering for delicious icy drinks.
I’m so keen on making my own frozen pina colada even though the season isn’t right but this won’t stop me 😀
I recently went on a cruise and it was the first time that I had tasted Pina Colada and now that you have supplied the recipe for us, this is what I would make first off all with my ice maker
A good pina colada is like having dessert all afternoon long 🙂
I have been craving a Pina Colada for a week. I have m ingredients and headed to the kitchen. When I exit you can bet i’ll Have a yummy frozen pina in my hand .
Has anyone actually tried this recipe???????
There are 5 star reviews with a bunch of gibberish conversations going on!
How can you rate this 5 stars if you haven’t tried it.
I will try it and actually rate it accordingly.
Tried many pina colada recipes and thought I’d found the best…until this one. This is far and away the best pina colada I’ve ever had. I put a small float of dark rum on the top.