50 Shots of America

50 Shots of America–Wisconsin

Sips
Pretzel Dip

Pretzel Dip

On May 29, 1848,  Wisconsin brought our state-count up to a nice, even 30. Known as the Badger State, it might surprise some to learn that name didn’t come from the bustling fur trade of the early-settled territory but of the miners (whose industry replaced pelts in the economy’s hierarchy) that had the badger-like habit of seeking shelter in holes they’d dug.

We’re not entirely sure what the name Wisconsin means (though we know it’s not ‘people who where foam cheese on their head’) but one possible etymology concentrates on its red rocks, like those found in the Wisconsin Dells. I wonder, then, is that why Republican States (founded in Ripon, Wisconsin, on March 20, 1854) are painted red on political maps?

America’s Dairyland is actually not the total agrarian state that such a name conveys. It became dairy-central because early agriculture was pursued to the detriment of the land. While it’s regained some of it’s croplands and the forests, the service industry plays a far larger part in the state these days while still leading the nation in cheese production (2nd in the US for milk and butter).

Pretzel Dip

1 oz Wisconsin Ale
1 oz Cranberry Juice
1 tsp Brown Mustard

Combine over ice and shake like a Barbie(1) and a troll(2) riding a Harley(3) around the center ring(4). Strain into a chilled cordial glass and sip.

Breweries are big in Milwaukee and the state is a major producer of cranberries (among other crops). This drink may sound strange (Todd certainly thought I was stretching it a bit) but it’s totally drinkable and does remind me of a big. soft pretzel dipped into berry-laced stone-ground mustard. Give it a shot before you judge it unfairly, and remember that it usually takes 2 sips before you get the full flavor of a drink.

The other references are as follows:

  1. Barbie-creator Barbie Millicent Roberts is from Willows, Wisconsin.
  2. Mount Horeb, Wisconsin is, apparently, the Troll Capital of the World. It’s also home to the Mustard Museum which houses over 2300 specimens of mustard.
  3. Harley Davidson Motorcycles are headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
  4. Ringling Brothers Circus got it’s first show in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in 1884.

And, hey, as we head into Labor Day weekend, if you’re in the neighborhood of Prairie du Sac check out the State Cow Chip Throwing Contest.

50 Shots of America–Iowa

Sips
BioFuel

BioFuel

One day shy of a year after the admission of Texas via treaty, Iowa becomes the 29th state on December 28, 1846.

Though considered mainly agricultural (it is in the midst of the Corn Belt, after all), manufacturing makes up the greater part of industry in the state with food production being the largest portion of that–General Mills, ConAgra, Heinz, Hostess, Quaker Oats and Blue Bunny (just to name a few) are all headquartered in the Hawkeye State.

But if agriculture isn’t their main focus, what do they do with all that corn? Iowa happens to be the national leader in ethanol production and a strong proponent of renewable energy sources, be it in sustainable fuels or wind energy. Which is where our drink-of-the-week inspirations comes from.

BioFuel

1 oz Whiskey (Jack Daniels or Jim Bean, we’re going for the corn-liquor, here)
1 oz Honey
Caffeinated Soda

Combine the whiskey and honey over ice and shake like your settling a border dispute. Strain into a chilled cordial or tall shot glass and top with the ice-cold caffeinated soda of your choice. Swig it down and get ready to forge ahead and accomplish things!

You may recall that Iowa was on the other side of that border dispute known as the Honey Wars with Missouri. If not, it’s okay, I forgive you, and Iowa probably would, too. Iowans tend to be front runners in a lot of things–civil rights, women’s lib, renewable resources… it’s not a bad trait, you know? And, if (like me) you can’t have caffeine, substitute as necessary and call it Unleaded 😉

One last thing: the state is also home to Electrolux/Frigidaire who, along with Kelly Ripa, are raising awareness and funds to support ovarian cancer research through their Ultimate Banana Split campaign. Head over to Kelly Confidential to create your ultimate banana split by September 7, 2010. $1 for every submitted split will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

~~~oOo~~~

Cocktails for a Cure badge

Cocktails for a Cure

And speaking of good deeds! Just a reminder that I’m participating once again in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and, like last year, offering a couple incentives to my supporters. There’s this years print of a cocktail created in support of the walk plus I’m donating 22% of all Character Cocktails ordered by October 15, 2010, to the cause (and you get the print, too). More information can be found on my Cocktails for a Cure page.

50 Shots of America–Texas

Sips
Miss Independent

Miss Independent

It’s fitting that this week’s state is Texas as I was planning to be in the Lone Star State this weekend for the Dallas Webcomics Expo, but scheduling issues (and that little trip to Nebraska in June) put a kink in this month’s travel plans. Ah, well, such is life! But because of that, I want to dedicate this week’s cocktail to all the Independent artists and creators out there making their own way!

Miss Independent

1 oz Tequila
1 oz Tomato Juice
1/2 oz Pepper Vodka
dash Worcestershire Sauce
Celery Salt and Celery Stalk for garnish

Combine liquid ingredients over ice and shake like you’re facing the double loops of the Shock Wave coaster. Strain into a chilled cordial glass, sprinkle with celery salt and stir with the celery stalk.

Six Flags Over Texas is not just a theme park–it’s the number of flags that have flown in governance over the current state’s boundaries: Spanish, French, Mexican, the Republic of Texas, itself, the US and the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. In fact, the only reason they gave up their hard-won independence was their inability to defend against Mexico’s continued advances. Smart move, making an alliance and becoming a state via treaty (December 29.1845).

Oil and cereals don’t make for good cocktails, so we’re going with the Tex-Mex influence and making, essentially, a Tequila Mary. The pepper vodka adds kick, even at such a low amount, and a flavor almost as large as our second largest state. (And, yes, the name is both a reference to the former republic status of the state and the song by Texas native Kelly Clarkson.)

http://www.novusvinum.com/pairings/main.htmlWine & Appetizers/Snacks

ANTIPASTO
Pinot Gris, (Dry) Chenin Blanc
, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Gamay Beaujolais, Barbera

ASPARAGUS
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, (Dry) Riesling, Vidal Blanc

CARPACCIO (BEEF)
Barbera, Cabernet Rosé, Rhône Blends

CARPACCIO (TUNA)
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Vin Gris

CAVIAR
Brut Sparkling Wine

CLAMS (RAW OR CASINO)
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Brut Sparkling Wine, (Dry) Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Seyval Blanc

COLD MEATS
Vin Gris, Riesling, Gamay Beaujolais, Barbera, Seyval Blanc, (Dry) Vignoles, Chambourcin Rosé

CRUDITÉS
Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Gamay Beaujolais

FOIE GRAS
Brut Sparkling Wine, Late-Harvest Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Noir

NICOISE SALAD
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc

NUTS AND/OR OLIVES
Brut Sparkling Wine

OYSTERS (RAW)
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Brut Sparkling Wine, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, (Dry) Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc

PASTA SALAD
Sémillon, Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, (Dry) Chenin Blanc, (Dry) Riesling

PASTA WITH CREAM SAUCE
Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc

PASTA WITH SHELLFISH
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Chardonnay

PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE
Barbera, Sangiovese, Zinfandel Rhône Blends

PASTA WITH VEGETABLES
Pinot Blanc, Dry Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Gamay Beaujolais, Barbera

PATÉS
Gewürztraminer, Seyval Blanc, Gamay Beaujolais, Riesling, Brut Sparkling Wine, Cabernet Franc, Vin Gris

PROSCIUTTO AND MELON
Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Late Harvest Riesling or Gewürztraminer, Muscat

QUICHE
Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Gamay Beaujolais

SCALLOPS
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Chardonnay, Brut Sparkling Wine, Pinot Noir, Sémillon

SMOKED FISH (TROUT, HERRING)
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Brut Sparkling Wine

SOUPS
Usually none, or (Solera) Sherry

Wine Pairings: Seafood

Large scallops with cream sauce and parsley

Whether you’re at a restaurant
or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what to pair with seafood, from lobster to sushi.

CLAMS (RAW OR CASINO)
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Brut
Sparkling Wine, (Dry) Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Seyval Blanc

CRAB
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Brut Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay, Sake, White Rhône Varietals (e.g. Roussanne, Marsanne)

LOBSTER
Brut Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay, Sake, White Rhône Varietals (e.g. Roussanne, Marsanne)

MUSSELS
Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc

OYSTERS (RAW)
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Brut Sparkling Wine, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, (Dry) Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc

RED SNAPPER
Chardonnay, Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc

SALMON
Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sémillon, Vin Gris

SALMON TARTARE
Brut Sparkling Wine, Pinot Gris, Sake

SASHIMI, SUSHI
Brut Sparkling Wine, Semi-Dry Riesling, Sake

SCALLOPS
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Chardonnay, Brut Sparkling Wine, Pinot Noir, Sémillon

SHRIMP
Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Chardonnay, Colombard, Vidal Blanc

STRIPED BASS
Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Viognier, (Dry) Vignoles

SWORDFISH
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Brut Sparkling Wine, Vin Gris, Pinot Noir

TUNA
Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Vin Gris, Chardonnay

OTHER WHITE FISH
Chardonnay, Viognier, Dry Riesling, Sémillon

Wine Pairings: Meat & Poultry
A juicy cut of steak

Whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what to pair with meat and poultry, from steak to duck.

CHICKEN
Chardonnay, Vin Gris, Riesling, Merlot, Gamay Beaujolais, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, (Lighter) Cabernet Sauvignon

CHICKEN SALAD
Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc

CHICKEN (SMOKED)
Vin Gris, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel

DUCK
Pinot Noir, Merlot, Rosé Sparkling Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel

FRANKFURTER
Riesling, (Chilled) Gamay Beaujolais

HAM
Vin Gris, Gamay Beaujolais, Merlot

HAMBURGER
Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Syrah, Chancellor, Barbera, Zinfandel, Rhône Blends

LAMB (GRILLED, BROILED)
Meritage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Marechal Foch, Chancellor, Zinfandel

PHEASANT
Pinot Noir, Syrah

QUAIL
Pinot Noir

RABBIT
Riesling, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Merlot, Zinfandel

SAUSAGE
Riesling, Brut or Rosé Sparkling Wine, Barbera, Gamay Beaujolais, Norton or Cynthiana, Syrah, Zinfandel

STEAK (GRILLED, BROILED)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rhône Blends, Zinfandel, Meritage, Norton or Cynthiana, Syrah, Brut Sparkling Wine

TURKEY
Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Gamay Beaujolais

VEAL
Chardonnay, Barbera, Merlot, Cynthiana

VENISON
Syrah, Rhône Blends, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Norton, Chancellor, Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Pairings: Other Main Courses
A freshly baked pizza with shaved truffles

Whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what to pair with other main courses, from pizza to couscous.

COUSCOUS
Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Rosé Sparkling Wine, Syrah, Vin Gris

CURRY, FISH or CHICKEN
Riesling, (Chilled) Gamay Beaujolais, Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Zinfandel

MOUSSAKA
Merlot, Sangiovese, Barbera, Zinfandel

PIZZA
Barbera, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Brut or Rosé Sparkling Wine, Cabernet Rosé

SPICY CHINESE
Dry (and off-dry) Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Brut or Rosé Sparkling Wine, Merlot

SPICY MEXICAN
Dry (and off-dry) Riesling, Vin Gris, Chenin Blanc, (Chilled) Gamay Beaujolais

THAI
Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Brut or Rosé Sparkling Wine

Wine Pairings: Cheeses
A selection of hard and soft cheeses with grapes

Whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what to pair with soft, medium and hard cheese.

GOAT
SOFT: Brut or Rosé Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon (Fumé) Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir
HARD: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

COW & SHEEP
MEDIUM: Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah
HARD: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Port Blue, Late-Harvest Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Zinfandel

Wine Pairings: Desserts
Chocolate ice cream cake with chocolate sauce and fruit

Whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food
and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what to pair with desserts, from apple pie to tiramisu.

APPLE PIE, TART & BAKED
Late-Harvest Riesling, Various Ice Wines, Muscat, Demi-sec Sparkling Wines, Blueberry Wine

BERRIES
Brut Sparkling Wines, Demi-sec Sparkling Wines, Late-Harvest Riesling, Muscat, Zinfandel

CHOCOLATE
Late-Harvest Riesling, Raspberry Wine, Black Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon

CAKES
Demi-sec Sparkling Wines, Late-Harvest Riesling, Muscat, Various Ice Wines

CREAMS, CUSTARDS, PUDDINGS
Demi-sec Sparkling Wines, Late-Harvest Riesling, Muscat, Various Ice Wines

FRESH FRUIT
Late-Harvest Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Muscat

ICE CREAM, SORBETS
Usually none, perhaps fruit wine or fruit liqueurs

NUTS
Port, Brut Sparkling Wine, Angelica

TIRAMISU
Angelica

Wine Pairings: Red Wines
A glass of red wine in a California vineyard

Whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what foods to pair with red wines, from Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot.

BARBERA
Antipasto, carpaccio (beef), cold meats, pasta with tomato sauce, pasta with vegetables, pizza, hamburger, rabbit, sausage, veal, moussaka

CABERNET FRANC
Paté, Couscous

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Chicken, steak, duck, lamb, venison, hamburger, soft or hard goat cheese, hard cow and sheep cheese, chocolate, berries

CHANCELLOR
Lamb (grilled or broiled), venison, hamburger

CHIANTI
Pasta with tomato sauce, pizza, most Italian foods

GAMAY BEAUJOLAIS
Chicken, ham, turkey, sausage, antipasto, cold meats, crudité, pasta with vegetables, paté, quiche, hamburger, frankfurters, curry (chicken or fish), spicy Mexican foods

MERITAGE
Steak, lamb

MERLOT
Chicken, steak, turkey, tuna, duck, ham, lamb, rabbit, veal, couscous, moussaka, spicy Chinese foods, soft or hard goat cheese

NORTON
Steak, venison, sausage

PETITE SIRAH
Venison, couscous, medium and hard cow cheese, medium and hard sheep cheese

PINOT NOIR
Salmon, tuna, scallops, swordfish, chicken, duck, lamb, pheasant, quail, rabbit, venison, foie gras, soft or hard goat cheese, medium cow and sheep cheese

SANGIOVESE
Pizza, moussaka

SYRAH
Steak, sausage, venison, hamburger, pheasant, couscous, hard goat cheese

ZINFANDEL
Chicken, steak, turkey, duck, lamb, rabbit, hamburger, sausage, venison, curry (chicken or fish), moussaka, pizza, hard cow and sheep cheese

Wine Pairings: White Wines
A glass of white wine with a dinner roll

Whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what foods to pair with white wines, from Chardonnay to Riesling.

CHARDONNAY
Shrimp, lobster, crab, scallops, red snapper, striped bass, other white fish, tuna, oysters (raw), pasta with shellfish, pasta with clam sauce, crudité, chicken, turkey, veal

CHENIN BLANC
Chicken, shrimp, oysters (raw), clams, mussels, antipasto, crudité, quiche, pasta salad, Thai foods, spicy Mexican foods, hard cow and sheep cheese

COLOMBARD
Shrimp

CYNTHIANA
Steak, sausage, veal

GEWÃœRZTRAMINER
Foie gras, paté, prosciutto, smoked fish (trout, herring), chicken salad, Thai foods, hard cow and sheep cheese, fresh fruit

MARSANNE
Crab, lobster

MUSCAT
Foie gras, prosciutto, hard cow and sheep cheese, berries, custards, puddings

PINOT BLANC
Shrimp, striped bass, mussels, smoked fish (trout, herring), clams, oysters (raw), antipasto, pasta with cream sauce, pasta with vegetables, crudité, prosciutto, chicken salad, spicy Chinese foods, Thai foods

PINOT GRIGIO / GRIS
Salmon, salmon tartare, oysters (raw), mussels, antipasto, spicy Chinese foods

RIESLING (DRY)
Chicken, white fish, smoked fish (trout, herring), oysters (raw), rabbit, sausage, pasta salad, pasta with vegetables, paté, prosciutto, quiche, frankfurters, curry (fish or chicken), spicy Chinese foods, spicy Mexican foods, Thai foods

RIESLING (SEMI-DRY)
Chicken, sausage, sushi, sashimi, smoked fish (trout, herring), quiche, asparagus, cold meats, paté, prosciutto, rabbit, chicken salad, curry (chicken or fish), spicy Chinese foods, spicy Mexican foods, Thai foods

ROUSSANNE
Crab, lobster

SAUVIGNON (FUMÉ) BLANC
Salmon, shrimp, swordfish, tuna, red snapper, mussels, crab, scallops, clams, oysters (raw), pasta with shellfish, pasta with vegetables, pasta salad, Nicoise salad, asparagus, antipasto, foie gras, curry (fish or chicken), soft goat cheese

SÉMILLON
Salmon, scallops, white fish, pasta salad

SEYVAL BLANC
Clams, cold meats, paté

VIDAL BLANC
Shrimp, asparagus

VIGNOLES
Cold meats, striped bass

VIN GRIS
Chicken, salmon, swordfish, tuna, ham, cold meats, paté, couscous, smoked chicken, spicy Mexican foods

VIOGNIER
White fish, quiche, pasta with vegetables

Wine Pairings: Other Wines
A glass of Rose

Whether you’re at a restaurant or hosting a dinner party, it can be difficult to select the perfect wine to sip with your meal. A good pairing will bring balance to the dish and enhance the flavors of both the food and the wine. Following are our expert suggestions on what foods to pair with Rosé, ice wine, sake and more.

BRUT SPARKLING WINE
Lobster, crab, scallops, caviar, oysters (raw), clams, swordfish, smoked fish (trout, herring), sushi, sashimi, salmon tartare, steak, sausage, pizza, foie gras, nuts, olives, paté, spicy Chinese foods, Thai foods, soft goat cheese

CABERNET ROSÉ
Pizza, carpaccio (beef)

ICE WINES
Pies, cakes, most desserts

RIESLING (LATE HARVEST)
Desserts in general, foie gras, prosciutto and melon, hard cow and sheep cheese

ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE
Duck, pizza, couscous, spicy Chinese foods, Thai foods, soft goat cheese

SAKE
Sushi, sashimi, crab, lobster, salmon tartare, Japanese foods

Cheers to the First Half (and then some)

Sips

I thought this would be a good time to recap how far we’ve come in our trek across the location-inspired liquid landscape. To that end, here’s a massive link-post for anyone wondering where we’ve been:

~~~oOo~~~

01: Delaware—the Delaware Log Cabin

02: Pennsylvania—The Sweet Tooth

03: New Jersey—The Zipper Berry (non-alcoholic)

04: Georgia–the Golden Peach

05: Connecticut—the Yankee 78

06: Massachusetts—Rockin’ Tea Party

07: Maryland—Wit’s End

08: South Carolina—Hospitality Suite

09: New Hampshire—Blackbeard’s Orchard

10: Virginia—Cheerberry Cooler (non-alcoholic)

11: New York—Little Big Apple Dumpling

12: North Carolina—The Glazed Doughnut

13: Rhode Island—Pandora’s Glass

14: Louisiana—Chocolate Covered Daiquiri

15: Vermont—the Short Stack

16: Kentucky—the Mini-Mammoth

17: Tennessee—‘Nanner Puddin’

18: Ohio—the Buck Shot

19: Indiana—the Quick Shot

20: Mississippi—the Muddy Magnolia

21: Illinois—the Purple Popcorn Eater

22: Alabama–East Avenue South

23: Maine—Bitter Berry

24: Missouri—Meet Me at the Fair

25: Arkansas—Granny’s Baked Apples (non-alcoholic)

26: Michigan—Talk to the Hand

27: Florida—Liquid Sunshine

~~~oOo~~~

That’s the sippers so far! Do you have a favorite among the first half (and then some) of our tour of the states? A state you’re looking forward to, to see what comes up?

I admit, the Glazed Doughnut is still my favorite–both for the taste as well as my small, personal triumph in figuring out the how-to. Creative problem solving at it’s best, you know?

50 Shots of America–Florida

Sips
Liquid Sunshine

Liquid Sunshine

Oh, hey, did you think we were done with the East Coast? That we were at least finished with the Southeast, moving as we are through the Midwest and all?

Not exactly.

See, while the rest of the country was becoming locally-owned, the Spanish were still holding on to Florida with a pretty good grip until after the First Seminole War in 1818 and, even then, only lost the Eastern portion.  West Florida wasn’t signed over to the US until 1819 for $5 million and the understanding that the US would give up any of it’s Texas holdings. (And how long did that last, you wonder? The fact that *spoiler!* Texas is next week’s state */spoiler!* should give you a clue.)

Still, Florida didn’t have the oomph to become a fully-fledged member of the Union until 1845 (March 3rd, to be exact) and we’ve grown to be the 4th most populated state with our eye on New York to take 3rd place sometime soon.

Lots of folks retire to Florida for the lovely weather we have. News flash, folks: Florida is hot. And it’s a wet, sticky, humid heat that there is no escaping from. I remember 106-degree summers with no air conditioning as a child and wonder how we survived. Winter (with a few notable exceptions) is reserved for a week or so in January or February. We wave as something spring-like passes by on the fast-track to summer and hurricane season and again as a fall cool-snaps hits in October but heads for the hills just in time to make choosing Halloween costumes difficult since it could be 70s or 90s that day.

We’re also prone to afternoon precipitation that can range anywhere from lightening and thunder-storms with a side of hail to out-of-nowhere rain from a practically cloudless sky, the latter known as sun-showers or, you guessed it, liquid sunshine.

Liquid Sunshine

1 oz Lemon-Lime Gatorade
1/2 oz Rum
1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/4 oz Cointreau*

Combine over ice and shake like your running through raindrops. Strain into a chilled shot or cordial glass and try and cool off.

*I don’t normally specify a specific brand but you really don’t want to use a basic Triple Sec for something like this (or many other things, really)–it’s prone to overpower and you just don’t have room for that in a small drink like this.

Florida is, of course, known for it’s oranges and grows more than half of the nation’s citrus fruit (oranges, tangerines and grapefruit). Sugarcane, tomatoes, strawberries and celery round out our many agricultural achievements.

In addition to the natural juice we produce, all those fitness drinks on the market? Yup, they all started with one–Gatorade–developed by the coaching staff and physicians in 1965 at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, whose mascot is the Gator.

And if you’re not feeling the mixed drinks, you can check out the amazing San Sebastian Port available from the monks in St Augustine (the oldest European settlement in North America). The grapes are grown and processed in central Florida at the Lakeridge Winery (excellent tasting tours available pretty much any time–ask for Christy, if she’s there!) and finished up in St Augustine. It’s an amazing cherry Port in a bottle whose design dates back to the Middle Ages.