Besides always wishing that I were eating breakfast foods, I also find myself wishing I am in a tropical setting digging my feet into wet sand (not the type that ends up in my coffee, see below) and slurping something slushy and delicious. My favorite of the slushy substances? Pina Coladas, and not just because there's a catchy song to sing while drinking one.
If I had had some heavy whipping cream handy and some tropical flavored rum, I would have thrown together a special topping for my pancakes. Nevertheless, these turned out pretty scrumptious and I didn't have to sweep up any wandering sand.
PINA COLADA PANCAKES
Serves: 3-4 (10-12 pancakes)
Ingredients
2 cups pancake mix (You can use a store-bought mix or make your own healthier version from Bon Appetit and store in an airtight container.)
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2-3/4 cup coconut, shredded or flaked (optional: try it toasted!)
1 ripe pineapple, cut into bite-size pieces
Instructions
Blend pancake mix, eggs, and milk until combined. Pour into center of a griddle or frying pan using butter or cooking spray and cook until the edges puff up and bubbles form on the surface.
Before you flip, sprinkle some coconut inside the batter if you'd like some texture, otherwise just pile on top with fruit when you have a desirable stack.
Flip and cook until done. Repeat.
Top with fresh pineapple and coconut, if desired.
PERFECT ICED LATTE
Serves 1
Ingredients
8oz (or more) already brewed and chilled coffee
Handful of ice cubes (try freezing previously brewed coffee in ice cube trays for coffee cubes that won't water down your beverage)
Milk, to taste
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
A quick, refreshing drink is just a shake and stir away. All you need is few ounces of cold already-brewed coffee or espresso, milk, sugar, water, and ice. For sweetness, because sugar never dissolves in iced coffee and often leaves a wet pile mimicking sand at the bottom of the glass, I like to add simple syrup.
Simple Syrup:
Take one part water to one part sugar (I used 1/2c of each so I wasn't swimming in syrup) and dissolve on the stove top until melted. Take off heat and let cool, otherwise your ice cubes will melt. Store in an air tight container in the fridge and add to drinks and cocktails as needed.
Instructions
Stir coffee, milk, and simple syrup to your liking and pour over ice cubes in a glass.