I recycle… Bet you didn’t know that about me. I recycle newspapers, bottles, cans, aluminum, zip-lock bags. Name it, I recycle it. I carry my own shopping bags to the supermarket. I withstand stares from people on line when I whip them out. They apparently feel bags are supposed to be disposable. Whatever… Stare all you want.
I do this because care about Mother Earth – And because it’s not like I can just up and inhabit another planet if I help destroy this one; so I try to do my part. Yep… That’s who I am… Uh-huh…
OK, can I be real with you?
Some of my frenzied recycling is, is guilt. You see, I knew about the effects of aerosol and the ozone layer, but couldn’t bear to part with my beloved Aqua Net from grades 6-9. I did A LOT of damage. When you slather your SPF 75, blame me. I did that and I’m sorry.
I didn’t bring you here to talk about my Latina guilt. I brought you here to talk about Morir Soñando.
What?
What’s that?
It’s a drink; If one must translate, it translates to “Die dreaming”. I’m not certain where the name came from – totally before my time. You see, I’m Dominican, and we Dominicans tend to play with words, terms, phrases. It’s part of our culture. Morir Soñando is a traditional Dominican drink reminiscent, at least to me, of summer, merengue, rum, rapid-fire Spanish and the phrase “Que lo que, loco?”
That means “what’s up?” We’re saucy folk…
Bet you want to know what this drink consists of? I know, I got you all curious and stuff. Morir soñando consists of orange juice, milk, sugar and ice. That’s all… No more, no less. It’s tasty. We Dominicans dig it.
So…
I recycled it. I took something old and made it new. For you… I’m bringing it back… Like the hula hoop… And leg warmers… And roller skates; but not aquanet. That remains in the blue-haired coifs of 85 year old grandmas.
You’re going to want freshly squeezed oranges and some orange zest for this. It’s a step up from Tang. Yes, I drank Tang – And so do the astronauts. I ain’t ashamed.
I kicked it up a little with almond milk in addition to whole milk. I like milk from almonds. Milky, almondy deliciousness.
For sweetness I used condensed milk.
You like that?
How about a little more?
Oh, yea…
A little vanilla extract and you have something that tastes like a creamsicle…
A dreamy dreamcicle in liquid form. I want to freeze this and turn it into an ice-pop.
Refreshing… Creamy and citrus-y…
Slammin’…
Re-used and renewed.
Now that’s what’s up.
Love,
Me…
| Morir Soñando (To die dreaming) |
- 2 cups of almond milk
- 1 cup of whole milk (or milk fat of choice; you can also substitute with another cup of almond milk.)
- 2 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice, strained of pulp
- 3-4 heaping tablespoons of condensed milk (if you want to add more, go for it!)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated orange zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Ice
- Combine almond milk, whole milk, orange juice, condensed milk, vanilla extract, orange zest and ice in a blender. Process until smooth. Garnish with an orange slice if you’re feeling fancy and serve in an 8 oz glass.
- Love…
