Casual Friday: Mango Caipiroska

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TGICasual Friday, weirdos!! You know the drill. Let’s talk c-tails and waste time on the Internets.

First, have you ever had a caipirinha? If you haven’t, it’s a Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça (a liquor made from sugarcane), sugar, and lime. It is really, really, ridiculously delicious. And dangerous. Because it’s pretty much straight booze. I learned this the hard way after casually knocking back three at lunch on the first day of roommate vacation in Brazil a few years back. Don’t get me wrong, Selena had a blast, but pacing is key with caipirinhas if you plan on speaking in coherent sentences, walking without assistance, etc. The same rules apply to the caipirinha’s festive Russian cousin, the caipiroska, which is made with vodka instead of cachaça and, in this case, fresh mango.

I can’t say enough good things about this simple and refreshing drink, friends. It’s an instant tropical vacay for your taste buds, and fingies crossed you’ll join me in sipping it all spring and summer long. Note: Since it best to muddle each cocktail individually, this isn’t the best batch cocktail—I prefer mixing it for more intimate affairs, like girls’ night and dates with my roommate on the fire escape. Or bathtime.

Like I said, this mango caipiroska is STRONG, so if you’re a lightweight or sensitive to the taste of booze (sorry, can’t relate), feel free to top your glass with a little club soda.

Moving on to random internet nonsense!

James Cordon doing anything makes me happy, but I’m particularly fond of his recent reenactment of Beauty and the Beast in LA crosswalks.

Just in case you were wondering what your microwave is thinking while it spies on you, this piece was quite enlightening.

My roommate sent me this video of an Australian Shepherd filling in as caretaker for newborn tiger cubs, and the cuteness was so overwhelming, I almost passed out. Prepare yourself for subtitles like this: During supervised visits, the Australian shepherd provides snuggling, comfort and a warm body to climb. Now that I think about it, Logan has many things in common with this Australian shepherd….

Speaking of cute animal shiz, this photo of two bears hugging is just the best.

Who has seen Kendrick Lamar’s new video? (Everyone?) It’s a lot. I appreciate it, but I also find it semi-stressful to watch. With that said, I’ve been wandering around singing, “Bitch, sit down!” in my head all week, so snaps for K-Dot?

I really liked to ride as a kid, but I had to stop because I was allergic to horses. I was also not a fan of cleaning the horse’s hooves, brushing it, or mucking stalls. (#diva) But now there’s a way to ride without allergens or dirt/poop! Do you think I should take up hobby horsing?!

I watched Lion on my flight to LA last week kinda expecting to hate it, and I LOVED it. I wept uncontrollably throughout the entire thing before almost choking to death on my own tears when I realized it was a true story. (Not sure how I missed that…) Also, Dev Patel is a beautiful, beautiful man.

This very insightful article about working from home really resonated with me.

As per usual, there is endless deliciousness that I want to make and eat from around the interwebs…

I’m always on the hunt for my next #sassydesk lunch, and this Vegan Freekeh and Turmeric Chickpea Salad is at the top of my list. (I’ll probs make it with quinoa because I’m not the type that regularly stocks freekeh in my pantry…)

One can never have too many healthy(ish) fried rice recipes, and Thai Pineapple Fried Rice sounds right up my alley.

Cilantro-Ginger Halibut would make quite the festive spring dinner with a side of Dude Diet Vegetable Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce.

I make pancakes like twice a year, but my next batch shall be Lemon Poppy Seed Oat Pancakes.

My Inspiralizer hasn’t been getting much love recently, and I plan to remedy that by whipping up Izy’s Miso-Orange Zucchini and Rice Noodle Salad.

There are few things on earth more satisfying than a drippy breakfast sando. Jessica’s Gruyere, Fig Jam and Arugula Breakfast Sandwiches speak to me. #yolkporn

I’ve been craving Pad Thai recently, but with naked season approaching, I’m thinking this Pad Thai Salad is the way to go?

It’s almost time to stockpile the rosé, and the first thing I’m going to do with my stash is make a pitcher of Berry, Plum, and Rosé Sangria to sip on my fire escape balcony.