Most of us think of holidays as one of those few days our employer actually pays us to stay home. We all know the big ones: New Year's, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. And yes, some employers are a little more generous but most likely you'll have no more than 7 days a year that you consider a holiday. Depending on your religious beliefs you may add a few more to that annual list, and find that you're up to a dozen or so.
For a day to be considered a "National Holiday" it needs to be declared so by Congress. And then of course we have the "commercial holidays" that we all love, which in effect are simply days that have become popular over the years. We all love them, but for some of us that just isn't enough. Organizations, corporation, and even loosely connected groups of people can "declare" a day for any reason they choose. Some of these days catch on and become popular with the general population, some remain only recognized by their creator, and some fizzle out and become a mere memory after only a year or two.
The point is - Every day, somewhere someone is celebrating something.

Monday, September 20, 2010

September 20, 2010 ~ National Rum Punch Day

How appropriate to have "Rum Punch Day" the day after "Talk Like a Pirate Day"!  Since I have a connection to the West Indian Island of Barbados (my maternal Grandmother was born and raised there), and rum is their official drink, I figured I would find a recipe for Bajan Rum Punch.  Everywhere I looked I found the same basic recipe and a simple way to remember it.  One sour, two sweet, three strong, and four weak.
Since you're going to want to have more than one I figure you might as well do this in cups.
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 cups simple syrup (heat equal parts sugar and water until sugar is dissolved)
  • 3 cups of a good quality rum (from Barbados if  you can get it)
  • 4 cups ice cold water
  • a few dashes of Angostura bitters
  • ground nutmeg
Mix all ingredients except nutmeg together.  Pour into glass with lots of ice (Rum Punch should be served icy cold) and sprinkle with nutmeg.  Garnish with a slice of lime if desired...kick back, relax, and enjoy!

No comments:

Post a Comment