Yes I am doing a Hurricane cocktail today. In honor of all the crazy storms out there right now, especially “My Name Is Earl”. As of right now Earl is down to a Category 1 storm with winds only at 85mph. ONLY! Coming from NY we never really knew what hurricanes where for the most part. Sure I remember Gloria. But by the time it got to NY it was nothing like the ones I experienced living here in Florida. I was here 4 years before our first one in 2004. Hurricane Frances. Then 3 weeks later Hurricane Jeanne. Hurricane Wilma in 2005 was another one we got to know up close and personal. Let me just say I am glad I experienced it but don’t need to repeat again, ever. We got hit dead on for these, not just a brushing past us. It was not fun. So now when they talk about these storms and some people just don’t realize how severe they can be. Just ask Louisiana or any other Gulf state. So for all of you up north in the path, even though it’s a Cat.1 please take it seriously and prepare. You never know! If I had a dollar for all the times our weather people said, “Oh this has never happened before! Or This is highly unusual for a storm!” I would be rich. Honestly, you don’t know! So be safe everyone and have a cocktail. Stock up on ice and water! You don’t realize how much you need them both until you can’t get them!

So enjoy the cocktails. This recipe makes enough for 8! It is courtesy of  Rachael Ray. It will NOT be that bright red color that you usually have from a bar hurricane. That is pretty much all sugar and fruit punch. Yuck!! This will be a pretty orange/yellow color.

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup simple syrup

2 cups golden rum

2 cups passion fruit juice

2 cups orange juice (no pulp is better)

2 cups pineapple juice

½ cup orange liqueur, such as Grand Mariner

juice of 4 limes (about ½ cup)

Myers Rum

ice cubes

Bitters, such as Angostura (You can leave this out if you want)

8 fresh pineapple wedges for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Fill a large pitcher or large punch bowl with ice cubes. Add the rum, passionfruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, pineapple juice and simple syrup and stir until chilled.

2. Strain the cocktail into glasses, top with a dash of bitters and garnish with a pineapple wedge. Put a little Myers Rum on top as a floater! Enjoy!