• about lidia

ohlidia

~ Life is Delicious!

ohlidia

Monthly Archives: June 2014

Caipirinha – My Happy Drink during The World Cup

25 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by ohlidia.com in To Drink

≈ 56 Comments

Tags

Brazil national drink, cachca, caipirinha, cocktail, FIFA, football, soccer, World Cup

IMG_9420

I can still hear it in my mind. The Sunday morning football games transmitted through the radio, live from Italy. My dad would sit at the kitchen table, his Neopolitan tomato sauce simmering on the stovetop, listening to the games, pen in hand. He kept a tally on the performance of each Italian team. And as the aroma of his sauce, the sweet smell of tomatoes, garlic and basil, wafted through our house, I could hear the Italian commentators give my dad a play by play of his favourite team.

And then every four years, the FIFA World Cup. Oh, the excitement! Ever since I could remember, I have loved, loved, loved watching the World Cup. And whether we were watching at home, with friends and family shouting and cheering, or out in a cafe or bar, the air was permeated with hope and excitement. And the proudness of being Italian.

The World Cup. Football at its finest. I truly believe that football is a beautiful sport. Beautiful as in…a sport that translates all over the world. Beautiful as in the acrobatic moves the players display, especially the goal keepers as they twist their bodies, like a contemporary dancer might, and give it all they’ve got to make that brilliant save. And how players dance with the ball, weaving in and out and all around anyone that stands in their way, with graceful balletic movement. I am convinced that football players practice ballet. Clearly, they would deny every word of it. Beautiful as in watching the teams remove their shirts at the end of a game and exchange them with one another. Not because I enjoy watching those bare, pumped up chests, but because win or lose, watching them exchange their shirts as a keepsake of this historic game they have just played is a beautiful thing. Beautiful as in the amazing Adidas commercials. Love them! Beautiful as in David Beckham chasing his Range Rover through the streets of LA…in his underpants. And how about those players from the Italian soccer team in Dolce & Gabbana underwear? Sorry, I got carried away there… But have a look and tell me football is not a beautiful sport.

And so, with my Italian flag hooked up to my car window, billowing in the wind as I drive throughout the streets of Montreal, and a bigger flag dangling from my living room window, so that when my neighbours hear shouting and moaning coming from my home, they don’t think I’ve gone mad, I continue the tradition of watching the World Cup with fervour. And what better way is there to watch the World Cup than sipping on Brazil’s national drink. The Caipirinha. Sweet, tart and strong, strong being the operative word here, the caipirinha is made with a Brazilian spirit known as Cachaça. A distilled spirit similar to rum, which is made from molasses, Cachaça is made from fresh sugarcane, giving it a more pure taste. Mixed with sugar and fresh limes, it makes for a most refreshing summer drink. After just one, I was feeling quite happy. Hence, my Happy Drink!

I am hosting 2 lovely girls from Mexico who are here studying English and French. They presented me with a Mexican flag on the first day Mexico played and won. And what a win! Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa: Brilliant! Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez: Animal! Referee Marco Rodriguez, he who oversaw the Italy – Uruguay game yesterday: Shameful! I continue to drive through the streets of Montreal with my Italian flag billowing in the wind. And although my ❤ will always belong to Italia, I’ve got my eye on Mexico. Hope you are all enjoying the games as much as I am. Viva Italia!

Caipirinha

1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
2 shots of Cachaça
Ice cubes

IMG_9400

Place the lime wedges and sugar in a glass. Using a muddler, pound the lime wedges so that the juices are released into the sugar. Add the Cachaça and give it a good stir. Throw in some ice cubes and enjoy!

IMG_9406

IMG_9411

IMG_9416

You can also use raw sugar, or turbinado sugar as I did and call it a Muddy Caipirinha!

IMG_9392

 

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Search Recipes

Recent Posts

  • Caipirinha – My Happy Drink during The World Cup
  • S’Mores Cake for a Birthday Girl
  • a momentary lapse of disconnect & A Jerk
  • I Heart Espresso S’Mores
  • Charlotte’s Chocolate-Toffee Popcorn

Recipes

  • For Starters
  • Soups & Salads
  • Mains
  • Sides
  • Vegetarian
  • Sweets
  • Baked Goodies
  • To Drink
  • Something Different

Cooking & Baking with Kids

  • Emma Bakes

Archives

  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 349 other subscribers

Blog Love

  • a pug in the kitchen
  • Bam's Kitchen
  • Cannelle et Vanille
  • david lebovitz
  • Eat Like a Girl
  • Fae's Twist & Tango
  • foodbod
  • from the Bartolini kitchens
  • frugal feeding
  • Gather and Graze
  • Hortus Natural Cooking
  • Mom's Kitchen Handbook
  • One Man's Meat
  • Please Pass the Recipe
  • smitten kitchen
  • Tartelette

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Facebook

Contact me privately

lspagnuolo@sympatico.ca
lspagnuolo@sympatico.ca

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • ohlidia
    • Join 239 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • ohlidia
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: