Coquito: a Feliz Navidad Celebration in a Glass

I am thoroughly convinced that the reason we Puerto Ricans have so much fun during the holidays is due to the delicious holiday beverage we call Coquito (little coconut).  Coquito is like an eggnog but better (sorry people but it just is), it is also a bit thinner in consistency thank eggnog which makes it more suitable for the tropical weather of the island.  Simply put, Navidades in Puerto Rico are not Navidades without Coquito.  And here is the kicker: it can pack a punch that you really don't see coming.

Coquito is very easy to make and there are as many versions as there are families.  The following is my abuela Ina's recipe and ever since I can remember, I have seen it during the holidays.  When I was growing up of course, we kids drank the "unbaptized" version or alcohol-free.  But I can tell you that there were a few times when we snuck a taste of the "baptized" version and loved it!  LOL...kids... 

I can see it now, as if it was yesterday, my abuela, mixing everything in the "la osterizer", or her blender.  Some of the older generation in the island refers to every blender, of every brand, as "la osterizer" like the Osterizer brand made popular during the 50s; it always cracks me up.  Anyhow, my grandma would turn up the Puerto Rican Navidades music, and while making this she would be dancing.   If my uncle came in he would start dancing with her too.  And my beloved grandpa, who is now gone, would be laughing so hard.  These are bittersweet memories of the people I love in my life, and even though they make me misty eyed, I would not change them for anything.   


Now, my grandma's recipe is a bit different in one regard: hers is light pink instead of the cream color typical of this beverage.   And that is because of her little secret: maraschino cherries.  Her recipe is really simple and soooo delicious.

Ingredients:
1 can condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 can coconut milk
2 eggs yolks
1 pinch of salt
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
1 cup white rum
1 pinch of nutmeg for garnish (optional)
1 can of maraschino cherries

Steps:
1. Put everything in the blender (except the cherries) and blend away.
2. Puree the cherries on a blender or food processor and then pass through a sieve.  What you want is the juice of the cherries.Mix the juice with the coquito and give it a good mix.
3. I then put it in a bottle and put it in the refrigerator. 

Now, as you can tell by the ingredients in this beverage, this is a caloric-bomb, so it is not something we drink all the time.  Luckily, fat-free or light versions of the products above are sold, which can cut the calories intake.  But it is the holidays and if you can't indulge a bit during this season, when can you?  I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I hope that you enjoy the day with your friends and family.  And finally, remember the men and women in the Armed Forces that will be away from home during this season.  May next year they be home to celebrate with their loved one. 
** I am sharing this recipe with these lovely ladies: