Sausage Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers, Coconut Water Martini & Mocktails ~ It's Tropical Cocktail Time!

Labor Day Weekend is almost here & for me, that's the 'official' end of summer.  Summer begins & ends with holiday weekends ~ Memorial Day is the beginning of summer & Labor Day is the end of summer. 

Some of the things I always enjoy making during the summer are cool drinks that give off a tropical vibe ~ cocktails for the over 21 crowd, as well as ones that the kids can enjoy, too.  Coconut Water Martinis & Coconut Water Mocktails fall right into that category.  I also like to make easy to eat-with-your-fingers types of appetizers. (aka ~ hors d'oeuvres ~ if you're feeling a bit fancy & French :)  Of course, salsa is always high on my list ~ as well as jalapeño poppers.

My neighbors, Bill & Cheryl, shared some of their Sausage Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers with us not long ago & I just had to make some for myself.  My spin is baked in the oven, instead of cooked on the BBQ & I used lower fat ingredients, but the flavors are the same.  I just love this unusual flavor combo in the ever popular jalapeño popper!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Happy End of Summer!

Happy Tropical Cocktail Time ~ It's always 5 o'clock somewhere!

Baked Sausage Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers ~ Low-Fat

makes 12 tasty, spicy morsels

Ready to bake...

• 6 large jalapeños ~ sliced in half length ways, seeds/veins removed
• 4 oz low-fat or fat-free cream cheese
• couple drops of liquid smoke ~ or more, to taste
  
• 5 cooked turkey sausage breakfast links, crumbled
• smoked paprika, for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Combine the cream cheese of choice with the liquid smoke until fully combined & creamy, taste & add more liquid smoke if desired.  Add the cooked & crumbled turkey sausage to the cream cheese & blend all together.

Spread the cream cheese mixture into the halved jalapeños, then sprinkle with smoked paprika. 

Bake on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for 20-25 minutes, or until done.  Enjoy!

OPTIONAL VEGETARIAN VERSION ~ Just replace the turkey sausage with soy sausage

To see my other recipe for Low-Fat Baked Jalapeño Poppers ~ click here!

Coconut Water Martini

Coconut Water Martini ~ Ahhh, the taste of the tropics!

• one shot    Malibu Coconut Rum
• one shot    Vodka
• one shot    Badia Coconut Water with Pulp

 How do I enjoy this tropical cocktail?  ~ Shaken, not stirred, of course!

Coconut Water Mocktail ~ perfect for everyone

Coconut Water Mocktail ~ Great for kids & grown-ups alike. For the simplest mocktail ever, pour well chilled coconut water over ice, into a pretty glass.

• Badia Coconut Water with Pulp

• Optional ~ a splash of ~ French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
• ice

If you want a frozen version, pour the coconut water into the blender, add a couple of ice cubes & a splash of French Vanilla Coffee Creamer.  Whirl away until frosty.  Enjoy!

This canned coconut water is lightly sweet, has a nice coconut flavor & has bits of coconut pulp floating around in it.  It's amazingly good!   I find this brand (Badia) over in the ethnic Mexican food section of my market.   This stuff is hands down my favorite sweetened drink in a can!   :)

Salsa

JR's Tex-Mex RO*TEL Salsa ~ Just had to share this salsa again.  It's so freakin' good & so simple to prepare.  It's perfect for a summer party or just 'cause you're in the mood for some good, traditional Mexican flavored salsa.  I just love it!  Check out the post ~ for the recipe.