Cocktail of the Month: Black-Eyed Susan Cocktail for Preakness

The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the American thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown series, the first and third being the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, respectively. Preakness happens on the third Saturday in May each year in Baltimore, Maryland and because Baltimore is my hometown, I know what a big deal the festivities are.

The Black-Eyed Susan Cocktail is the official cocktail of the Preakness and is named for the blanket of yellow flowers altered to resemble Maryland's state flower placed around the winner's neck. The cocktail reminds me of a sweeter Screwdriver.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup orange juice

• 1/2 cup pineapple juice

• 3 tablespoons vodka

• 3 tablespoons light rum

• 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier)

• Crushed ice

• Garnishes: lime slices, fresh cherries

Instructions: 

1. Stir together first 5 ingredients. Fill 2 (12-oz.) glasses with crushed ice.

2. Pour orange juice mixture over ice.

3. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.

This year's Preakness is May 20th and since you can't be there, now you can make your own at home. Cheers!

Photo Credit: Cocktail Crafty

5 Sites to See While Visiting Guatemala

I recently spent about six weeks in Guatemala, so I was able to slow travel through the country learning its customs and traditions. I wasn't sure what to expect when visiting, but I quickly found that it was beautiful and rich in culture and history. While there are more, here are five sites you MUST see in Guatemala when you're there.

1. Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan is perhaps one of the most gorgeous bodies of water I've ever seen. It was truly breathtaking. When visiting the Lake, you should also tour the surrounding villages to see how locals truly live. 

2. Antigua

About 45 minutes from Guatemala City (depending on traffic), Antigua is one of Guatemala's brightest shining stars. Tourists flock to Antigua because its quaint small-town feel, its selection of bars, restaurants, and clubs, and its historic value. It was once the capital of Guatemala, so there are historic churches and ruins on every corner.

3. Tikal

Many visitors to Guatemala don't put Tikal on their to-do list and this is a big mistake. Tikal was one of the most powerful kingdoms in ancient Maya. It's a city full of beautiful ruins and definitely worth a visit. The quickest way there would be to take an hour-long flight from Guatemala City, so it's definitely possible to do it in a day. Want to spend more time there? You can stay on nearby 'island', Flores.

4. Pacaya Volcano

About an hour outside of Guatemala City is one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes. Despite its very steep hills, its worth the climb to the top to see. If you aren't able to climb, locals are there with horses to rent and trust me, it's worth the 100 Quetzales (about $13).

5. Semuc Champey

I didn't get a chance to visit Semuc Champey, but I wish I did! It's a collection of tiered pools in Guatemala's jungles. It's about a 5-hour drive from Guatemala City or 4-hour drive from Antigua. Looks beautiful, doesn't it?

As you can see, Guatemala is full of culture, history and gorgeous landscapes. It's worth a visit!