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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
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This Valentine’s, people will be celebrating feelings of joy and happiness, as well as little ways just to say “I Love You”. If you followed the recipes in Hungry For Love, then no doubt you want something to refresh the palette. Fortunately, here are some drink ideas to awaken your soul and light your passions for romance.

Me for U
4 ounces fresh coconut water
1/2 ounce of Midori (melon-flavored liqueur)
1-1/2 ounces vodka
Splash of fresh lime juice
Melon slices (for garnish)

Fill a tall glass with ice and add the coconut water, Midori and lime juice. Top it off with vodka. Garnish with melon slices.

Love Bubbles
1/2 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce tequila
1 to 2 teaspoons caster sugar (superfine sugar)
5 to 6 lemon wedges
5 to 6 fresh mint leaves
A bottle of sparkling wine

Add lemon wedges, mint leaves, sugar, vodka and tequila to a bar shaker. Muddle (mash with a spoon or muddler) all ingredients gently to bring out the flavor and smell of the mint. Add ice cube and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a fresh mint spring.

CU
1/2 ounce Sambuca (Italian anise-flavored liqueur)
1/2 ounce Galliano
1/2 ounce crème de cacao
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
2 teaspoons fresh pomegranate juice

Add the Sambuca, Galliano, crème de cacao and vanilla ice cream to tall shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass. Top with fresh pomegranate juice. Garnish with fresh whipped cream.

*A splash or dash equals 4 to 5 drops.

MFP Solutions Lab logo

The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.