Latin Flair – Morir Soñando (To Die Dreaming)
It’s really interesting to think about what we remember as we age.
Obviously we remember details of major life events – your first kiss with the boy you swore on a stack of bibles was the love of your life; the party you went to when your dad dropped out of sky while you were in mid-dance with that boy and needless to say embarrassed the crap out of you; spring break in Cancun; the first college lecture you were late for and had to sit on the steps of the 400+ student auditorium; dropping that class after changing your major for the first of many more times; your first trip to Europe and being in a country where all you could barely say was yes and thank you in the native language; the marriage proposal you thought you would never get (or give).
And then there some memories are just random. Enter this beverage.
Although I remember wearing shorts and a tee it had to have been winter because my grandfather was visiting and he only came to NYC from the Dominican Republic when it was cold. I was about 7 or 8 years old. While I was in my bedroom I heard my mother yell from the kitchen “Quien quiere morir soñando?” (“Who wants to die dreaming?”) My eyes lit up and I remember saying out loud “How cool would that be…then dying wouldn’t hurt.” Excited to learn more about this brilliant concept I ran to the kitchen screaming, “Me, me, me!!!”
I sat at the table and asked my grandpa about this idea of dying while dreaming and he said “You’re in for a treat!” My excitement grew and it felt like I was about to get the answer to the meaning of life. As I sat impatiently at the table, my mom then put what looked like a glass milk in front of me. Confused I asked my grandpa, “What is this?” “Well, morir soñando,” he said.
To say that Dominicans have a way with words is an understatement. Even though the population at large knows us as great baseball players, our ability to play on words is like none I’ve ever see. I don’t know the history of how the beverage got its name, but you have to admit it’s a good one. Sure, the name has absolutely, positively no connection to the drink. No one cares and I’ve never come across anyone who questions it because all they want to do is drink up!
Funny name aside, this drink is quite the treat. Think of it as a creamsicle in liquid form. I’m not posting an official recipe for it because none is needed. The three main ingredients are orange juice, sugar and vanilla extract. Most people make this with orange juice but my mom uses the frozen kind for richer orange flavor. Simply mix frozen orange juice with sugar and vanilla extract, making sure to use just a touch of vanilla so as to not overpower the drink. Then add cold milk and mix well to incorporate as much of the sugar as possible. Sure, all of the sugar won’t mix because the ingredients are cold but part of the fun here is the bit of sugar that will be left at the end. To make one drink, my mom’s go-to proportions are 2 tablespoons frozen orange juice, 1 tablespoon sugar (we like our stuff sweet), 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 1/2 cups milk. But play around with the proportions until you reach your sweet spot.
Add ice, serve immediately and proceed to…well…die dreaming 
Share
vanillasugar — July 20, 2010 @ 8:22 pm
oh yes but a little dark rum wouldn't hurt would it? lol
Hungry Sofia — July 20, 2010 @ 8:23 pm
I've been dying to try this for the name alone!
Amy (Sing For Your Supper) — July 20, 2010 @ 8:27 pm
Creamsicle in drink form?! I'm in love! Sorry your dad embarrassed you at your dance…
I think it's happened to all of us at some point!
Mrs. G — July 20, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
Yum! Love that first pic.
momgateway — July 20, 2010 @ 11:34 pm
…what an interesting post…keen on trying this…
Julie — July 21, 2010 @ 12:43 am
Wonderful story and sounds like a delicious drink.
lizlivingvegan — July 21, 2010 @ 1:55 am
I love your blog layout! I just stumbled across it, but it's adorable! I love the cupcakes
babycookies — July 21, 2010 @ 2:05 am
I love this drink!
Jaime — July 21, 2010 @ 2:50 am
I love creamsicles! what a delicious treat!
Sarah — July 21, 2010 @ 3:15 am
What a wonderful story! And the drink looks so refreshing and delicious!
The Duo Dishes — July 21, 2010 @ 4:22 am
Oh this is definitely cool. Wonder if this would work with Greek yogurt if you blended it up? It's like a liquid Flintstone sherbet pop.
Mlle Fraise — July 21, 2010 @ 5:01 am
OMG. I think I died a little. That brings back so many memories as well! <3 Thanks for posting this Eliana
Paris Pastry — July 21, 2010 @ 11:24 am
I love the name! What a great tip to use frozen orange pulp rather than regular orange juice. Next time I buy orange pulp, I will definitely give this recipe a go! It sounds like such a perfect summer treat.
Ingrid — July 21, 2010 @ 3:08 pm
I've never "died dreaming"…sounds like a good way to go, I mean drink, good drink. LOLYes, you guys do put out some fine baseball players but we're right behind you!
Be on the look out for a set of twins with the last name Ortiz. 
~ingrid
Mary — July 21, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
What a delicious drink and the story behind it is just charming. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings…Mary
Justin — July 21, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
anything cool sounds soooooo good to me these days
Jennifurla — July 21, 2010 @ 6:20 pm
What a great blog you have, happy to follow and reading more…
Shandy — July 21, 2010 @ 6:59 pm
Rarely like re-hashing embaressing moments in the past . . .eek! Love the drink, how fun =).
itmom — July 21, 2010 @ 9:37 pm
Oh Oh Oh!! Sounds soooo delicious!! I will definitely be trying this. Thank you.
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum — July 22, 2010 @ 2:28 am
Cute blog! Yummy drink! I'll be back for more…
Joanne — July 22, 2010 @ 11:00 am
This post made me so happy…it's so well written! I love the name of this drink…so romantic. I can only speculate on the meaning behind it but I imagine it's that it's so tasty that should you day while drinking it, it would be like you died dreaming.
Crispin — July 22, 2010 @ 3:09 pm
Very cool drink! I'll have to try this with a dairy-free substitute like rice or almond milk. I know it won't be the same, but at least my stomach won't die dreaming.
Nina — July 22, 2010 @ 3:52 pm
Wow, sounds great!
Summer — July 22, 2010 @ 8:08 pm
This drink sounds great on a warm summer day! Loved the story about you and your grandfather!
Apples and Butter — July 23, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
I have not heard of this drink before, but it sounds like the perfect thing to make on these hot and humid New York summer days!
Stephanie — July 30, 2010 @ 12:28 am
I need to try this drink! My friend back in Boston raved about this drink and just seeing the drink made me think of him
Hell Notes for Beauty — September 5, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
My favorite and so easy to make ,lovely blog.
Lucille Stewart — September 19, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
Hey Eliana! It’s Lucille, your cousin from Vancouver!
Barney gave me the website and it’s amazing everything looks so delicious, also, I made this drink for a party of 8 people and they all loved it. We used 2 litres of milk!
Sandra G. — November 18, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
Only way my mother would get me to drink milk as a kid!
Amanda — November 29, 2010 @ 4:17 pm
Die Dreaming!!! I am half Cuban, and when I was a little girl I would stay at my grandmother’s a lot. Her (also hispanic) house keeper introduced me to this amazing beverage, and although I had forgotten the name before googling it today, I hadn’t forgotten how much I loved it! The version I grew up with didn’t have vanilla extract, and is still delicious!
We basically mixed a glass of half milk and half orange juice with sugar and ice! Yum! It really is funny the little random things you can remember from your childhood
Enkeli — April 1, 2012 @ 5:06 pm
I’ve just made one cup for me. REALLY DELICIOUS!!!!
In Chile we don’t mix oranges and milk, people said it’s bad for you. BUT IT’S DELICIOUS… thanx for sharing recipes simle and yummy like this one.