Pony Cocktail
Cook’s Note: Hi all! Things have been REALLY stressful at work this week, and I knew a new post was waranted, but to tell the truth, I haven’t even touched a knife since last week. *sigh* At least today’s Friday. So to celebrate I’m pulling this post from the archive, from way back when this chicken was merely a fluffy wee chick. And since it’s Friday, let’s think about cocktails in the morning, shall we?
I wouldn’t say I’m a one trick pony cook, but I will admit that I have a few “go to” ingredients.
To wit: I like to cook with pasta, pork, cheese, verjus and vermouth; I have a condiment addiction, a really small kitchen and sometimes, I take really ugly pictures.
Before I started this blog, I really thought I was a wildly creative cook (that list up there makes me think twice about that assumption). I also intended this blog to be about the joys of crafting creative, tasty meals out of one of the most joyous of modern conveniences, the grocery store roasted chicken (hence the name, get it now?) But, it seems I should have called it A Piggy In Every Granny Cart.
Oh well, summer and her oppressive heat (N.B.: Hehe, summer’s almost over now and I can’t wait to get back to roasting meats again!) will soon end the roasting of meats in the oven, and I’ll return to buying my happy hens.
Given my culinary predilections I suppose it should come as no surprise to anyone then that I’ve created myself a cocktail containing one of my favorite pantry items: verjus.
We’ve had some of my favorite gin hanging around the house, Hendricks for a few weeks now. It’s made with non-traditional botanicals like cucumber and rose water and has a lovely, delicate flavor (and it doesn’t make you feel like dying the next day either!)
Hendricks screams out to be made into a martini, but sometimes, a girl just doesn’t want her booze with nothing else. I had that feeling a few nights ago, but there wasn’t much to mix with, just verjus and soda.
So, being the brave little solider, I gave it a go… and boy was I happy! The drink is light and highly fragrant, delicately flavored and very well balanced. It’s a springy cocktail if ever there was one! I didn’t have anything to garnish with, but a nice wheel of English cucumber (ala a Pimms Cup) would be wonderful.
To make, mix equal parts Hendricks gin and verjus. Strain over ice in a highball, top with seltzer, swizzle, sip, sit back and relax!
So, if you have these somewhat obscure ingredients lying around mix one up and celebrate the return of Daylight Savings this weekend.
Cheers!
lobstersquad said,
August 26, 2006 @ 7:55 am
that Hendrick´s gin…it´s really mindblowing. and toally agree about the morning after. plus, the bottle is just too goodlooking
sher said,
August 26, 2006 @ 11:24 am
That sounds like a great drink! And thanks for reminding me about daylight savings.
ann said,
August 26, 2006 @ 6:01 pm
oh dear LOL! daylight’s not this weekend!!
i wrote this post back in march sher, lol! please don’t get setting your clocks back!
lobstersquad, i totally have the bottle from that picture on a shelf that i use as a vase for roses! they look so pretty in it, a nice masculine/feminine contrast.
Pamela said,
August 28, 2006 @ 3:56 am
Yummy, I really like Hendricks Gin but it’s not easy to get here and it pretty expensive unless you can get it duty free!
faith said,
August 28, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
Mmm. Hendricks sounds good. It has coriander in it, doesn’t it? I usually drink Bombay Sapphire - in the summer I drink it with sweet vermouth and lots of soda. And all your mentions of verjus are also inspiring me to go out and find a bottle…
Glenna said,
August 28, 2006 @ 1:42 pm
“Hendricks screams out to be made into a martini, but sometimes, a girl just doesn’t want her booze with nothing else”
Hey now, watch your mouth. I can’t be hanging out on a blog where such blasphemy is spoken. All booze and mostly naked is a very good thing. I bet Martha says that at home every night when the cameras get turned off. So, we’ll be having no more of that “got have a fous-fous girl drink” talk from now on, deal?
(It sounds delicious and I don’t even like gin, usually, but I’m an equal opportunity drinker so I’ll give it a shot for my next girls’ night party. Thanks for coming up with that one.)
Jeff said,
August 28, 2006 @ 1:56 pm
See…now, I’d like to know which comes first in Glenna’s house…the naked or the booze? ;) Is there some relationship between articles of clothing and booze? That said, I heart Hendrix Gin, but generally I am a sapphire fan as well….this looked pretty good and I do know my fruitay cocktails well:
Long Beach Ice Tea
2 parts cranberry juice
1 part gin
1 part white rum
1 part vodka
1 part triple sec
splash sweet & sour mix
Shake the alchohol together with a splash of sweet & sour mix and pour together into a tall glass. Top up with Cranberry Juice (I suggest between 1/2 shot to a shot of each liquor)
sher said,
August 28, 2006 @ 3:57 pm
Well, I’m out of this discussion because it’s obvious that my feeble brain doesn’t need anythingas strong as alcohol that might befuddle it, since I’m losing brain cells every day. I don’t even remember when daylight saving time is. This weekend I thought—”Hmm, isn’t this weekend supposed to be Daylight Savings Time?” Dimly in my mind I do remember that it occurred recently…………(thinking, thinking, searching brain)
ann said,
August 28, 2006 @ 8:54 pm
omg, you guys make me LAUGH!
pam — i agree, hendrick’s is so expensive! that’s why it’s only a once in a while, special treat
faith — i think you’re right, i believ there is corriander in it… i like it much more than regular gin, the juniper gets to me… and yeah, go for the verjus! which actually reminds me, i’m clean out!
glenna — lol! i said once in a while! i work in an industry that revels in it’s booze straight up… somets, i just haveta have my booze with a little mixer… you know, to give the ole liver a break ;-)
jeff — that’s a few too many boozes for me to mix at any one given time… but, heck, it also sounds kinda yummy!
sher — i think what you actually need IS a cocktail! go mix yourself something delicious!
happy monday all! the crudtastic work crud has righted itself and my will to live has been restored… so expect a brand spankin’ new post tomorrow!
Glenna said,
August 29, 2006 @ 6:13 pm
Jeff–If you pour the booze straight up, they happen almost simultaneously. Obviously, I’m not drinking right now because I can still spell the word “simultaneously”. Must go fix that.
Glenna said,
August 29, 2006 @ 6:16 pm
Ann–I completely understand. I don’t approve, but I understand. :-)