It’s been really quite tropical here, but at last, sitting by my open window there’s a very pleasant breeze keeping me cool. I’m thinking about getting something cold to drink, but I’m not sure what I fancy – hot though it is, I’m not keen on very chilled drinks. I’ve randomly opened the old cookery book beside me, Good Housekeeping’s “Colour Cookery”, first published in 1967, and by chance it’s in the ‘drinks for a party section’. There are cocktails and “cups” – a mixture of different wines and spirits with fresh fruit. I don’t want one but I just randomly glanced down the selection –
Midsummer Night’s Dream Cup
(sweet and very pleasant, serves about 16 glasses)
- * ice cubes
- * 1 bottle of Sylvaner
- * 1 bottle of Beaujolais
- * 1 split of lemonade
- * 2 measures of Curaçao
- * sliced fresh fruit and melonn cubes
- * sugar to serve
(Sylvaner grapes have long been used in Germany and France to produce wine, which can be quite bland – or so I understand)
- 1. place ice cubes in a bowl and pour wines, lemonade and liqueur over them
- 2. add the fruit, and sugar to taste
- 3. serve well-chilled
or how about this – I don’t think I would risk trying it, but maybe for the adventurous party-goer:
Lunar Julep
(very refreshing, serves about 20 glasses)
- * 3 bottles of white Burgundy
- * 1/4 bottle of Pernod
- 3 tbsp Creme de Menthe
- crushed ice
- sugar to taste
- finely sliced cucumber
- soda water
- 1. mix the wine, Pernod and Creme de Menthe in a bowl
- 2. add the crushed ice and sugar, then chill well
- 3. add the cucumber and soda water just before serving
or maybe this – a couple of glasses would knock most people out I reckon!!
Pride of Oporto
(sharp and refreshing, serves about 24 glasses
2 lemons
1 bottle of tawny port
4 tbsp Curaçao
1 siphon of soda water
- 1. squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into a bowl
- 2. add the Port and Curaçao
- 3. slice the second lemon, add to the bowl, float on top for 20 minutes
- 4. fill the glasses 2/3 full and top up with iced soda water
Lois Elsden 