In what has to be our all-time favorite Cocktail Hour to date, Amy invites Gen Schmidt of NorthCoastGardening for a celebrity guest appearance, and Elizabeth tries to set her newly-remodeled kitchen on fire.
First, the recipes:
Elizabeth's Dickensian punch, adapted from Splendid Table's adaptation.
Do we really have to give one of those silly warnings explaining the obvious to anyone who attempts this recipe? That lighting alcohol on fire in your kitchen will result in flames? Which could, in theory, burn your kitchen down, taking you and your loved ones with it, and possibly spreading to the neighbors and sending you all up in a fiery confligration?
Well, anyway. Here's the recipe:
In one heavy saucepan
1 cup rum
1/4 American Honey bourbon
zest of 2 lemons
1/2 cup brown sugar
In a regular saucepan
juice of 2 lemons
2 cups water
Heat the rum mixture and then light it for a few seconds. Stop the flames by putting a cover over the pan. Add the lemon/water mixture and cook a bit more.
Serve in a heatproof punch glass with a slice of lemon. Makes 4 drinks.
Amy's Pimm's cocktail:
In a Champagne flute, pour:
.75 oz (or more to taste) Pimm's.
Top with good (nonalcoholic) sparkling cider or Reed's Ginger Beer.
Garnish with half a crabapple.
And about those English gardening tools! They come from Clarington Forge, and yes, we're going to give some away soon! Stay tuned.