Pitcher Drinks
Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In North America, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine’s cards, presenting flowers, or backed goods. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
Pink Valentine Punch
1 Bottle Chilled Champagne
1 Bottle Rose Wine
10 oz. Frozen Strawberries, thawed
¼ cup Fine Sugar
Place sugar and strawberries (with their juice) in a punch bowl. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add wine and champagne. Makes about 15 servings.
In Chicago The Le Passage restaurant’s Yow Bar is named for Yow Low. One of the original bartenders at San Francisco’s Trader Vic’s restaurant and the creator of the potent Bob Marley cocktail.
Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley born on February 6, 1945 was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, guitarist, and activist. He is the most widely known performer of reggae music. Marley is regarded by many as a prophet of the Rastafari movement. Marley is best known for his reggae songs, which include the hits “I Shot the Sheriff”, “No Woman, No Cry”, “Three Little Birds”, “Exodus”, “Could You Be Loved”, “Jammin’”,
“Redemption Song”, and “One Love”. His posthumous compilation album Legend is the best-selling reggae album ever, with sales of more than 12 million copies.
While flying home from Germany to Jamaica for his final days, Marley became ill, and landed in Miami for immediate medical attention. He died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on the morning of May 11, 1981 at the age of 36. The spread of melanoma to his lungs and brain caused his death. His final words to his son Ziggy were “Money can’t buy life.”
Bob Marley
12 oz. Fresh Orange Juice
6 oz. Overproof Rum
6 oz. Dark Crème de Cacao
6 oz. Orange Curaçao
4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
1 ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz. Grenadine
Ice
Makes 8 drinks
In a pitcher, combine all ingredients except the ice. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Stir well and serve in ice-filled red wine glasses.
January 15, 1974 was the first of 225 episodes of the American sitcom Happy Days. The show featured a middle-class family located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 1950’s. Happy Days was on of the highest rated shows in the late 1970’s. The show stared actor and Academy Award-winning film director and producer Ron Howard and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor, director, producer and author Henry Winkler. The show aired from 1974-1984. This great midsummer drink is a fruity concoction perfect anytime of the year.
Happy Days
2 cups Redcurrants
6 cups Strawberries
1 cup Limoncello liqueur*
1 liter/4 cups Lemonade or Cream Soda
Small handful of clipped Mint or Lemon Balm**
Ice cubes
Makes 8 glasses
1. Strip the redcurrants from the stalk, save ½ cup. Hull the strawberries, save about 1¾ cups. Push the fruit through a juicer. Pour the juice into a glass punch bowl, jug or pitcher and stir in liqueur. Chill until ready to serve.
2. Halve the saved strawberries and add them with the redcurrants to the juice with plenty of ice cubes. Top off with lemonade or cream soda. Garnish with the mint or lemon balm
* Limoncello is an intensely tangy, very alcoholic Italian lemon liqueur. Its great served on it’s own over plenty of crushed ice or, more unusually, in this fruity punch. If you can’t find it, use a well-flavored orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier instead.
** Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family. The leaves have a gentle lemon scent.