Sometimes the best thing about a weekend is the surprise extension of it on Monday morning. That’s right, Steve’s office is closed today because if you have days on end of at or below zero-degree weather, when it rains and instantly freezes creating a ginormous disaster of ice.
That puts Monday in the win column an even nicer treat after the quiet weekend we had.
I read lots. It felt so good to just sit and do not much but that.
I also did some knitting. I was really not happy with the ribbing on Treysta, so I ripped it out and did the same thing as the neckline (a rolled edge knit with a much smaller needle) This looks much better to my eye and in trying it on, it feels much better than the loose ribbing. I think I need to put ribbing on the list of things that I need to work on improving this year.
The weekend might have included more than one of Lidia’s An Italian in Manhattan. Oh.my.gosh. These are so good! And, they are super simple to make:
An Italian in Manhattan, ala Lidia Bastianich:
First off, Lidia says to put your glasses in the freezer at least 15 minutes before you plan on sipping this delightful concoction. She is right, it is an absolutely necessary step!
**Please note, this makes 1 cocktail**
- 2 ounces whiskey (we used Crown)
- 1-ounce Cinzano Rosso vermouth (we did not have this in the house, but I did have Martini & Rossi and that worked just fine)
- ½ ounce Averna (or other Italian amaro) **amaro is in the Campari family, it is the much darker cousin
- 2 amarena cherries in syrup, drained (I found the cutest little jars of these at my local Trader Joe’s)
In a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes, combine the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Averna. Stir to combine. Strain into the chilled glass, drop in the cherries, and serve.
I would add: repeat as necessary, just because.
And, so now on with my Monday that is a continuation of the weekend. I hope you are warm and dry wherever you are!
Ohh libations! Fun post. Glad the nasty weather was a positive for you today! We are actually warm. 20s and 30s. Now I haven’t stepped into it yet. IF there is wind, that’s no help. Hope the barn is warm today. We start a new Session with the students.
I had Skinny GIrl Margeritas yesterday as I knitted. It was part of my tooth recovery plan day #3. .
Ooh, that manhattan looks beautiful and I bet it tastes pretty darn good, too. Just the thing for a frigid winter weekend (and maybe Monday afternoon cocktail hour, too)!
January Thaw is headed our way and I’m so glad for it! This will be my first full work week since . . . the week of December 18th!
Thank you for that recipe–it sounds like a perfect deep winter drink. Thanks to snow and cold it’s been “weekend” here since last Wednesday, my head is not quite back to work yet!
I wish I could have stayed in this nasty Monday morning — I didn’t have much trouble getting to work, but I got soaked! I’m very thankful today for the warm waterproof boots I bought at the end of last winter.
Hope you can enjoy the snow from inside today!
Oh enjoy your day in today! And that drink does look delish. I had a tasty Manhattan yesterday!
Sounds like a lovely weekend. We are finally having some rain here in Cali so it’s totally knitting weather for us!
Oh, my, that cocktail sounds delicious!! I’ve been looking for an excuse to go to my favorite liquor store (in a neighboring city)… this might be it!
I would buy some Amaro and amarena cherries so I too could enjoy that cocktail, but my liquor cabinet — a small shelf in the kitchen cabinets — is already full 😉
oh, I’m so sorry about the ice … there is NO good way to deal with it, except hunker down. inside. (knitting and cocktails help, too!) I enjoyed a few of those manhattans myself this weekend – thank you so much for sharing the recipe! (I made mine with Maker’s Mark, Cocchi sweet vermouth and Alberti amaro – I even found some decent cherries at the grocery store)
YUMMMMM!
There is really nothing better than an unexpected and unplanned day off!
XO
Three day weekends are the best, especially when graced by a scrumptious bit o’ libations.
Cheers~
I hope your world has warmed up a little. That manhattan sounds like something we should try. Usually we like our whiskey unadulterated, but we might make an exception!