After a warp-speed weekend, Monday dawns dull and grey with rain showers and milder temperatures. It is hard to feel excited about the week when it starts off like this! We did have a dusting of snow when I woke and Saturday – it looked so beautiful outside. However, the rain has washed every bit of snow away. Boo!
However, the weekend was nice – happy hour on Friday was particularly wonderful. Good eats, good companionship, and great cocktails. Ones that were so good you needed a second to confirm that you loved it so much! I am sharing the recipe with you all – it was that good.
I really love classic cocktails, and a Sidecar with Remy Martin V.S.O.P. is one of my favorites this time of the year. But, I like to tweak things – improve them a bit, and especially take advantage of what I have on hand. Oranges are so lovely at the market right now – sweet, juicy and packed full of goodness add to that – my thyme is still growing like mad, despite the cold frosty days we have had. So how could I improve on the classic Sidecar with a bit of thyme and the fresh oranges. Here is my recipe:
Orange-Thyme Sidecars
Makes 2
- 5 ounces Remy Martin VSOP
- 1 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec (I used Triple Sec, which is what I had on hand)
- 1 ounce Thyme simple syrup*
- The juice from 1.5 oranges **
- The juice from half a lemon **
- 2-4 drops of Orange Bitters
- Sprig of Thyme for garnish
- Orange zest for garnish
Combine all liquid ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake briskly. Pour into chilled martini or coupe glasses and garnish with an orange zest and a thyme sprig. Enjoy!
*To make the thyme simple syrup – combine equal parts water and sugar and heat on stove top until sugar has melted completely. Remove from heat and add 8-10 sprigs of fresh thyme. Cover and let steep 10 minutes. Remove thyme and cool to room temperature and then refrigerate. Syrup will keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
** I juiced 3 oranges and 1 lemon and made 4 cocktails
I completed the final bits of Christmas decorating and I did some reading and a wee bit of knitting. I finally finished Burial Rites and was not impressed – it was a story with so many questions and many of them unanswered. I started reading The Mysteries of Pittsburgh and so far, so good!
On the schedule for this abbreviated week (Steve is taking his last vacation day on Friday!!) is to finish the last bit of Christmas shopping and get wrapped and in the mail.
How was your weekend?
I’m sorry I can’t hear anything you are saying, I am still staring at that beautiful Sidecar, as I was on IG since Friday! It is my favorite winter drink to order in a bar–yet I have never made one myself. This sounds like the most amazing upgrade to the classic. Cheers!
I’ve never had a sidecar, but when I do I’ll make it from your recipe! It sounds and looks delicious!
That sidecar looks amazing! And I felt the same way about Burial Rites. Just . . . not a really happy book, y’know?
Your cocktail sounds great and the photo is beautiful. I agree on Burial Rites. It left me cold and empty.
Wow, that cocktail looks fabulous — thanks for sharing the recipe!
No Burial Rites in my works…but I love a good Sidecar! I’ll be trying to replicate your recipe…but the thyme simple syrup may have to wait! 🙂
I love your nativity! and thank you for the cocktail recipe. I bought dry curaçao a while back (for one of Thea Colman’s cocktails) – I’ll bet it would be delicious in this. (I’ll report back!)
I cannot remember the last time I has a cocktail – will have to add that to my holiday celebrations list!
sounds like a wonderful weekend 🙂 I should be baking but I’m knitting instead 🙂
Hm. I’ve never had a Sidecar, either — it looks fantastic!!
Your sidecar sounds wonderful!
Your cocktails always sound so delicious. We had a sunny weekend, but the sky has turned gray. Still it will be warmish until Friday. This is my week to run, run, run, run, run…whew.
I finished all the wrapping this past weekend, and Keith mailed everything out, so I am thrilled to be done. Well, almost done. I still have some local gifts to deal with.
I finished all the wrapping this past weekend, and Keith mailed everything out, so I am thrilled to be done. Well, almost done. I still have some local gifts to deal with.
Both the cocktail and Nativity scene look glorious…can you bring them to my house?
Hope you got your decorating done.
Cheers~