Roman Punch (from W.W. Norton)

I'm going to credit W.W. Norton and their link: http://wwnorton.tumblr.com/post/1313872086/roman-punch
I loved it so I had to share.

Roman Punch
There was a time — when turtle soup was a luxury dish and whiskey was an acceptable pick-me-up — when garnishing an icy-cold drink with a dollop of meringue seemed perfectly normal. And why not? The meringue floats on the surface like a regal, mysterious iceberg. As you mix it in, the sugar and whites add a touch of cream to what’s otherwise a sweet, boozy punch.

Although this one does not, many Roman punch recipes instruct you to freeze the mixture before serving, presumably so it gets nice and slushy before receiving its meringue cap.

Roman punch was served as an intermezzo at society parties and at the White House during Rutherford B. Hayes’s presidency. Hayes and his wife, who was known as “Lemonade Lucy,” were temperance advocates, and to get around their strictures — the rumor was — someone in the kitchen devised the spiked sorbet, which was served to guests. By 1922, the drink was declared passé by Emily Post.

2 cups lemonade
Juice of 2 oranges
8 ounces Champagne
8 ounces rum
2 large egg whites
2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1.Stir together the lemonade, orange juice, Champagne, and rum in a punch bowl. Chill
2.When ready to serve, make the meringue: whip the egg whites in a medium bowl until they hold soft peaks, then gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar. Pile into a serving bowl.
3.Fill punch cups with ice, ladle over the punch, and top each with a dollop of meringue. Serve with cocktail stirrers.
New York Times, August 17, 1879

From The Essential New York Times Cookbook by Amanda Hesser

New Design

I have a new design. Doesn't this feel sort of earthy and free? I really liked the one called "travel" which looks like an old pied a terre in paris or something, complete with torn vintage wallpaper and cracks in the cement.

Of course all this means is that I want my own pied a terre with torn wallpaper and cracks in the cement. I am so tired of sharing walls with people not of my choosing. I went to college at 17 and have lived in dorms or apartments since. I'm not going to fess to my age but let's just say I have over two decades of irritating neighbors, inconveniently placed trash bins, fighting over parking spaces, appliances that break etc. etc.

I have 3 houses picked out here. If I could find the time to get my act together and go see the mortgage broker and fix my credit report, I might be able to do something about it. Will I get my birthday/Christmas wish??

In the meantime, read this:

Kate Whouley is the author of Cottage for Sale, Must Be Moved, a true, sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant account of one woman's quest to move a vacation cottage across Cape Cod.