Happy Friday!
I still try and get excited for the weekend these days, and sometimes that means making fun new drinks.
I had a limited selection here at my parents (was too cozy to leave and go to the store like I was thinking) but figured I’d at the very least have a margarita (or two) since I had the fixings.
Tucked in the back corner by the window in my parents kitchen is a mini bottle of cassis. I bought this around New Years Eve so I could put it in my Champagne. Which I shared with one of my best friends, Kelsey, outside of my parents!
When my brother and I graduated college many moons ago, we took a family European trip. One of the stops was in Nice.
We rented this awesome apartment that fit all of us under one roof. This was a treat because we were rendezvousing with Jeff and Kate who had just moved abroad a few months earlier.
Aside from the food poisoning and having to cancel the leg of my trip after Nice (Barcelona with my brothers and one of their friends) we had some wonderful memories there (and awesome family pics, which are gems to look back on – especially during these travel-less days).
One was Jeff making bolognese for all 7 of us (and being patient enough to repeat the steps as I hurriedly scratched the recipe on my notepad – I’m working on digging this up from my memory box, stay tuned!). Another fun one was the bottle of cassis left by the owner.
It didn’t exactly have a “try me” sign on it, but it also was out in plain sight…
So we went for it! This was my first time trying cassis. I find it super refreshing but it also can be too sweet if you’re not careful. Though I’d be lying if I didn’t say, half the appeal is the pretty color (see below, the pretty drink from New Year’s Eve!)
Cassis is essentially a sweet liqueur made from blackcurrants. In Nice, we consumed it by adding it to the bottom of our champagne flutes.
Funny enough, I’m smiling as I write this and remembered that in this very building where my parents currently live, we drank cassis at my other sister in law, Julia’s, bridal shower (2017)! So funny how things are so connected. My parents didn’t live in the building at the time but Julia’s cousin and now wife were living here and they graciously hosted.
Long story short, cassis was on the menu! So in addition to taste, the memories I associate with cassis are, quite sweet.
I’m now sipping that drink I made from my limited selection. My go to liquor these days is tequila. So a quick search for tequila and cassis (thinking I’d come up empty handed) led me to the drink below!
Try it out. I didn’t have any ginger beer left but the drink is refreshing without. I’ll definitely try it again with ginger beer next time I get some!
Cheers,
Meg
P.S this blog is helpful for those looking for a reason to keep a bottle of cassis on hand