Patrick (Paddy) Moore MOTHER’S DAY
How do we begin to pay tribute to our mothers?
According to moms I know, they say what moms want most is just to be in communication with their children, so reach out to connect as closely as possible – if not in person, then with a zoom, a phone call or even a prayer.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has some good stories about Mother’s Day along with some tips about how to honour the special person she is.
These include simple ideas like giving her something homemade by you – a card, a cake, a meal or craft. You can put on a talent show, play an instrument for her, listen to a music album or watch a movie together through an app like TeleParty.
Get outside for a walk together if you can – or how about an exotic travel date?
Now you can (virtually) visit a famous gallery, garden or museum together. together like the Louvre, the Vatican, or Monet’s Gardens.
Whatever way you do it, the important thing is to find some way to say, “I love you, Mom”.
Sweet Basil
If you are just setting out the basil in your garden you’ll need a few weeks before harvest. This time of year brings the warm weather – a good sign that you can plant. But if you have indoor plants as we do, or if the beautiful green leaves are beckoning from the grocery shelf, here is a delicious herbaceous cocktail with which to celebrate your mother, wherever she may be.
The sweet honey syrup is easy to prepare and you will need to get yourself a bottle of Lillet Blanc. But with abundant aromas of candied oranges, honey, and pine resin, having this vermouth around for the summer will be much appreciated.
The correct pronunciation, “lil-ut” is rather counter-intuitive for those who know a bit of French. The website has many suggestions for mixing Lillet or just enjoying it as a spritz.
Made in the small village of Podensac in Bordeaux, this French aperitif has recently returned to the international market and is now widely available.
The Recipe
| What you need 6-10 basil leaves 3/4 oz Honey simple syrup 3 oz Lillet 1 oz Gin Garnish basil leaf What you do Muddle syrup & leaves in a shaker add ice, liquids. Shake & strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish:Basil leaf float Serve: Cocktail glass Taste: Sweet, Vegetal Note: To prepare honey syrup, or “runny honey” simply mix 2 parts honey with one part water in a saucepan, warm until fully dissolved, cool and keep refrigerated in a sealed bottle. It will last for a month. If used just for drinks, adding a tablespoon of vodka will preserve the syrup without affecting the flavour. |
