{How To Make A Pitcher Of Pimm's Cup}

In England, sunny days are fair-weather friends so it’s best to make the most of them when they appear at your doorstep.  One of the best ways the British relish the warmth is with a pitcher of Pimm’s at their local pub.

Pimm’s No. 1, a gin-based liquor mixed with herbs (a recipe known to only a privy few) was invented in 1823 by James Pimm, originally as an aid to digestion.  With its amber color and citrusy-sweet scent, it lends a perfect disposition for a summery cocktail and has become a very popular staple drink in England.

With the summer nearing its end, here is a quick and easy Pimm’s No. 1 Cup recipe, so that you too can savor the sunny days of summer – British-style.

Ingredients:  

a bottle of Pimm’s

a bottle of Sprite (or as the Brits say, lemonade)

3 sprigs of mint

1/2 cucumber

1/2 lemon

1/2 orange

Directions:

1) Fill a pitcher with ice.

2) Pour in 1 cup of Pimm’s and 2 cups of Sprite.

3) Cut the cucumber (I prefer in quarters), slice the lemon, slice the orange and add to the pitcher.

4) Take the mint leaves off the spring, ripe them up a little and add them to the pitcher.

5) Give it a quick stir, serve, and then cheers!

{Postcards from... Provence}

Bonjour!

I just got back from taking my summer vacation in Provence.  Among the fields of gold, green and purple, chateaus with pastel-painted shutters, framed by mountains, speckle the landscape.  While walking through the countryside, I stumbled upon this charming abode.  Parched from my walk, I headed back to my lodgings where I indulged in a glass of Pastis, a locally-made liqueur, with a cloudy, pale-yellow color and the flavor of black liquorice – a refreshing treat at the end of a hot day.  The next day I lunched with friends in Aix-en-Provence, a small city nearby, famous for its artistic patrons, as well as Van Gogh’s “Night Café.”   And from there I proceeded to and ended my vacation in Marseille, a port city on the Cote d’Azur - holy boats and what a sunset! 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer too!

Yours,

Jenn

{Why Not Peridot!}

Peridot, pronounced with the “t”, or as per-i-doe, is the traditional August birthstone, and is also infamously known as the poor man’s emerald.  It can often be found on the bottom, back shelf at Saks, to the left, past the pearls, behind the amethysts; or in the sadly displayed birthstone earring stand near the guy that pierces ears at the mall.  Ultimately, it is the underdog of the birthstone family.

As an August baby myself, I never took much pride in my monthly gem, until I realized how much the stone actually reminds me of summer.  Peridot, with its green coloring and subtle luminosity, reminds me of the seaweed drifting in the ocean, the grass that I picnic upon in the park, and the relish on my hotdog.  Its color ranges from an elegant olive green to a more whimsical citrusy-lime.  The stone transcends all boundaries because its color works as a neutral, stands up to blacks, plays with purples, and adds interest to reds. It is the answer to all wardrobe malfunctions. 

With the beginning of August here, we can sit back and savor that we still have one more month of summer to enjoy.  But why let the summer end with September?  Why not enjoy its essence all year?  Why not peridot! 

Below are some beautiful pieces of peridot-infused jewelry, designed by Ayelet of Coco & Lime.  See how well the lime green stone plays alone and with others. Check out cocoandlime.com for more gemstone creations.