Happy hour is a typical part of family life at my childhood best friend’s house, and her mother is an elegant woman who drinks her five’o’clock champagne cocktail religiously. Often sipped by leading ladies in classic black and white films – Bette Davis once famously said, “there comes a time in every woman’s life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne” – this sophisticated drink is a delicious relic of old Hollywood.
Recipes
Easy paninis
In Italy, “panino” just means sandwich, usually made up of pretty basic ingredients. On this side of the Atlantic, however, the name conjures up images of crusty bread, melting cheese and piles of meat, something that seems complicated and gourmet, but doesn’t have to be.
The only Irish coffee you’ll ever need
Irish coffee combines two of life’s greatest joys – caffeine and booze – in one convenient glass. The recipe below uses Jameson whiskey both because it’s delicious and tastes slightly sweet, which compliments the coffee very nicely. There are variations of this drink that include Bailey’s, crème de menthe, spices, decorative coffee beans, and lighting things on fire at strategic moments.
