Thursday 27 November 2014

Pussyfooting Around the Cocktail Cabinet

I think Fanny Cradock and I are on the same page when it comes to Christmas. Food is important, and lots of it, but best to get it all prepared in advance so that you can settle down and relax with a drink. Nothing better than a wee glass of fizz, something fruity, and frankly something potent to while away the festive season. Fanny certainly thinks so, and she dedicates the final half of the dreaded Part Thirteen to Christmas 'Drynke'. Like the 'mete', it's as in 'Ye Olde'. I do love a bit of a booze up, I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'm pretty sure Fanny was no stranger to the cocktail cabinet either, but hang on a cherry picking minute, what on earth is Fanny playing at?


Teetotal? As in 'sans booze'? Fanny what are you thinking of? I guess not everyone enjoys a drink. I guess some people will be driving during Christmas. I guess some people will have given up alcohol. I guess not everyone has Johnnie at their beck and call, to drive them here and there in the Bentley. I guess you could always add some gin?


Fanny gives ten stand-in cocktails for those not partaking this Christmas. All are fruity, all are fizzy and all are fairly festive. I hate to admit it. The first is called a Pussyfoot, and is a lovely sounding combo of lemon, orange and lime juice. The juices are strained into an old-fashioned cocktail shaker, lucky that I have a few of those, with some crushed ice (just a teaspoon though! I manage to bash a cube or two in a plastic bag with a rolling pin), icing sugar and an egg yolk. Egg yolk? Time for a vigorous shake, presumably thinking of someone that you really didn't like very much. The same person you thought of whilst bashing the ice cubes. 


Once strained into a glass the Pussyfoot should be topped up with soda water and served with a cocktail cherry on a wooden cocktail stick. On no account should the cocktail stick be made from plastic, NEVER, as Fanny advises, 'Plastic always tastes of detergent!' Also on no account substitute the soda water for sparkling wine of any description, or at least if you do, do not tell Fanny. The Pussyfoot is very frothy and really refreshing. I wasn't sure about the egg yolk, but it makes if almost like an egg-nog... It would be lovely with a Brandy plopped in. Is Fannys insistence on teetotal-ness turning me too far the other way?


Fear not, the egg white isn't wasted - as if Fanny would allow that, especially in these times of austerity. It can be whipped up and added to more orange and lemon juice and some syrup to make an Orange Lemon Flip. Just shake again and top up with soda water, as before. Definitely not champagne. Fanny also makes an Orangeade by peeling the oranges thinly, placing them in a jug with some sugar and their juice, pouring boiling water over them and waiting. Once cooled, guess what? Add some soda water. Not vodka, no. 


Fanny gives variations on all the 'mocktails', using Strawberry Syrup in place of the citrus juice, or making lemonade with raspberries or pineapple chunks instead. The imaginatively titled Ginger Ale Punch is citrus juice, cold tea and sugar all shaken together, topped up with soda water and ginger ale. I've never seen so much soda water, but you know it's pretty versatile and makes the cocktails not-too-sweet, a bit sharp and dare I say a bit edgy. It's almost as if you don't miss the booze at all. Almost. However it's the egg tricks that impress me most, it's really like drinking something 'proper' and not 'soft'. The final one for now is a simple Egg Lemonade. I'd probably change the name if I was serving it to guests though. Back to the trusty cocktail shaker and in with some lemon juice, strained of course, with a generous tablespoon this time of crushed ice, some sugar and the egg yolk. Whip the egg white separately and at the 'precise moment of service' whip the two together, pour into a tall glass and this time squirt in the soda water from the side. It's another frothy one. I still say I might squirt in a Bacardi but if you are teetotal, even just for one night, go for it - these cocktails might just make you feel giddy.

18 comments:

  1. Fanny always seemed as if she were a hardened drinker to me! Funny to see her on the TT wagon. Still, you seem like quite the lush with all your boozy suggestions lol! Fanny and Pussyfoot - you couldn't make it up ;)

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  2. The pussyfoot sounds pretty good - although definitely in need of a shot of gin. I'm a snowball girl myself.

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    1. I adore a snowball, I always pop a gin in that too! The Pussyfoot was great actually, I might just have it again!

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  3. Raw egg - nooooo!
    You are brave. They look real purty tho. Fave one?

    Fanny loved her booze n' pillz I gather - faves being amphetamines ("diet pills", darling)!
    It explains a lot, I think...

    She makes a few references to certain drinks being best imbibed in bed - which sounds good to me :-)

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    1. The wonderfully titled Pussyfoot was my favourite! Poor Fanny struggled to keep her figure trim for the cameras, every little helped!

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  4. I absolutely can not stomach cocktails with egg in them. Egg Nog or a Snowball would be my worst nightmare!

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    1. My Gran used to mix us Snowballs when I was young, so I always associate them with Christmas, just didn't realise they were alcoholic! The eggs in these ones really changed the texture and feel of them, much more celebratory! Maybe the next set of cocktails for Christmas will be more up your street!

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  5. Ha ha - bravo to your Gran! My friend's Gran used to give them barley wine when they were wee - they'd be buzzing. I was given the odd bit of booze as a child too. Didn't end up alkies.
    Claire - I so agree - I am practically puking at the thought.
    Sorry Fanny!

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    1. Noooooooo! It's eggs all the way! I even bought my festive bottle of Advocaat today!

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  6. Bllleaacuchhh!
    All over your 70's orange & brown patterned carpet.
    Sorry :-(

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    1. Oh the thought of raw egg in a drink scares me! I think if I was offered egg lemonade at a party I'd have to politely refuse! Think I'd need to stick some gin in these!

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    2. I'll remember that when I invite you round ;-)

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  7. Love it! Must try some for Christmas. I was the driver today after friends opened the bubbly. Glass of soda was just not the same. Thanks for testing them out for us.

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    1. They really were much more special than plain old soda water! I'd recommend the Pussyfoot especially! Let me know how you get on...

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  8. Have seen a lot of retro drinks in the supermarket recently - Babycham etc

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    1. Yes, great to see them back! My favourite is a snowball! Yum...

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