Cooking Lesson #405: Cucumber Collins Cocktail

…from the California Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? G’day mate! That’s the way you would be greeted in Sidney, Australia. Sidney has always been one of my favorite cities. If I were starting all over again, I probably would be living in Australia instead of California.
 
Things in Australia can be strangely different. Many Australians are descended from cast away English convicts—true. They say water swirls down the drain counterclockwise because it is on the other side of the equator—interesting story, but not true. One of the most unusual mysteries in Australia are the famous Min-Min Lights described as large glowing balls of light that dance or float just above the ground—true. There is an area outside of Sidney that is like the Grand Canyon on steroids—The Blue Mountains—true and beautiful. When it’s winter in Los Angeles it’s summer at Bondi Beach in Sidney—true and time for a summer cocktail.
 
My summertime Cucumber Collins Cocktail is perfect for any season whether in Sidney or Los Angeles. It’s light and refreshing and is perfect when paired with fresh seafood, it is also refreshing on hot and cold days and perfect for a Friday Happy Hour. Cheers!
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
1-ounce dry gin
3/4-ounce elderflower liqueur
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
3-1/2 ounces soda water
1 thin cucumber curl, sliced lengthwise 
Lemon wedge or slice garnish
 
Directions

1. Pour the gin, liqueur and lemon juice into a tall Collins glass and gently stir.
2. Fill the glass with ice cubes, then top with soda water.
3. Stir gently again and garnish with the cucumber slice and lemon slice.

​ChefSecret:  Make a long decorative slice of cucumber by dragging a fork over the surface of the skin and then making thin lengthwise slices with a vegetable peeler.

Quip of the Day: “Frank Sinatra once said, alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but in the Bible, it says, love thy enemy.” 
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. In this New Year, seek out the good in people and avoid conflict. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America.

#Cocktail #HappyHour #Gin #Elderflower #Cucumber #Collins #Lemon #2022 #Cheers # QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                     ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2022

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