I cannot believe that it has been a year since I wrote about the “100 days of May” – and here we are, right back at it. I am in the middle of a marathon of sorts – the marathon to get to the end of the year. Only two more weeks to go…will I actually make it? Only time will tell.
My husband and I are still obsessed over cocktails – it is a phase we have been going through for a while now. For me, it is a lot like cooking. I love finding different flavor combinations that go really well together. Unfortunately it is not something we do often enough – but it certainly is fun. My girls have also gotten into the spirit of things, and whenever I made up a new cocktail for us – I try to make a non-alcoholic mock tail version for them – they love it.
When my husband was growing up, his mother was what we call a “Super Mom” – she stayed home, was very involved with their activities, and loved to host all the neighborhood kids and moms. Years ago we were at a restaurant and we saw Pimm’s Cup on the menu – and it reminded him of his mother. She was quite the tennis player when he was young – and I guess Pimm’s Cup was a drink she served her friends after playing tennis. I have been looking for an excuse to make the drink ever since. When I saw it in Cooking Light the other month, I was so excited to put it in the recipe pile. Of course a drink like this is screaming for a hot and sunny day – which we don’t get very often in sunny Seattle – but I just couldn’t wait. I made it the other weekend for Book Club, during a sun break – and I thought it was delicious. It is not a strong drink, but nice and thirst quenching. The recipe below also lends itself very nicely to making a non-alcoholic version – just omit the Pimm’s Cup, and you will have a wonderful drink that everyone can enjoy.
So – as we approach Junuary in Seattle – I hope that the rest of the country is gearing up for summer. And, if you are stuck in the “100 days of May,” don’t fret – school will be out soon, and then comes a whole bunch of new races. During a marathon it is important to replenish – it’s the only way to finish strong…
Ingredients
- 2 cups prepared lemonade
- 1 large cucumber, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
- 1 cup Pimm’s No. 1, chilled
- 1 cup ginger ale, chilled
- 6 cucumber spears (optional)
- Mint leaves (optional)
Preparation
Combine prepared lemonade and cucumber slices in a large pitcher. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
Add Pimm’s and ginger ale to pitcher. Pour 1 cup mixture into each of 6 ice-filled glasses. Garnish with cucumber spears and mint leaves, if desired.
Serves 6
For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, please click here: Cucumber Pimm’s Cup
First Look, Then Cook 
Good luck with the marathon of May. We’re done on Monday. Well, Miss A was done yesterday (I have two full-day school kids for next year now! Yikes!) and Mr. N has his last full day today. Summer is here and the activities already begin next week. :) This would be a great drink on the patio in the evenings. It’s got to be fun experimenting with cocktails. We so rarely do that because we’re always picking wine.
So luck that you are already done, and getting ready for your nice vacation!! So nice to go away right at the start of the summer!!
I would love one of your cucumber Pimm’s cups for relaxing out on the balcony this afternoon. A perfect way to unplug. Our marathon in HK lasts until the end of June as my kids as my kids last day of school is June 30th and my boy are getting grumpy with all of these end of year exams.
I hope the exams went well – and that you are relaxing on your patio now!!