Thanksgiving Cheer

Counted in the number of my days are some that end like this. Such loveliness is a striking reminder of the gifts that I have been given and I am very thankful for the beauty and warm friendship that surround me. I hope this Thanksgiving finds you pleasantly stuffed and sitting at the table surrounded by family and good friends. Have a wonderful holiday. Blessings...Mary



We will be serving some Peruvian drinks today. The first is an alcoholic cocktail called a Pisco Sour. Pisco is a white grape brandy much loved in Peru. The cocktail is a bit like a whiskey sour and many consider it to be the national drink of Peru. I think you'll enjoy it. There are many ways to make this drink but the basic proportions should always remain the same. Add 3 parts pisco, 1 part simple syrup and 1 part fresh lime juice to a shaker jar. Then add an egg white, a dash of bitters and some ice and shake the daylights out of the mixture. When the drink is poured there should be a layer of foam on top of it. Here's a more formal recipe for you to follow.

Pisco Sour

Ingredients:
3 ounces pisco
1 ounce simple syrup
1 ounce key lime juice
1 egg white
Angostura bitters (2-3 dashes)
Ice cubes

Directions:
Mix pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to fill, and shake vigorously. Strain into an old-fashioned glass, and sprinkle Angostura bitters on top of the foam. Serve immediately. Makes 1 large (8 ounce) cocktail or 2 small cocktails.



Inka Kola

We'll also be serving this non-alcoholic soda to those curious enough to give it a try. Peruvians love Inca Kola, a soft drink whose sales have bested both Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the Peruvian marketplace. National pride, flavor and cost allowed Inka Kola to dominate the soft drink market in Peru. Coca-Cola had to buy 50% of the company just to establish a foothold in the country. Some say the drink tastes like bubble gum. I think it tastes more like cream soda with a hint of lemon playing in the background. It is an acquired taste, but worth a try if you have the opportunity to sample it. It is available in some Latin markets.