I'm in a New York State of Mind...

…yesterday was a little unusual for me.  I woke up at 5:15 and started working (a wonderful advantage of working from home) so that I could go see “The Avengers” that afternoon.  I love the movies and have a good working knowledge of movies from the early 1900’s through the movies of today.  I have the ability to appreciate many kinds of movies and be pretty objective about a film even if it isn’t to my liking.  My own tastes in film are varied and a little idiosyncratic – I love “Gadget Goes Hawaiian”, have never seen “Forrest Gump” “Toy Story” or “Avatar” and love almost anything in the “noir” genre. 

I love action films so my only regret going into the theater on Wednesday was that I hadn’t seen the movie on the day it opened.  I loved the movie but like some many films I enjoy, I love the work of the people involved but am so saddened by the isms by which they adhere.  Though I wasn’t alive in the ‘40’s I would have loved being a movie fan in the height of the studio system.  I don’t want to know what people believe in – I wait for the ones I admire personally to disappoint me and am ambivalent about like the work of those whose lives are in direct contradiction to my life- so give me the glossy, soapy, studio hype so I can watch movies in peace.

Excuse my digression, that had nothing to do with punch, but sometimes I get carried away.  But “The Avengers” does fit with my punch theme – most of the movie takes place in New York City.

Today’s punch is inspired by a weekend trip to Manhattan by Nick and Meg to celebrate their 1^st anniversary (Greg and Tina are in Disneyworld for the week – imagine the punches that will be inspired by that trip).

The Menu:

·         New York Style Pizza (thin crust, homemade tomato sauce and lots and lots of cheese)

·         Waldorf Inspired Salad

·         New York Style Cheesecake

·         Big Apple Punch

The Punch: I was surprised that there were not more punch recipes with apple juice in them.  There are plenty of “autumnal” hot apple punches, but cool and refreshing spring punches, not so much.  But a punch for New York had to involve apple juice so I was able to find one.

Big Apple Punch:

·         1 (32 oz.) apple juice

·         1 (12 oz.) can frozen cranberry juice concentrate

·         1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

·         1 bottle champagne

Mix the apple juice, cranberry juice concentrate and orange juice in a large pitcher.  Stir until well mixed.

To serve: pour the juice mixture into each glass until ½ full.  Pour champagne into each glass until full.

 This punch was delicious. It is really easy to make and can easily made with ginger ale for a non-alcoholic version.  Meg and I really enjoyed it, Nick and Sam are not as much punch fun as I would like.  It went great with the dinner.  As Meg said, the juice mixture is a little sweet, so the champagne really cuts the sweetness.  I was afraid it would seem unseasonal with the cranberries and apple juice, but the champagne really made the difference – it added a complexity that nuanced the apple and cranberry juice but didn’t mask their fruitiness J

This has nothing to do with the blog but promised Katie pictures of our dog, Joni!

Thank you for being a part of my little blog – it is so fun to have a part of my life that is so blessedly uncomplicated!