This pandemic has left me at a loss for words. I normally have 20 million adjectives ready and waiting to squeeze into sentences describing the world around me or my feelings, but COVID has banished them all.

With the world changing faster than my thoughts and feelings, I needed a refuge. So, I’ve given myself entirely over to my kitchen.

I have a sourdough starter now (like the rest of the world, it would seem) and I named her Cordelia. I am cooking more than I ever have before. And I find day drinking to be acceptable any day of the week, because if we’re being honest, 9 times out of 10 I don’t even know which day of the week it is. When it’s Saturday, I think it’s Wednesday. When it’s Thursday, I swear it’s Monday. Time has morphed into this new creature that seems like a bizarre and unpredictable character Tim Burton would’ve created.

I asked you all which recipe you wanted to see from me first, and all you booze hounds quickly voted in favor of a cocktail. My kind of people. So I came up with this creamy little lady who is inspired from one of our favorite cocktails, the Hazy Jane at Tusk. A beautiful treat I’ve tried to recreate many times, but finally decided it would never be the same, so I should come up with my own riff. 

This is a drink that I think is perfect for self-isolating and the unpredictable drinking schedule that comes with it. It’s wonderful for a traditional 5 o’clock happy hour, but it’s also a delicious breakfast cocktail! I mean, if Ina can guzzle a pitcher of cosmos at 9 am, I think we all have permission to break the rules. 

Cheers! Here’s to not knowing when we can leave our homes...

Floret Grey Cocktail

Makes 1

Ingredients:

2 ounces earl grey infused vodka (recipe below)

1 ounce orgeat 

½ ounce lemon juice

1 tablespoon full fat plain greek yogurt

A couple drops of rose water

Optional garnishes: dried rose petals or lemon peel

Ingredients:

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds, or until the shaker is so cold you can barely hold on (gotta earn that booze). Strain into a glass with ice, and serve! 

If you wanna throw on some rose petals or add a twist (aka: lemon peel) - feel free!

Earl Grey Infused Vodka

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

1 cup vodka (I recommend Wild Roots)

2 teaspoons loose leaf earl grey or earl grey creme

Instructions:

Combine vodka and tea in a jar or sealable container. Steep for 20 to 24 hours. Strain through mesh strainer to remove tea leaves, and voila! Earl Grey infused vodka!