Comedies · Uncategorized

Cry-Baby

Image Credit: Universal Pictures, Cry-Baby, 1990
Image Credit: Universal Pictures, Cry-Baby, 1990

I recently finished reading John Waters’ latest book Carsick, detailing his experiences hitchhiking across the US. It was difficult to finish even one page of the book without laughing, and it reminded me of what a brilliant comic mind this man has. To that end, I’m featuring one of my favorite John Waters films this week, Cry-Baby (DVD/Download).

Cry-Baby is a spoof of 1950’s greaser movies, wherein the “Drapes” face off against the “Squares”. Johnny Depp plays Cry-Baby Walker, the hot young leader of the Drapes, who falls for Allison Vernon-Williams, a good girl yearning to be bad. In a great meet-cute scene, they lock eyes over polio vaccinations in the school gym. Imagine! People got immunized and it was no big deal! (I digress). Cry-Baby is populated by B-and C-list stars galore- Traci Lords! Patty Hearst! Troy Donahue! Iggy Pop! Ricki Lake!

Johnny Depp reportedly took the role of Cry-Baby (one of his first film roles following 21 Jump Street) in order to poke fun at his teen-idol image. Well, mission accomplished. As Cry-Baby he’s sexy and funny and just the right amount of campy. It’s so refreshing to see him without weird facial hair or feathers or a Colleen Atwood costume. Watching Cry-Baby has reminded me that not only do I want John Waters to make another film, but I want Johnny Depp to be in it playing an actual human being. A stretch at this point, I know.

My drink this week has to be equal parts hillbilly and 50’s fabulous in order to truly do the film justice. I’m sure Uncle Belvedere makes his own moonshine, but I have to get by with the store-bought stuff. Of course this has to be served in a mason jar (which I assume was the stemware-of-choice at Turkey Point). While watching Cry-Baby, I recommend drinking a Lonely Teardrop.

Lonely Teardrop

½ oz Vodka

½ oz Dutch’s Spirits Sugar Wash Moonshine

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

½ oz Limoncello

2 oz Sprite

3 oz club soda

Fresh rosemary sprigs

Lemon slice

Mix together the spirits and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a mason jar filled with ice. Top with Sprite and club soda. Garnish with rosemary and lemon.

lonely teardrop

Not only does Cry-Baby have a fantastic cast and script, but the costumes are stellar as well. I admit to having quite a few “square” dresses currently hanging in my closet (thanks Mod Cloth!). But when Allison Vernon-Williams puts on those tight “hysterectomy pants” and makes out with Cry-Baby, I find myself wanting my own bad-girl beauty makeover. Just please don’t let Hatchet Face do my make-up. There are…. no words to describe that face. Cheers!

Classic Films · Comedies

Arthur

Image Credit Orion Pictures, Arthur, 1981
Image Credit Orion Pictures, Arthur, 1981

I recently discovered a great web series on YouTube called Yacht Rock, a fictional account of 70’s and 80’s-era easy listening titans (yes it came out 10 years ago, and yes I am severely behind the times). If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out- I died laughing. One of the soft-rockers featured is Christopher Cross, who had a major hit singing “Arthur’s Theme” from the Dudley Moore classic film Arthur (DVD/Download). I’ve featured this movie once before on my Top 5 Drunken Movie Performances list, but I think it deserves a mention again, along with a cocktail pairing.

Arthur is the story of millionaire playboy Arthur Bach, who spends most of his days and nights intoxicated, verbally sparring with his deliciously sarcastic butler Hobson. He is pressured by his family to propose to the beautiful but boring Susan, however just before he does, he meets a firecracker from the wrong side of the tracks, played by a very young Liza Minnelli. Even setting aside my excitement at seeing “Lucille 2”, this movie delights me to no end with its witty script, and superb drunk acting by Dudley Moore. He’s just the right amounts of happy and pathetic, and I find myself rooting for him to continue living his carefree, liquor-tinged life, only with the right girl by his side. And by “right girl”, I do not mean the hooker with the Olivia Newton John spandex pants.

Now, when you get caught between the moon and New York City, the best that you can do (in my opinion) is pour a drink! This week I’m adding a new bottle to my liquor cabinet in the form of moonshine. Specifically Texas Moonshine, as a nod to the cowboy hat that Liza Minnelli inexplicably sports on the streets of Manhattan. While watching Arthur, I recommend drinking a White Manhattan.

White Manhattan

2 ½ oz Moonshine

½ oz Dry Vermouth

½ oz Cointreau

Orange twist

Add liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker over ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with an orange twist.

White Manhattan

If I met Arthur in real life, I’d probably be annoyed-slash-jealous at his life situation. But as a movie character, he’s my hero. Someone who can drink that much and still come up with hilarious, brilliant one-liners deserves to be applauded. And as for the Christopher Cross song- well, good luck getting that out of your head for the next week. Cheers!

Comedies

Secretary

Image credit Secretary, 2002
Image credit Secretary, 2002

While the nation enters its second week of 50 Shades of Grey fever, I’m revisiting a movie similar in theme, though far better in execution. Secretary (DVD/Download) has been mentioned in a lot of articles recently, and while I can’t exactly call 50 Shades great cinema, I’m glad that this sub-par movie has brought a really great one back into the spotlight.

After seeing both films, the similarities are striking. Both feature male lead characters with the last name of Grey, and both are essentially about a shy, average girl discovering her true self after meeting a man who introduces her to some pretty kinky sex. The difference between the two films is that while 50 Shades of Grey takes itself SO SERIOUSLY, Secretary is more of a dark comedy. Yes, the sex scenes can be graphic and serious in tone, but the supporting elements are quite funny (Maggie Gyllenhaal on all fours with a saddle and a carrot in her mouth spring to mind). James Spader plays lawyer E. Edward Grey, an oddball employer who has a penchant for S&M in the office, and Maggie Gyllenhaal plays his new secretary Lee Holloway. What I love (and found so romantic that I actually saw this film twice in the theater when it was released) is the way these two damaged people formed an unusual but powerful bond. Mr. Grey understands Lee in a way that nobody else does, and vice versa. He saves her from a life of boredom and mediocrity, and she in return gives him the love he never knew he needed.

My drink this week is an homage to Lee Holloway, who is maybe the hardest working secretary on the planet.  Who else would dive into a dumpster in search of a lost file, coming out covered in dirt and old coffee grounds?  Ms. Holloway, that’s who. While watching Secretary, I recommend drinking a Dirty Martini.

Dirty Martini

2.5 oz vodka

1/8 oz dry vermouth

½ oz olive brine (from the jar of olives)

1 olive for garnish

Shake liquid ingredients together in a cocktail shaker filled with ice until chilled. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with an olive.

Dirty Martini

I love that Secretary started a career renaissance for James Spader, and just plain started a career in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s case. It’s such a quirky, odd movie, and I can’t explain why I love it so much, but I do. Sometimes movies are like that. Maybe I just like the idea of someone telling me that I can eat 4 peas and then as much ice cream as I want. Or perhaps I like a man with a keen eye for grammar and spelling mistakes. That must be it. Cheers!

Comedies · Uncategorized

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Image Credit: 20th Century Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014

Oscar season is upon us once again, so this week I’m featuring the most cocktail-friendly of the Best Picture Nominees- The Grand Budapest Hotel (DVD/Download)*. Wes Anderson’s charming adventure/caper features all the classic Anderson tropes- fabulous sets, fabulous costumes, refined characters, and beautiful storytelling. It’s a world that I want to step into, martini glass in hand, wry smile on my face. Whatever happens on Sunday night, I’m just glad that more people are talking about this delightful film.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is about a resort hotel in the fictional European republic of Zubrowka (which incidentally is a Polish vodka brand) in the years between “The Great Wars”. M. Gustave is the concierge at this beautiful hotel, where he meets and –ahem- services Madame D. After her sudden death, he is bequeathed a valuable painting, but her family objects and charges M. Gustave with murder. The silky-tongued concierge must now escape from prison and make his way back to the Grand Budapest where the painting has been hidden. Helping him along is his trusted Lobby Boy, and the secret society of the Crossed Keys, a venerable who’s who of Anderson regulars. Ralph Fiennes is absolutely perfect as M. Gustave, playing the character as funny, charming, and desperate all at the same time. Of course I’m madly in love with the sets for the Grand Budapest Hotel, and wish I could check in for a two week break from reality.

My cocktail this week references the famous painting in the film, the fictional “Boy With Apple”. I’m excited to use Calvados this week, which is a French apple brandy. Surely, M. Gustav would have sipped this on many occasions. While watching The Grand Budapest Hotel, I recommend drinking a Grand Apple.

Grand Apple

1.25 oz Calvados

2/3 oz simple syrup

¾ oz fresh grapefruit juice

2/3 oz lemon juice

Pink Champagne

Apple spear (for garnish)

Mix all ingredients except champagne in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with pink champagne and apple.

Pink Apple

The hue of this drink is not quite as pink as the Mendel’s boxes of confections in the film, but you get the idea. Because of the addition of pink champagne, this cocktail makes a great addition to your Oscar party this year. I know I’ll be sipping it during the telecast, and wishing I had a Lobby Boy to attend to my every need. Oh wait, isn’t that what they call a husband? 😉 Cheers!

 

*note: While I love The Grand Budapest Hotel and think it’s a great movie to watch with a cocktail, I will actually be rooting for Boyhood this Sunday. I cannot say enough good things about this film, nor even put into words the impact it’s had on me. If you haven’t seen it, watch it. Then buy the book.

Comedies · Holiday Films

Bridget Jones’s Diary

Image credit Miramax Films, 2001, Bridget Jones's Diary
Image credit Miramax Films, 2001, Bridget Jones’s Diary

Last weekend I was invited to an ugly sweater Christmas party, and to get inspiration for my costume, I decided to watch a film featuring the ugliest of Christmas sweaters, Bridget Jones’s Diary (DVD/Download). While Bridget Jones isn’t totally a Christmas movie throughout, it does feature Colin Firth in some very festive holiday sweaters and ties. Plus, a movie starring Colin Firth AND Hugh Grant- well, Merry Christmas to me!

Bridget Jones’s Diary was adapted from the entertaining book by Helen Fielding, which loosely borrows the plot from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This was the novel that launched a thousand Chick Lit ships (my own book included), wherein smart but insecure 30-something women live in a city, date inappropriate men, go out drinking with their friends, have fabulous careers, and worry about dieting and finally finding “the one”. I have to say, this is one of the better books (and films) in the genre, and although there was a great deal of outcry over American Renee Zellweger playing beloved Londoner Bridget Jones, I think she did a great job. Plus, she’s never looked better than she did in this film, causing me to wonder what other stick-figure actresses would look like with a little meat on their bones. Probably, greatly improved.

One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Colin Firth and Hugh Grant get into a fist fight outside Bridget’s apartment. Thus my cocktail this week is inspired by Colin Firth’s fists-o-fury, and is a great addition to any holiday party. While watching Bridget Jones’s Diary, I recommend drinking Darcy’s Milk Punch.

Darcy’s Milk Punch

1 oz brandy

1 oz dark rum

½ oz simple syrup

4 oz whole milk

Dash of vanilla extract

Whipped Cream

Grated Nutmeg

Combine brandy, rum, simple syrup, milk, and vanilla extract in a glass with ice.  Stir to combine, and top with whipped cream and nutmeg.

milk-punch

I love to watch this movie around the holidays because, like Bridget, it’s around this time of year that I tend to take stock of my life and figure out what my resolutions should be for the New Year. Like her, my list usually includes dropping a few pounds and cutting back on alcohol units. At least I don’t have to worry about pressure to find a nice, sensible boyfriend- I already have a nice, sensible husband to sport that tacky Christmas tie I’m making him wear. Cheers!

Comedies · Holiday Films

The Hudsucker Proxy

Image credit PolyGram Entertainment, 1994, The Hudsucker Proxy
Image credit PolyGram Entertainment, 1994, The Hudsucker Proxy

Every year in December, I get out my boxes of ornaments and the plastic Christmas tree and put on that classic holiday record by Alvin and the Chipmunks. You know the main song, where Alvin longs for a hula hoop? Well, the hula hoop inspired this week’s Cinema Sips pick, an underrated Coen Brothers gem The Hudsucker Proxy (DVD/Download).

An homage to so many wonderful films of the 1930’s and 40’s (His Girl Friday, It’s a Wonderful Life, Sullivan’s Travels, etc.), The Hudsucker Proxy follows everyman Norville Barnes (played by Tim Robbins) on his journey from Muncie, Indiana to New York City circa 1958. He gets a job in the mailroom of Hudsucker Industries, but dreams of bigger things. His dream includes a piece of paper with a circle on it, which would later turn out to be the hula hoop. Through a complicated series of events, Norville finds himself promoted to CEO of Hudsucker, where he takes the company to great heights with the hula hoop idea. Eventually, things spiral out of control as his ego gets larger and larger, until he finds himself on the ledge of the forty-fourth floor of the Hudsucker building on New Year’s Eve, ready to jump. Unfortunately this film was a box office flop when it was released, but I still love it for the amazing production design (think Art Deco meets Bauhaus), fabulous costumes, and sparkling script. Plus, any film featuring Paul Newman is okay by me.

My drink this week is inspired by Norville and his lady love Amy Archer’s love of martinis. A great festive version of the classic martini is the pear martini. I like to dress it up with a little fresh pear and cranberries to give it a holiday feel.  When watching The Hudsucker Proxy, I recommend drinking a Holiday Pear Martini.

Holiday Pear Martini

1 ½ oz Vodka

3/4 oz Pear liqueur

3/4 oz St. Germain

1 oz lemon juice

Fresh Pear and cranberries for garnish

Combine vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice, and pear liqueur over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with fresh pear and cranberries.  Bendy straw optional.

holiday-pear-martini

The Hudsucker Proxy is classic Coen Brothers holiday fun, and I’m so excited to watch it again this year. It makes me wish that women still wore hats and talked like Rosalind Russell. As the stress of the holiday sets in, remember to take a two-hour break with this film and a tasty cocktail, and maybe even put on that old Alvin and the Chipmunks record. You know, for kids ;-).

Comedies · Holiday Films

The House of Yes

Image Credit Miramax Films, The House of Yes, 1997
Image Credit Miramax Films, The House of Yes, 1997

Happy early-Thanksgiving to all the Cinema Sips readers out there! I’m still recovering from the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan-athon last year (I maybe shouldn’t have had the brilliant idea to photograph and consume all the week’s drinks at once), so this year I’m just sharing one film- though it is absolutely one of my favorite Thanksgiving films. In The House of Yes (DVD/Download), no actual Thanksgiving food gets consumed, though there is the offer of “raw” cranberry sauce and croissants. I kind of love this, since admittedly I do not actually cook much on the big day (thank heavens for Texas BBQ take-out!). At any rate, less time in the kitchen means more time for movies and drinks later on. And that is certainly something to be thankful for!

The House of Yes is a dark comedy about one very dysfunctional family’s Thanksgiving holiday. Adapted from a stage play and directed by Mark Waters (of Mean Girls fame), this little indie gem from 1997 features Parker Posey in one of her best roles as a Jackie-O obsessed lunatic who has, ahem, a very close relationship with her twin brother (played brilliantly by the totally underrated Josh Hamilton). He brings home his new fiancé, and the family pretty much goes off the deep end. To top it off, a hurricane hits their town of McLean, Virginia, the power goes out, and they’re left with nothing but Liebfraumilch and dueling piano-playing to entertain themselves. I have to apologize to viewers out there for the presence of Tori Spelling as the fiancé. She garnered a well-deserved Razzie nomination for her performance, and that about says it all.

One of my favorite scenes is when Jackie and her brother Marty have a contest to see who can drink the most rum and Pepsi in a short amount of time. This actually sounds like one of those bizarre, bored-sibling holiday rituals that turns out to be amazingly fun.  So without further ado, my drink this week is of course Rum & Pepsi. (Watch the movie, you’ll see why I had to do it.)

Rum & Pepsi

1 oz Rum

3 oz Pepsi

Ice (don’t forget the ice!)

Styrofoam cups (A real glass is fine if you’re trying to save the environment, like me.  Baby steps)

Pour the rum and Pepsi over ice into a cup or glass. Or, do like Jackie-O and Marty and chug straight from the bottles.

rum-and-pepsi

Like I said, this film is pretty dark, and not exactly family-friendly. But since I always have a quiet Thanksgiving at home with my husband, I can watch twisted films like this. I’m sure everybody out there thinks that their family is a little weird, but take comfort in the fact that your family is probably not as weird as this one. When mom starts to hide the kitchen knives and your brother has to hide the bullets, then you know you’ve got problems. Cheers!

p.s.- the festive cocktail napkin in the above photo was crafted by my very talented mother!  Thanks mom 🙂

 

Comedies

Election

Image Credit Paramount Pictures, 1999, Election
Image Credit Paramount Pictures, 1999, Election

Because Election Day is happening tomorrow, I thought it would be a great time to revisit my favorite political movie. No, not Primary Colors or Wag the Dog, or even The American President (which I do love). This week I’m watching Election (DVD/Download), and wishing Tracy Flick was actually on the ballot. Anywhere. With her type-A personality, adorable Midwestern accent, and barrel full of chewing gum, she definitely gets my vote. Who cares that she’s got skeletons in her closet- don’t all politicians?

Election is a delicious dark comedy adapted from the novel by Tom Perrotta and directed by Alexander Payne. It tells the story of Jim McAllister (played by Matthew Broderick), a high school civics teacher who oversees the school elections. Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick (the overachieving student gunning for the class president vote) with a slightly manic, conniving edge. All of the actors are brilliant, and I have to say this movie does a pretty realistic job of depicting the life of a teacher. Double dates with other teachers, having to give the same lesson over and over again (Executive, Legislative, Judicial), driving a crappy car- the details are spot on. They left out the part where teachers never go to the bathroom- EVER (unless you’re Matthew Broderick and decide to pee on a tree), but overall it’s pretty accurate. Payne does such a great job of skewering Midwestern suburban life, and the politics of high school in general. It’s not surprising that Entertainment Weekly listed this as one of the top 50 high school movies ever made, and I totally agree with them. We all had a Tracy Flick in our school, and a jock like Paul Metzler, and a burnout like Tammy Metzler, and teachers like Dave Novotny (they may not have seduced their students, but there must be plenty of “cool teachers” who got into teaching because they just never really wanted to leave high school).

Speaking of Mr. Novotny, his seduction tactics have inspired my cocktail pairing this week. I mean, who wouldn’t swoon over a middle-aged loser who listens to “Three Times a Lady” and plies his young dates with root beer? (Because, you know, alcohol would be inappropriate in this totally moral- or is it ethical???- situation….) While watching Election, I recommend drinking an Adult Root Beer Float.

Adult Root Beer Float

8 oz Root Beer

1 oz vanilla vodka

Vanilla ice cream

Pour rootbeer into a chilled glass, and add in the vodka. Top with Vanilla ice cream.

root-beer-float

It’s no surprise to me that Tammi Metzler gets the most applause when she lets loose a tirade against the school political system during a debate, and I cheer right along with her classmates. It’s easy to wonder amidst all the campaign ads we’re seeing now and false promises- does it actually matter who gets elected? Will it really change anything? Make one single person smarter or happier or nicer? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I’ll watch this movie and wish that on tomorrow’s ballot I could just “Pick Flick”. Cheers!

Comedies

Shaun of the Dead

Image Credit  Universal Pictures, 2004, Shaun of the Dead
Image Credit Universal Pictures, 2004, Shaun of the Dead

This Friday is Halloween- that great American holiday where I get to eat candy, drink, and watch scary movies with the lights off in an attempt to fool the trick-or-treaters outside into thinking I’m not home. Since I’m not really one for scary movies, I’m opting for a funny-scary movie this year. Shaun of the Dead (DVD/Download) is one of my favorite movies to watch on Halloween, mainly because it celebrates drinking in a big way and doesn’t go too gross-out with the zombie makeup (I’m looking at you, Walking Dead). I get nervous when I hear hordes of teenage children running up and down the street, plastic pumpkin buckets in hand, so I can think of no better place than my living room to sit and have a nice cold drink and wait for the whole thing to blow over.

Shaun of the Dead is about man-child Shaun (Simon Pegg), who still lives with his roommate Ed (Nick Frost) in London, plays video games, gets wasted on the weekends, and forgets to call his girlfriend. Suddenly a zombie epidemic hits London, and Shaun has to get his friends and family to safety. What is the safest place he can think of? Well the local pub of course! An endless supply of beer, pub snacks, a jukebox, and plenty of seating- sounds pretty good to me. As they hole up at the Winchester, Shaun and his crew have to fend off zombie attacks, set to the tune of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, and armed only with a cricket bat and an old rifle. I love this film because it doesn’t take itself or the horror genre too seriously. When faced with a zombie in the backyard, Shaun and Ed don’t cower in terror, but instead debate over which record they will fling to kill it (sorry, Dire Straits). Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s script is so brilliant, and I find myself laughing time and time again at the pop culture references and send-ups of typical male behavior. Shaun cares about his mates, his beer, his mum, and his girlfriend, in that order. Based on single guys I know, that sounds about right.

My drink this week is inspired by the zombies populating this film. No, it’s not a Zombie, that delicious fruity tiki drink that knocked me down and out one night on a trip to Pittsburgh. Instead, I’m going back a bit further to the Savoy Cocktail Handbook to find something more appropriate for the autumn season. When watching Shaun of the Dead, I recommend drinking a Corpse Reviver #1.

Corpse Reviver #1

2 parts Cognac

1 part apple brandy or Calvados

1 part sweet vermouth

Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  How’s that for a slice of fried gold?

corpse-reviver-1

This drink got its name from being touted as a “hair of the dog” hangover cure. I’m not sure how much I believe in that concept, as having too much of this drink seems more likely to give me a hangover than to take one away. I think I’ll still stick with my 8am Diet Coke, just like Shaun. Many a morning has been spent stumbling to the mini-mart in search of chemical caffeinated goodness, though honestly, the only zombie on-site at the time was probably me. This time, I’m stocking my fridge with Diet Coke in advance of Saturday morning, because you never know what you’ll run into out there. You might just see a guy with red on him, or even a dog looking up. Cheers!

Comedies

Mystic Pizza

Image Credit Samuel Goldwyn Company, 1988, Mystic Pizza
Image Credit Samuel Goldwyn Company, 1988, Mystic Pizza

 

Recently I was so excited to see that actress Annabeth Gish had joined the cast of TV’s Sons of Anarchy. Where has she been all these years? Aside from a small part in Beautiful Girls, I really hadn’t seen much of her since her star-making role in this week’s film Mystic Pizza (DVD/Download). That appearance got me excited to re-watch one of my favorite movies, which is an absolutely perfect pick for autumn. It makes me long for fall in New England, filled with crisp leaves, cold nights, and chunky sweaters.

Mystic Pizza follows three female friends on the cusp of adulthood as they navigate tricky romances and their future dreams while living in the small town of Mystic, Connecticut. Kat (played by Annabeth Gish) enters into a torrid affair with the married father of the little girl she babysits, Daisy (played by a very young, big-haired Julia Roberts) gets involved with a wealthy playboy, and Jo Jo (played by Lili Taylor) is debating whether or not to marry her long-time boyfriend. They work at a pizza parlor together, and I swear the pizza in this movie looks so good that I always crave it mid-way through. Just do yourself a favor and order one about half an hour before the movie starts. You’ll thank me later. What I love about this film is that these women manage to find themselves and figure out what they want out of love and life, without sacrificing their friendship. That’s the central key to why this movie works so well. Men may come and go, but the friendship among these women is forever.

As for my beverage choice this week, nothing says fall to me like apple cider. I do a little happy dance every time I see it appear in grocery stores next to the bushels of fresh apples. Over the years I’ve paired it with everything under the sun- spiced rum, whiskey, brandy, even an ill-fated night with Bailey’s Irish Cream (I do NOT recommend this if you value your stomach lining), but this week I’ve decided to go girly and make an apple cider sangria. While watching Mystic Pizza, I recommend drinking a Mystic Sparkler.

Mystic Sparkler

2 cups apple cider

½ cup cognac

750ml bottle of cava (or other dry sparkling wine), chilled

2 apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

Add the apples to a large pitcher 1/4 filled with ice, reserving ½ cup of the apples for garnishing. Add the cognac, apple cider, and chilled cava.   Stir. Add more ice if necessary. Serve in wine glasses and top with more apple slices.

apple-cider-sangria

I like to think these ladies would have mixed up a big pitcher of this and sat around dishing about their trysts in abandoned houses. Seriously, haven’t any of their boyfriends heard of electricity? The characters say at the end of the film that they wonder where they’ll all be in ten years, and frankly I wonder that too. Who’s divorced, who has kids, and who still lives in Mystic, CT? I’m just putting it out there to the cinema gods that there NEEDS to be a sequel to this movie. This can’t be the end of it for these ladies. How will we ever know what Leona puts in that pizza??  Cheers!