One retro-tradition that I love to employ, particularly in the winter months, is the afternoon cocktail hour. There’s something comforting about coming home after a work-day and having this cozy little decompression period before dinner to unwind and relax. And just because I’m not drinking the hard stuff anymore doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the ritual. In fact, being creative about not incorporating alcohol can make things even more delicious.
Case in point: the shrimp cocktail – easily my favorite cocktail right now. When presented in a martini glass of ice and lettuce, it makes an appetizer as pretty to look at as it is satisfying to eat. Andy will often order one of these when we are dining out in Boston or on vacation, and so it comes with many happy connotations – an added element of joy for the cocktail hour break in the day.
{Bonus points if you can find an old episode of ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’ on the telly while enjoying the process. If not, just put on something in chiffon and call it a day.}
