Monday, August 31, 2009

Monday Munchies: Bailey’s Irish Cream

Today is one of those days. You know the ones I mean. Where the harder you work, the longer the to-do list grows. At the moment, I’m juggling several tasks at once, not the least of which is helping a colleague prepare a book proposal for an overseas publisher.

That said, I have precious little time for my precious little blog – which really bums me out. As it’s Monday, I’d normally be offering lengthy descriptions of my favorite foods or my favorite restaurants or my most successful recipes, but, alas, it’s not meant to be. I’m just too harried to eat today – but not, incidentally, too harried to drink. Man, do I need a drink. But, no, I must refrain... for the moment that gulp of merlot, or swig of Blue Moon beer, or sip of something harder touches my lips, I’d be a gone pecan. I’d be in bed (or on the floor), napping, instead of striving to shorten the aforementioned list.

Still, this line of thought got me thinking (which is dangerous in my condition)... If I could have any drink in the world right now, what would it be? A mojito? A margarita? A piña colada? Though all of the above are wonderful choices – which I’ve either prepared at home or ordered in any number of restaurants and bars, from Los Angeles to the Florida Keys – what I’m really hankering for is a nice glass of caramel-colored Bailey’s Irish Cream over ice. Mmm... that’s the ticket to paradise.

As with many of my beloved vittles and beverages, I have many wonderful memories involving my dear Bailey’s. There was the time Mom bought me Bailey’s-flavored ice cream, courtesy of Häagen-Dazs. Then, there was the time I ordered a glass of Bailey’s in an actual pub in southern England (forget the fact that the bartender was surely thinking, “There goes another damn American! Ordering Bailey’s when a pint of Boddingtons is the proper choice 'round here!”). Then, there was the time that my beloved Danny bought me a bottle of yummy Bailey’s for my thirtieth birthday. And there have been numerous occasions when I’ve sipped a Bailey’s coffee drink while listening to live country, rock, folk, blues, or Irish music at one of my all-time favorite spots: The Kerry Irish Pub on Decatur Street in New Orleans.

Forgive me for offending the non-drinkers out there, but I love Bailey’s so much that every time I see that color – that creamy light brown – along the exterior of a house, on a pair of pants, or in a muddy puddle of water – my eyes get a little misty, and I begin to recall that sweet, smooth taste. Much as others have come to spot sickly Pepto-Bismol Pink or radioactive Mountain Dew Green from a mile away, I am now a hue-seeking missile for soothing Bailey’s Beige, and at the risk of sounding like a lush (which I’m not – honest), I’d give almost anything for a sip right now. Good thing there’s none in the refrigerator – the temptation would be too humongous indeed.

So, what about y’all? What beverage – alcoholic or otherwise – gets your heart racing?

P.S. I just realized that while I intended to write a short ode to Bailey’s for today’s post, it ended up being longer than intended. That’ll teach me for letting my taste buds wander...

26 comments:

Deb said...

Ah Bailey's--excellent choice mum--I regret to inform you that we are plum out today, but if I may, I highly recommend a shot of Amarula...

I do hope you find some time to sip back and relax today!

Stephanie Damore said...

I am now a hue-seeking missile for soothing Bailey’s Beige

I love the way that sounds. Just say it aloud. Ahh, delightful.

I too have a daunting to-do list, what with the new semester of teaching starting tomorrow and grad studies just around the corner. Ugh. I get stressed just thinking about it! I'm all for a cocktail to take my mind away. But what's my favorite you ask?

Oh, this is a toughie...

Well, if it's memory erasing I'm looking for, then I'd have to go with a Bombay Sapphire martini - served up and dirty with a side of cashews (because who doesn't love nuts when they're going a little nutty?).

Laura Martone said...

Hi, D.L. - glad you approve of my choice. :-) If only there were time to sip a little something-something, but, as previously stated, it had better be a right-before-bed nightcap. If I sipped some now, there'd be no more energy for work! Incidentally, what the heck is Amarula?

Laura Martone said...

Hi, Steph! Oh, my, you DO have quite a list. I'll shut up about mine now... Good luck with the teaching and the grad school and the writing and the everything else... sounds like you need a cocktail, too - and what a delightful choice. I've never had a Bombay Sapphire martini with a side of cashews before. Sounds like an exotic meal indeed. I'll have to add it to my ever-growing wish list of interesting concoctions.

Weronika Janczuk said...

LOL. I know that this will sound terrible, but at the few big events I've attended with my parents I've been allowed to sip champagne and white wine and I love both (this has happened maybe a total of four times...). Just a few more years until I can get it on my own. ;)

Non-alcoholic wise, I love a good glass of Minute Maid pink lemonade. :D

Laura Martone said...

It doesn't sound terrible at all. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with drinking alcohol in moderation. And I am a champagne and white wine connoisseur from way back. In fact, Dan and I recently toured the wineries of northern Michigan, and I tasted every champagne I could get my hands on. Ooh-la-la!

Don't worry, Weronika. Twenty-one will come soon enough - just don't go crazy when it does! Guess that was another good thing about growing up in New Orleans. Because alcohol has never really been taboo there, I was one of the few college kids that didn't go nutty for the booze when I went away to school.

Oh, yes, lemonade is always a winning choice! Though I happen to be a Country Time kinda gal.

Deb said...

'Amarula Cream is made from the exotic Marula fruit'...

Laura Martone said...

Aha! Thanks, D.L. I just looked up the "marula" fruit and discovered that it grows on a tree in Africa. So, hmmm... I wonder how difficult it would be to find some amarula in the remote woods of northern Michigan. Maybe I can make my own liqueur out of the maple trees that abound here. It's worth a try, right?

Deb said...

Well, they both start with M... although there are decidedly less elephants on our great continent...

Laura Martone said...

Two good points... but, hey, what we lack in elephants, we make up for in roaches. That's got to count for something!

Becky said...

Right now a good cup of coffee is calling me!! I started roasting my own beans several years ago, but still miss a good cup of Cafe Au Lait New Orleans style. Micro-brew is a favorite, and for a special treat, a good margarita! When we make our own, we like to put a jalepeno pepper in it :-).

Becky said...

Oh, we also make maple syrup too. Extremely small batches, more of a science experiment for the kids really, but I think it's about the coolest thing ever that you can make such a yummy treat from a tree! I'm really going to miss that next Spring....

Joshua McCune said...

Never could do beer, wine, or champagne...yuk! it's either shots or girlie drinks for me.

Laura Martone said...

Hi, Becky. Yes, coffee is a good choice for the morning... especially cafe au lait. But I'm a tea girl at heart. For later in the day, you're right... a good microbrew (like Abita!) or a homemade margarita or mojito... mmm-mmm. (By the way, that's cool about the maple syrup... I've never actually tried to make it up here, but I have a special callout about it in MOON MICHIGAN).

Laura Martone said...

And, Bane, my dear... what can I say? I'm floored that you'd take a girlie drink over beer or wine. For shame.

Stephanie Faris said...

Bailey's Irish Cream makes me think of one thing...

MUDSLIDES!!!!!!!!!!!

Joshua McCune said...

Ha Ha! -- I'd rather pull out my toenail with pliers than drink beer or wine.

Laura Martone said...

Mmm... I'm with you, Steph F. Mudslides are freakin' awesome!

As for you, Bane, I'd like to put that little theory to the test. Muhaha!

Joshua McCune said...

Ask my wife -- she'll tell you how many beers I've had and how many times I've performed mini-operations on my toes after basketball's mashed them up... admittedly, I didn't use pliers... I used knives to resect the nail and surrounding tissue... Fun stuff.

Laura Martone said...

Ick. Ick. Ick. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

(I think that might be the shortest comment I've ever written.)

Stephanie Damore said...

Bane likes girlie drinks, Bane likes girlie drinks.

Okay, I'm done. Honest.

After reading the comments, I'd like to say that they all sound good - not in the same night though! I must confess that I've never met a drink that I didn't like (that sounds bad, doesn't it?). Don't worry, I'm not a lush.

But what about the Chelada? Bud Light & Clamato? Has anyone tried it? Clam & tomato juice mixed with beer just sounds nasty.

Joshua McCune said...

I particularly like virgin girlie drinks :)

Laura Martone said...

I was thinking the same thing, Steph, so I'm glad you said it first... Bane likes girlie drinks, Bane likes girlie drinks! (Okay, I couldn't resist.)

I know what you mean, though. I think all the drinks sound good, too, but never could I drink them all in one night. And I have indeed met drinks I didn't like... including mint juleps. In their case, the fantasy of plantation ladies on wide porches definitely outweighed the reality of mint-flavored bourbon at Pat O'Brien's.

Never had a clamato... wonder if it's similar to a bloody Mary, which I do in fact love!

Laura Martone said...

Hahaha! I missed your comment, Bane - before posting my reply to Steph. If I'd have seen it first, I would've said...

Bane likes virgin girlie drinks, Bane likes virgin girlie drinks!

(Now, I really couldn't resist... you're just not the manly man I thought you were.)

Anita said...

There's a great little Mexican restaurant in Pueblo, CO called Nacho's. They make THE BEST lime margaritas on the rocks. Yum, yum, yum. I wish I had one. (or two)

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Anita. I've never been to Nacho's in Pueblo before. I'll have to check it out the next time I'm in Colorado (which I hope is soon!). I'm always on the lookout for a yummy margarita...