Oh, Mr Darcy

Bridget Jones’s Diary inspired my entry in Dispensing Happiness‘ blog party #15. The challenge was to create an appetizer and cocktail from our favourite book. You may recall from Bridget’s diary entries she starts the year off with Bloody Mary’s. They didn’t appeal, but I had to attempt the retro pineapple and cheese entree……

Hedgehog

The hedgehog was apparently big in the 60’s – you can use an orange or grapefruit cut in half, with cheese and pineapple cubes on cocktail sticks stuck in it! To make it look posh you could even cover the orange with foil (if only it was that easy to impress your guest these days!) To make it a little more modern, I’ve used Charles Sturt’s Bidgee Cheese with Native Mint which is a lovely match to the (dare I admit) tinned pineapple rings.

Mr Darcy

Mr Darcy is a cocktail I think Bridget would enjoy drinking! It is based on Pimms a popular summer drink in England, particularly around Wimbledon time. The most popular way to drink it is to mix a nip with lemonade.  Mr Darcy is made with two nips of Pimms and topped in a tall glass with ginger ale (since Mr Darcy is tall, dark and handsome!) Garnish with a strawberry to give a hint of Englishness about it, and you have to eat it last, because you know the drink (story) will end on a sweet note! And lastly, don’t forget Mr Darcy is a proper gentlemen and would always have a big umbrella on hand for the notorious English rain.

Try to drink in moderation. Hiccup.