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The simple addition of amaretto to classic mimosas makes the world a better place. Here's why I know this to be true.
I started craving Sarah Manning right around 1pm on a Tuesday.
Does that ever happen to you? Suddenly craving a person. Like, outta the blue you just need them. And miss them. And realize it's time to brunch with them?
Well, it happened to me at 1pm on a Tuesday. So I sent a text and 20 minutes later, brunch was arranged for the following Sunday.
Sarah Manning is the oldest friend I own. Not by age, of course. But by years spent together.
In second grade, we put on a travelling Annie roadshow. Dressed like orphans, we visited local retirement homes and danced for the residents. We were certain fame was just around the corner.
In third grade, we hustled to build our own preschool one summer. I got grounded for bouncing my sister Natalie too high on the trampoline. But we had everything ready. Worksheets all Xeroxed and a whole class of kids who'd been signed up by parents for something like $2 a day. I see now, what a deal those parents were about to get. I see also, my mom as preschool host house was not getting a good deal. Maybe that's why she got so mad about the whole bouncing-sister affair.
I moved away for junior high. But ended back in the same town for high school. Of course, Sarah Manning was there to welcome me. We got in a huge cat fight over a boy. Or an entrepreneurial opportunity. Or some such doldrum, and spent nearly a year pretending we totally didn't see each other when passed in the halls.
For senior year, Sarah Manning was running for HOSA Club president. And by a hilarious story that I've told far too many times, so won't relate here, we wound up patching up our differences in the back seat of the HOSA conference, just in time for me to introduce her speech. Just in time to become the oldest friend of the newest HOSA president. We spent the rest of the night celebrating by making out with boys on the dance floor. I remember coming up for air after kissing boy Tyson for a full 2 minutes (all while revolving slowly in circles to some kind of sappy love song) and Sarah caught my attention, tossed me a thumbs up and victorious smile behind her boys back. We weren't celebrating the success. The two of us were always far more about the boys.
But on Sunday at Brunch, two mama's (and her now a stepmama with a total of 7 children), I think we're finally coming to celebrate our ability to be successful. In spite of how we feel about the boys. Sarah is now a high flying pharmaceutical manager lady. And I'm over here, doing the adult equivalent of starting a preschool. Only this time, it's food photography. And my mom doesn't have to host all those naughty neighborhood toddlers.
While at her house for brunch last week, Sare pulled orange juice and this divine almond champagne out of the fridge, "it's my favorite" she said. Pouring two big glasses with a little bit of orange juice and a lot a bit of bubbly.
It was divine. The kiss of almond around the edges left me wanting more. So I came home and straightway started playing with an amaretto mimosa. Orange juice and chardonnay champage made a perfect pair. Orange-pineapple juice was a teensy ounce more awesome. So pick your poison and mimosa as you will.
Just be sure to share these babies with a friend. Because mimosas are nice. But memories made are even nicer.
- 8 oz amaretto liqueur
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 bottle champagne
- sprinkles (optional)
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY GEEK-OUT MOMENT
These images were shot with a Canon 5D Mk III paired with a Canon 24-70 f/2.8 . Shutterspeed was set to 125 so I could hand hold my camera, and still end up with a crisp-sharp shot. F/3.5-5.0 allowed most of the photo to be evenly clear. If the light is good, I'll always shoot f/5.0 on my overhead shots.
See my setup and discover even more tricks with my 90-Minute Food Photography Crash Course.
The backdrop was created using the Bea Lubas technique, which you can learn over at TwoLovesStudio. Once I tried this technique, I painted over 5 of my old backdrops, because I loved it so much.
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Download a FREE Hi-Res Version from this shoot via Unsplash.
