Read a Book, Sip a Cocktail No. 17

Photo from Goodreads.com

Something Blue is a continuation of Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed in which we are introduced to best friends Rachel and Darcy.  Rachel is intelligent, maybe kind of mousy, and not obviously pretty. She's also a huge pushover when it comes to Darcy. Darcy is tall and leggy, very obviously beautiful, and usually the life of the party. The two form an unlikely friendship, but it is a real friendship nonetheless. Both know each other in ways that might baffle others, but to them, it makes sense.  When Rachel meets Dex in law school, they definitely connect, but nothing physical or romantic takes place, even though Rachel is definitely into him. But she is too shy or demure, and probably thinks that he is out of her league. Before she knows it Darcy and Dex are a couple and then they are engaged.  You can sort of figure out where the story is headed based on the title, and there is lots and lots of drama over Rachel's "borrowing" of Dex from Darcy.  Needless to say by the end of Something Borrowed, Darcy and Rachel are no longer besties and in Something Blue we pick up after the bitter end of their friendship. 

So now Darcy is pregnant (not by Dex) and in London. She flies there to be with childhood friend Ethan, but Darcy and Ethan were never close. Ethan was much closer to Rachel, and Darcy resents this as well at first. You see, Darcy always thought of herself as more deserving of all the good things in life, so of course, when Rachel ends up with her fiancé and Darcy ends up pregnant and abandoned, it's a long way down from where Darcy once stood.  But now she is determined to re-create her charmed life even if it is in Ethan's tiny flat with a quickly growing belly.  I won't reveal what happens to these characters, and hopefully they make this book into a movie like they did with Something Borrowed, but I will say that the cocktail pairing was basically inspired by the whole wedding idea, including the titles of the books, which harken to the traditional "Something old, something new...." rhyme. 

This cocktail is traditionally called a "Wedding Cake Cocktail" (not to be confused with a chocolate cake shot, which is completely different but mighty tasty nonetheless).  There is a version that includes rum or gin, amaretto, pineapple juice, and cream (and I've seen it also with orange juice added as well).  I did the version with amaretto, white crème de cacao, pineapple juice and milk.  The drink is blended with ice and then topped with bits of chocolate or almond pieces (I used walnuts).  It's basically a daquiri, and very refreshing, sweet, but not too sweet, and I think it's probably the kind of drink that sneaks up on you, perhaps just as sneaky as good 'ole Darcy.

Something Old, Something New Wedding Cake
2 oz. Amaretto
1 oz. White crème de cacao
3 oz. Pineapple juice
3 oz. Milk
Ice
Chocolate bits, almond or walnut pieces for garnish

How to: Blend all of the ingredients in a blender with ice. Serve in a hurricane glass and top with your garnish of choice.

Blending everything together. I used 6 to 8 ice cubes.

The walnuts gave the drink a nice crunch.

Cheers to Rachel and Dex!