I had the best intentions. I planned in advance and had the perfect cocktail for the Friday before the Super Bowl; you know that one where our Denver Broncos are making an appearance? Yeah, that one. I couldn’t decide on a name…should it be the Broncos Orange Crush Margarita or maybe something that has to do with a certain guy named Peyton. I was undecided but sure it would come to me; maybe in those nocturnal hours when my new cat seems most active and decides it’s the perfect time to get to know me better. Yawnnn.
Then the news this week that shocked the food blogging world. One of our own, one way too young, had suddenly passed away. We were greeted on Facebook with a message on her page from her daughter. Before saying anything I even asked another friend; I thought it must have been a hack. But no, our Elle (real name Lee Ann) from Elle’s New England Kitchen was gone; a pulmonary embolism. It was sudden and it was irrevocable and it is heartbreaking; she was only 45, gone too soon hardly says enough. She was a gem. The social media world is filled with accolades for Elle but my experience, my friendship with her, will it really boiled down to one thing. She was really, really real. She was not blogging for fame and fortune. Her family came first (although those Corgi’s and that new kitten sure vied for that position). She was definitely witty and sweet and kind as has been said many times over but I have to admit, it was her more bawdy side that I loved. Our DM exchanges on Twitter and our emails attested to some snark in there amongst those great attributes that I just loved. Not mean but she called out the crap like no one and I know we all loved that and it was a part of our bonding.
And I know she loved tequila. When I celebrated my first anniversary of Friday Cocktail in 2012, I had gathered a big assortment of prize giveaways for readers. One was a bottle of tequila and our Elle won it. And then the company, who shall go unmentioned but I’m sorely tempted, well, they reniged. Something about shipping rules, yada yada yada. But you PROMISED! Not to worry, Elle was fine with that, she understood but we had some serious chuckles over imagined tweets we both wanted to send. And beyond that…the hell with shipping rules, I sent her a damn bottle of tequila from my stash. A different brand. So there.
So though I still want to wish the boys in orange and blue a great day on Sunday and these oranges were originally meant for them, even more today I want to honor my friend who was quite ironically a Patriots fan. I hope she’s rooting for the AFC this weekend!
A supportive blogging buddy, a great gal, seriously crazy about her husband Billy and their children. Who am I going to chat with about our mutual love of Corgi’s? You have to know one to really get it; we had even discussed recently (albeit in jest I think) about how it was time to find a use for all of that hair; maybe Corgi mittens?
I didn’t get this cocktail made until this morning. Sometimes that will happen and I’ll be forced to take a sip or two and then pitch the rest. The Elle with that; I’m raising this glass to you Elle. Godspeed my friend, you will be sorely, sorely missed. Maybe we should have said all of these words before you were gone, but I’m hoping that you can feel and see and hear the outpouring of love and warmth that you inspired my dear. And I hope that brings some comfort to your family too today and in the tough days ahead. A life well lived Elle, that is all we can ask for and you did just that.
Many have asked how they could help; a donation site from Self Healing Journal has been setup on PayPal with all funds going to Elle’s husband Billy and their children. No one can prepare for this type of loss and our help will surely lessen some of the burden of the days ahead. There is also a group that is planning a food blogging event in Elles name, called appropriately Elleapalooza. She was the Palooza queen I’ll tell ya! Check out the Facebook site ‘Friends of Elle‘ for more information and join us next weekend when we’ll honor her as a group. I like the idea of throwing her a big party but for today, I just want to raise this glass to you Elle. You are so real. You are so loved. You are so missed. You will so not be forgotten my friend! XOXO
Serves One cocktail
5 minPrep Time
5 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp grated orange zest
- 1/4 cup Cara Cara or Blood Orange juice
- 1 & 1/2 oz Tequila
- 2 oz fresh squeezed Cara Cara or Blood Orange juice
- One lime wedge
- 3 oz chilled ginger beer (use ginger ale if you can not locate ginger beer)
Instructions
- Mix together sugar, salt and orange zest; put onto a plate.
- Put the orange juice in a shallow bowl; Dip the rim of a glass in the orange juice; shake off excess and then dip it into the rimming mixture.
- Combine tequila, orange juice and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well, Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with chilled ginger beer.
- Garnish with orange slices (optional).
I was provided with a bottle of Baron Tequila which I opened just to make this cocktail; I wanted something worthy and it was just that. Of course all commentary is my own!
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