When our beloved black Lab, Geena, turned 10 earlier this month, we celebrated at a sunset cocktail party. There were Aperol Spritzes for the two-legged guests and Frosty Paws ice cream cups for the dozen dogs who gave new meaning to the term "party-hearty." (Photo by Joyce Johnston.)
Aperol is an Italian apertif that's been popular in Italy, Austria and Germany for a hundred years and is now a hot cocktail in the U.S. too. (See what I wrote about it in 2011.) It's a tantalizing blend of flavors -- rhubarb, gentian flowers, bitter orange and cinchona (the source of quinine). Aperol looks like Campari (and is now owned by Campari) but has none of the bitterness of that other Italian aperitif.
The "Spritz" cocktail is made with a splash of Aperol, then half Prosecco and half sparkling water. It's delicious, refreshing and very low in alcohol. It's also very pretty. Make one for yourself and everyone else at the party will want one too.
Frosty Paws, from Purina, are a dog's equivalent of winning the lottery. It looks like the little paper cup of ice cream baby-boomers bought from the ice cream truck and ate with a tiny flat wooden spoon. (Folks who grew up with me in New England know this phenomenon as the "Hoodsie Cup.") I don't know what it tastes like because Geena doesn't share.
What I can tell you is, whip one of these out of the freezer and you will have a friend for forever. (Frosty Paws also come as bite-sized treats similar to the Dibs enjoyed by the two-legged set.)
If Geena could talk, she'd tell me birthdays aren't so bad. She'll gladly turn 70 years old any day, if there's a cup of ice cream in it for her.
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