Eveylyn's Guide to Gracious Coastal Georgia Living...
From Facebook this time last year:
For Lee, Bunny, Kathy and other devotees of gracious coastal Georgia living, I will try to put into words the thoughts and actions of my late, great Coastal Georgia born 'n bred mom. She considered herself quite the Island hostess from their home on Kings Way, St. Simons Island, in the years before I was born. She continued that tradition through a Hercules transfer to Mississippi, then Delaware (yankeeland - gasp!), then a return for her later years to the beloved Island, and finally back to her native Savannah.
Cocktails were an essential part of mid-century Island living . Still are, of course. No event, no matter what time, with whom or where, was complete without the requisite cocktails. You simply weren't a proper hostess. You ladies of coastal heritage need to continue this tradition and pass it on. Properly bred gentlemen take note as well.
To the best of my recollection here are some of Evelyn's rules for proper cocktail service and consumption:
After coffee and breakfast, any white liquor such as rum or vodka mixed with citrus juice is proper for morning service. Bloody Marys were fine for events where you really needed to get things going earlier than usual. If you were out of liquor, white wine or sparkling wine mixed with citrus juice du jour was perfectly fine. You just called that a Mimosa.
This action could be continued though the morning chat with friends, sparing cocktail service as required to maintain enough sense to drive the car to the Winn Dixie by late morning, to the Island Club for golf or a round of bridge in Sea Palms.
Lunchtime now. Again, light liquors served with soft drinks or juice.
White or soft red wines depending on what's being served for lunch. Beer deserves special mention here...
Beer is fine for lunch on a warm day. it must be served cold, preferably from an iced bucket at an alfresco luncheon. And that is the only way a lady should ever drink bottled beer - in the afternoon at a very informal outdoor or covered patio lunch.
Never, EVER from a can. Use a glass ladies. Cans are gauche.
It's probably time for a nap and it's perfectly acceptable to have one, and in the days before air conditioning it was best to get one in now before the children got home or your husband made it home from Hercules.
My mom didn't like mint juleps, by the way, but it seems like nodding off on a warm island afternoon with a mint julep within arms reach seems perfectly civilized. I might have to try that and see how it fits into the plan.
Dinner's on the stove now and Marvin is headed in the door.
This is called Highball time. Go for the good stuff now - full bore classic mid-century American cocktails. Mom preferred dad to make her Canadian Whiskey over ice, a little water and lime. Dad preferred Gin and Tonic. I think I remember hearing about Gimlets, too. But sadly, I don't really know what one is.
Wine wasn't the Big Thing that it is today. I'm sure in today's culture, opening an appropriate bottle of wine for dinner would be the perfect thing to do. Back then, we just carried what was left of our cocktails to the dinner table to enjoy with supper. Have another and you'll be amazed how nicely everything slides into the dishwasher after dinner.
Is the kid bothering you with the television and not doing homework? Give 'em a nice dish of vanilla ice cream with creme de menthe or other flavorful cordial liberally drizzled on top. Fresh whipped cream, rich and golden with dark rum or Canadian whiskey, is a perfect cake or pie topping to zap the sugar-frenzied youngsters off to their beds for the night.
Nightcaps are encouraged. If you still had a clear enough head, another cocktail while watching Mannix was perfectly appropriate. Call the neighbors over for one more, too. Toast the end of the long day with something syrupy sweet like a Kahlua, Tia Maria or other liqueur.
You'll need that Bloody Mary along with the morning coffee the first few times until you get used to it. Then, you'll have the knack of it and live life like a proper, gracious Island hostess of the Eisenhower to Reagan eras.
And for those who say such a life probably killed her, I say Evelyn would've had that final coronary or stroke MUCH sooner were it not for her gracious island-style living.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!