Category: Meal Planning

Mid-July – the quintessential Dog Days of Summer. Time to simply savor the little jewels of summer with Blackberries in Liqueur.

Summer in the desert Southwest – here, summer is my new winter. Hunkering down inside whenever possible. Waiting out fast moving summer storms of pouring rain with the most spectacular lighting I have ever seen. Overall, a time spent inward.

I have long referred to this hot period of summer, where ever I resided, as the Dog Days of Summer. However, I did not know the Dog Days range from about July 3 to August 11 and were named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was extended from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun. Brilliant.

So perfectly beautiful are the berries of summer. This recipe is as easy as it gets for a grown-up treat. Marinating ripe summer fruits in liqueurs is a classic method (think peaches or cherries in brandy) and this recipe yields both a dessert or an apéritif, or both.

These blackberries have long been a go-to when baskets of ripe berries abound, lovely for an entertaining no-work dessert with ice cream or simple sponge cake. The berries can also work their magic as an apéritif, making a great base for a refreshing summer cocktail – either way, savor the jewels of summer.

Happy July from the Bijouxs kitchen.

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