Silent Film Saturday-What Drink Did

I have great appreciation for the fruit of the grape and the grain, but since I love the 1920s I also have a fascination with prohibition, and besides it seems most people drank more during prohibition.  I particularly love stories about the NYC speak easy culture and the flappers.  Recently I watched the Ken Burn's documentary Prohibition on Netflix and I really enjoyed it.   Since I love silent movies I was very interested in the short propaganda film, What Drink Did, a clip of which was in the documentary, I was excited to find the whole film on you tube. Made in 1909 the film was wildly popular and was screened all over American, becoming a major tool in the Prohibitionist movement.   Here It is:

 In the spirit of the film and because everyone needs a break from cocktails now and again here are three delicious old fashioned non-alcoholic summer drinks.

Wattermellonade

1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup watermellon puree, from about 1/2 half of a small watermellon, strained to remove seeds
1/2 cup of simple syrup, cooled, or more to taste.  To make this simply heat 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar together in a sauce pan over medium heat and stir until the sugar disollves. 
3 cups cold water

Stir everything together in a large pitcher and chill completely.


Sasparilla and Strawberry Ice Cream Float

Sasparilla is a great old timey soda, similar to root beer, that was very popular in the 19th century, when it was considered to be a health aide.  It is pretty hard to find it now  but a few brands exist.   I used P&H Soda's Sasparilla Syrup. They make their syrups from natural ingredients in Brooklyn and you simply add Seltzer water.

1 1/2 ounces P&H Sasparilla Soda Syrup mixed with 8-10 ounces seltzer water (or simply substitute a Sasparilla Soda)
One scoop strawberry Ice cream

Serve in a tall chilled glass.  Enjoy! 

 Classic Root Beer Float

1 Bottle Virgil's or other high quality root beer
1 large scoop good vanilla ice cream 

 Put the ice cream in a tall  chilled glass and add the root beer.  Enjoy!

I'll be going on blogger break for about a month to enjoy my end of summer break from teaching, but I'm sure I'll be on instagram.   Enjoy the end of summer!