Remember the good old days when a Shirley Temple was the ‘treat’ drink of choice at family gatherings and parties? Originating from the 1930s, this drink was named after the child actress Shirley Temple, with its vibrant color and sweet taste making it a favorite among children and adults alike. This nonalcoholic mixed drink is a refreshing blend of grenadine, ginger ale, and a garnish of maraschino cherry and orange slice. It’s simple to make, but its sweet, tangy taste makes it a standout. I love this drink because it’s a nostalgic nod to simpler times, reminding me of family gatherings and celebrations. Despite its simplicity, the Shirley Temple is a classic that never goes out of style. Whether you’re hosting a party or just want a refreshing drink on a hot day, this recipe is a must-try!
Ingredients
- 1 dash grenadine
- 6 oz. ginger ale, or to fill
- maraschino cherry
- orange slice
Mixing Method
- Fill a Collins or highball glass with ice.
- Add grenadine and fill with ginger ale.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and an orange slice.
- Makes 1 serving.
- Preparation time:
- 2 minutes.
Calorie: 120
Total cooking time: 2 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
The Unintended Mixologist
So there I was, a self-proclaimed culinary master, standing in my kitchen, faced with a new challenge. Not a towering, multi-layered cake on ‘The Great British Bake Off’, not a soufflé so delicate it might crumble at a loud sneeze, but a Shirley Temple. A non-alcoholic beverage, folks! Scary, right?
The Round One: Gathering the Troops
The first step in this daunting journey was to assemble the ingredients. Now, a Shirley Temple isn’t a fancy cocktail. It’s not one of those drinks where you need to extract the essence of a unicorn or ferment a rare tropical fruit. It’s simple. All I needed was 1 dash grenadine, 6 oz. of ginger ale (or to fill your glass), a maraschino cherry, and an orange slice.
The Ice Age: Dialing it Down
I had to fill up a Collins glass with ice. Now, if there was an Olympic sport for filling up glasses with ice, I’d be a world champion. But in this case, I had to be careful. Too much ice, and the drink would be watered down. Too little, and it would be as warm as a summer day in Arizona.
The Red Scare: A Dash of Danger
Then came the tricky part. The grenadine. A dash, the recipe said. Not a splash, not a dollop, but a dash. How much is a dash, you ask? I’ll tell you when I figure it out. So, I grabbed the bottle of grenadine, gave it a stern look, and said, “It’s you and me, buddy. Let’s not make this harder than it has to be.”
The Ginger Ale Gale: Pour, Don’t Drown
After the grenadine, I had to fill the glass with ginger ale. Now, as a rule, I do not trust things that are both a type of bread and a type of soda. But rules are meant to be broken, especially when it comes to making a Shirley Temple.
The Fruit Fiesta: Cherry on Top and Orange Galore
The final step was the garnish. A maraschino cherry and an orange slice. I felt like a fancy bartender in a high-end cocktail bar, delicately placing the cherry and orange slice on top of the drink. The cherry, looking like a tiny red clown nose, and the orange slice, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
The Final Countdown: Stir and Sip
And there you have it. One serving of a Shirley Temple, ready in just 2 minutes. I gave it a stir, took a sip, and sat back, basking in the glory of my creation. Sure, it was just a simple non-alcoholic beverage, but for a couple of minutes, I was Tom Cruise in ‘Cocktail’.
The Aftermath: Sweet Victory
So, the next time you’re craving a sweet, fizzy, cherry and orange-infused delight, remember the tale of my battle with the Shirley Temple. Remember the ice, the grenadine, the ginger ale, and the fruit garnish. And remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re a gourmet chef or a reluctant cook. Anyone can be an unintentional mixologist, even me.
