Shirley Temple died yesterday. I was watching the morning news with my daughter when we learned of Ms. Temple Black's passing. I loved her movies as a child. What little girl doesn't love to watch other little girls singing and dancing on TV? I adored Heidi and The Little Princess and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. My daughter's generation doesn't know about Shirley Temple or any of the movies of that era. I doubt she's ever seen anything in black and white. "Should I know who she is?" She asked me when she heard an audible sigh from me. "No, I suppose not," I thought. And we sat and watched a few clips.

It wasn't until several hours later that it dawned on me that of course she knew who Shirley Temple was! My boys knew too. Well, maybe not who she was, but what she was! I'm sure there's not a child in America, of my generation or even of this current generation who hasn't ever had a Shirley Temple! I adored them as a child and my youngest, 8, adores them still. He orders them often when we go out, with extra cherries, of course!

The Valentine-colored non-alcoholic concoction which is a mixture of grenadine, ginger ale and maraschino cherries — looks very much like a grown up cocktail. The story goes that she was out with her parents one night at a restaurant. They were sipping sophisticated cocktails, Old Fashioneds perhaps, and she was wanting something like they were drinking and so the waitstaff created a version just for her that resembled the more grown up version. There's a bit of a controversy surrounding the popular mocktail. Ms. Temple Black told NPR that she had nothing whatsoever to do with the origins of the drink. She claims the drink originated in 1930s by the Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood but others seem to remember things differently. According to USA Today a bartender at Chasen’s restaurant in Beverly Hills created the cocktail in the late 30′s during the pinnacle of her fame. Wherever and whatever the origins of this fruity, alcohol-free concoction, her name will live on and continue to bring smiles to children for generations to come.

via Style me Pretty

How to make a Shirley Temple:
6 oz of ginger ale
1 dash of Grenadine, Roses (can be purchased in most grocery stores)
1 Maraschino cherry (or more to taste!)
Pour the ginger ale and grenadine into a glass, stir well, add ice and cherry.

via Food 52

Food52 has a grown-up version that is much less sweet and much more sophisticated.
It's called the Shirley Temple Black which they describe as "an adult soda or aperitif that is perfect for sipping during the holidays as a counterpoint to rich and heavy food. Truly it could be served any time of year if a very light cocktail is desired. It's sweet but not saccharine, and has a bitter edge that makes it nicely refreshing. It reminds me of a Shirley Temple, but all grown-up! Aperol makes it less boozy than Campari (about 1% vs. 2% alcohol by volume in the final cocktail); either works well. For a non-alcoholic version, freshly pressed pink grapefruit juice would be a perfect substitute."

Shirley Temple Black:
Serves 2

1 3/4cup soda water
3tablespoons Aperol or Campari
2tablespoons Simplest Homemade Grenadine
1tablespoon freshly pressed lime juice
2 to 4drops orange bitters (optional)
Ice cubes
Lime wheels (optional)

Combine soda water, Aperol or Campari, grenadine, and lime juice in a 2-cup glass measure. Stir gently to mix. Taste and add orange bitters or an extra splash of soda water if desired. Divide between 2 glasses, each with a few cubes of ice. Serve each with a lime wheel for garnish if you're feeling fancy.

Cheers - from the Good ship Lollipop!

Jessica

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