After months of not being able to post new recipes because of two complicated hand surgeries, I’m celebrating my ongoing recovery with the Meyer Lemon Dark & Stormy cocktail.
It feels terrific to slowly regain strength and dexterity in both my hands. Goodbye to unwieldy casts, awkward splints and one-handed driving. Being back in the kitchen with two hands, however weak and stiff, feels almost intoxicating. Gardening is still a challenge, but I will get there and hope to plant our summer herbs and vegetables in a couple weeks.
Dealing with soreness instead of acute and relentless pain from arthritis in both my thumbs is such a difference. I am so grateful, both to my brilliant and supportive surgeon and to my talented OT who supervises my ongoing rehab.
I started my journey towards recovery early last November and here we are now, well into Spring. It has been a bumper crop season for Meyer lemons in our neighborhood this season, and we are picking a handful almost daily. Our lemons are such a boost to a low salt diet, adding a spark of flavor to so many dishes and drinks.
The classic dark & stormy cocktail adds a slice of lime to a mixture of dark rum and ginger beer. I substituted a squirt of Meyer lemon juice, as well as a slice for a garnish.
Cheers and a belated happy Spring!
LtC TIP: I like Reed’s ginger beer, available at Trader Joe’s.
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- 1 teaspoon Meyer lemon juice
- Meyer lemon slice (optional garnish)
- Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice.
- Add the rum, ginger beer and Meyer lemon juice.
- Shake for 30 seconds and pour over ice.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
What a great name for a cocktail! So pleased your recovery is going well. Happy Spring Liz!
Thanks, Jayne, I thought of you yesterday on the Queen’s birthday – she looked wonderful. She and my mother were the same age and I only wish she had lived to see this.
So good to hear you are recovering nicely and I can relate to the relief, I have CTS in both hands and had surgery on the right hand, it’s such a relief. Your dark and stormy sounds delicious. Love meyers and lucky you having a tree.
I know that CTS can be so painful – my arthritis was awful and motivated me to have both surgeries. Recovery can take a year.
Hi Liz, hope you get recovered soon. This cocktail looks delicious! 🙂
Thanks for your good wishes – recovery is slow but steady.
I like to squirt a little lemon juice in my drinking water. We are so lucky to have our Meyer lemon trees.
I am glad you are feeling better and wish you a speedy recovery. Prost, your cocktail looks good.
Yes, we are so lucky to have our incredible Meyer lemon trees – I appreciate them all year long.
Thrilled to hear the good news. D and S is a fav of mine and Meyer certainly belongs in the mix. GREG
Thanks for the tips, Greg, when we were starting to grow our second Meyer – tree is small but flourishing now.
Glad things are progressing, Liz. I know the feeling. Keep the faith!
So glad you are at home, backyard flood or no – xo
I’m so glad to see this pop up in my feed today Liz. Welcome back and glad you are recovering!
Slow but surely – strength very slow in returning and lots I’m postponing to do, both in the kitchen and garden.
Perfect drink for the coming summer! 😉
Hope you try a batch – enjoy!
I don’t know you Liz, but I am sure you are better now! Didn’t have any limes in the house, but lemons work just as well. Brought my Bermudian Rum back from a week holiday there , arriving home yesterday…the magic still continues