College is not a super classy place. We often don’t have the opportunity to hold a nice margarita glass and wear a cocktail dress. It’s all red Solo Cups, sticky floors, makeshift disco balls and neighbors vomiting onto the plants at 3 a.m.
Given that Cal Day cannot proceed as planned, I present these simple and classy boozy brunch recipes, dedicated to the class of 2020.
Invite some friends on a Zoom call and whip up some (or all) of these recipes together.
A frat mimosa (framosa)
Let’s go right to the goods. Here’s a drink that will teleport you to your favorite frat house on Cal Day.
Ingredients
1 part chilled orange juice
1 part chilled champagne, prosecco or vodka mixed with Coors Light (for the authentic experience)
Directions
In a champagne glass, combine the orange juice and alcohol. Give it a nice stir and enjoy!
A blue and gold margarita
For a classier alternative, try this colorful concoction.
Ingredients
2 shots tequila
1 shot Blue Curaçao
1 shot fresh lime juice
Lime wedge
Salt
Orange slice (for garnish)
Ice
Directions
Carefully run the flesh of the lime wedge against the rim of your margarita glass — if you don’t have a margarita glass, any glass cup will do!
Pour a small amount of salt onto a shallow plate, one with a larger diameter than that of your glass. Tip the glass over so that the rim touches the salt. As you would with a cookie cutter, twist the glass around until the rim is salted. Set the glass aside for later.
Pour the tequila, Blue Curaçao and lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Give it a couple shakes to combine the ingredients, and pour into the margarita glass. To garnish, top your drink with an orange slice.
A good, old-fashioned crepe
An easy, quick and satisfying brunch option.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1⁄2 cup milk (or your substitute of choice)
1⁄2 cup water
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup blueberries
Lots of whipped cream, Nutella or jam
Directions
In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, water and milk together. Gradually add the flour while stirring. Add the salt and butter, and whisk gratuitously.
Heat a frying pan with the oil over medium-high heat. Pour 1⁄4 cup of batter onto your pan, and tilt the pan to form a circle of batter. Flip the crepe over with a spatula and cook the other side. If you’d like to add any melty ingredients such as Nutella, pour a bit on your crepe now.
Transfer your crepe onto a plate and top with blueberries and your choice of whipped cream or jam.
A blue and gold salsa
As you watch videos of frat parties from the glory days of pre-COVID-19 youth, here’s a super simple treat to satisfy all of your snacking pleasures.
Ingredients
1 cup blueberries
1 cup diced mango
1 cup diced cucumber
1 jalapeno, diced
1⁄4 of a red onion, diced
1⁄2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime, juiced
1⁄2 of an orange, juiced
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
Tortilla chips (preferably both blue and gold chips)
Directions
Combine the fruit and vegetables in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together. Enjoy with some chips!
As far as Cal Days go, senior year’s was supposed to be the most exciting — a trawl of old memories with old friends at old haunts. I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness creeping up at these now-lost opportunities, but I’ll be Cal Day-ing anyway — on Zoom with some great friends.
Contact Shannon Hong at [email protected] .