Moorish Idol
Okay, so I admit it, I’m in Hawaii. I feel guilty admitting this to all of you who are wearing six layers of clothing in sub-zero situations, but there it is. Yesterday I was in a bathing suit, floating in turquoise water, observing a moorish idol, while you guys were shoveling your sidewalks.
Perhaps some of you are now asking yourselves, as you scrape the ice from your windshield, what the hell is a Moorish idol? Well, I will tell you, while you defrost your nose.
A moorish idol is a lovely little fish, named by the Moors of Africa who considered it a sign of incoming happiness. They are all over the place here (the fish, not the Moors), which may explain why the Hawaiians I’ve met seem so happy all the time. (Or maybe it’s because they are not wearing six layers of clothing and shoveling sidewalks.)
You can try to harvest a m.i. and put it in your aquarium so you have a little in-house happiness booster but I’m told the fish are notorious for dropping dead when they get aquariumed, and this could have an inverse effect on your mood, which is probably already pretty wretched due to the fact that your hands are frostbitten and your cat is frozen stiff on the porch.
So, I’m posting here a picture of a moorish idol, in an attempt to electronically send you a little happiness in the new year. Sit back, take off four layers, light a fire since the power is out, and celebrate 2009. If you don’t get a happiness rush from this picture, you might want to go the martini route.
I believe I shall invent a martini tomorrow night. And I shall name it “The Moorish Idol.”
An excellent idea, Scot. Please share the recipe when you figure it out!
Don’t feel guilty about being in HAwaii! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go shovel the newly fallen Michigan snow that was left for me this morning.
Okay, here’s the Moorish Idol report. Everyone at our party agreed that the drink *really* should have been a layered martini involving Kahlua, cream (or Bailey’s or something), and … something yellow. But the thought of tasting several attempts at creamy drinks turned my stomach, we couldn’t think of something yellow, and we didn’t have those ingredients to work with anyway.
Early attempts were quite dismal, I must say. One involved gin, blueberry juice, St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Don’t try that. Nasty. I kept trying though. After several attempts, I came up with something that everyone quite liked.
Unfortunately, it was after several attempts that I *actually drank*, so I really can’t tell you what the magic proportions were. (It’s amazing I can even remember that there was a successful one. Each one just tasted better and better…) But it went something like this:
2 parts Stoli Orange Vodka
1 part St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
splash of cranberry juice
(add simple syrup if using unsweetened cranberry juice)
Shake and strain. Garnish with Swedish Fish®.
It has little to do with the actual Moorish Idol, obviously, but it made me happy to say that “Jessica Harper wants me to share a drink recipe”, so it worked! Happy New Year!
I admit even here in the central valley of california, its cold! dreary, grey
and somber, we have been in the late 40’s as a high, kinda cold for us and no sun. far piece removed from weather where you frolicked in the warm water with Moorish idol’s and sunshine over your head!! blah! depressing. no martini, maybe a prozac will do? back to the grey skies for me I guess.
You know those DVD’s they have of a constant fireplace just a ‘blazin away? (They usually sell quite well around Christmas time), WELL! I think there should be an aquarium DVD that displays the same sort of effect. (think underwater screensavers). Is this not a fabulous idea? Or has someone beat me to it? Lol. Now, I would certainly enjoy sitting back… “watching TV” with a delicious martini. And with any luck, at least ONE of my three cats will keep my lap company and watch the ocean in the box with me. 🙂
It’s freezing here….. no snow, just ice and cold wind 🙁 I yearn to build a snowman….
I love the UK… lol