Boozy Blue Raspberry Lemonade & a Food n' Flix Invite

Happy March!

This month, I have the pleasure of hosting our Food n’ Flix movie and this is your invitation to join in the fun!

This month’s pick is PS I Love You. 

To join in the fun, do the following:

1. Watch PS I Love You 

2. Get inspired by food from the movie (there isn’t much - sorry!  Feel free to get inspired by New York or Ireland!)

3. Make some tasty food and post the recipe to your blog or Instagram (tag @foodnflix).  Be sure to link back to Food n’ Flix and this post.

4. Then email amyscookingadventures(@)gmail(.)com and heather(@)foodnflixclub(.)com.  Please include:

1. “Food n’ Flix Submission” as the subject

2. Blog Name

3. Recipe Title

4. Recipe Photo

So here’s a bit more of my decision making process this month…

I was trying to think of a good movie to choose, and when I couldn’t think of one, I took a shot in the dark.  I decided to look for movies that take place in Ireland since this month it’s St. Patrick’s Day!

As I researched, I came across PS I Love You, which the internet said took place in Ireland (spoiler alert, only a small part is in Ireland) plus it was inspired by a book (which does take place in Ireland).  I always love a good book-movie comparison, so I chose the movie without reading any synopses at all!

Imagine my shock when I realized that the premise (below taken from Rotten Tomatoes):

“When Gerry (Gerard Butler), the husband of Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank), dies from an illness, she loses the love of her life. Knowing how hard Holly will take his death, Gerry plans ahead. Beginning on her 30th birthday, she receives the first in a series of letters written by him, designed to ease her grief and encourage her to move forward to a new life.”

Woah - all the feels!

Of course, I didn’t know this until I picked up the book and started reading.  Here is my GoodReads review of the book if you’re interested (it shouldn’t spoil the movie too much, but keep scrolling if you’re worried).

PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As I was reading this book, I found it enjoyable enough. It kept m interest and I was invested with Holly's story.

Then I finished and I didn't know how to review such a melancholy story. So I decided to think on it for a few days. And the longer I thought about it the less I liked it. Having been through grief and loss myself, I was frustrated by how people treated Holly, but I could relate to that part - people don't know how to act, some disappear, some tip toe around...worried that they'll somehow remind the grieving that they've lost someone (like we've managed to forget...ugh), and others act like nothing's changed (this can be good and bad, some people are understanding while others are callous, in the story, they were just callous).

I was also frustrated with Holy, but maybe because my situation was so different. I found healing by getting on with everyday like and still living. Holly allowed herself to stagnate, sitting at home until she ran out of money.

Most of the side characters were just baffling. Many had a completely different personality by the end of the book and it would simply be chalked up to growth and character development - it was just too much.

Overall, the book was simply okay.

View all my reviews

And because I’m me, I got inspired by the club scene that appears in the book (not movie) where a beachy blue drink (Summer in February) is described (as gimmicky and terrible tasting).  I took inspiration, then made my own version (only it tastes delicious!)

Oh, and as an added touch, the shells featured in the background are from my honeymoon!

Boozy Blue Raspberry Lemonade

Ice

1 ounce Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher Vodka (recipe follows)

8 ounces homemade lemonade

Mix ingredients together.  Pour into a cup.  Imagine you’re on the beach.  Enjoy.

Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher Vodka

6 blue raspberry Jolly Ranchers

8 ounces vodka

Place the vodka in a jar.  Add the jolly ranchers.  Cover and allow to set overnight.  

Once the Jolly Ranchers have dissolved, stir the mixture and use in cocktails.