girlfriends

Friendships are amazing and wonderful things. Especially those which have lasted the test of time and/or distance. My longest-standing childhood friendships are with Jayne Meadows McKay and Sheri Wigodsky Thal, both of whom were neighbors and school friends. Jayne lived across the street and is the second of six kids and Sheri is the second of three girls and lived five houses down from me. After grade school, our friendships changed as we all moved on, but even so, when I see either of them, it’s like we were never apart… we just pick up where we left off. That truly is a beautiful thing!

Jayne in my childhood backyard before the first day of school in 1972

Sheri in front of my childhood home in the summer of ’75

Then there is Laura Galloway Heffron. Laura and I met during the first month of my freshman year at Saguaro High School.  We quickly learned that our birthdays are only a day apart and that we shared many of the same interests..so that was that, BFF’s for life! Laura’s parents and two sisters were truly my second family during those formative years and have always been such a true blessing in my life. Laura was my maid of honor and is Marissa’s godmother. Her sister, Mary Galloway Freeman, was one of my bridesmaids too. Shawna Galloway Reynolds is daughter number three and now all three girls, along with their own wonderful families, live only blocks from each other, along with their mother, Coleen, who is just down the street. I love and admire those four strong and beautiful women more than I can say.

Laura’s wedding in December 1986; clockwise from the beautiful bride- sisters Mary and Shawna, me, and Laura’s friend, Bernadine

Mary emailed the other day asking for my Grapefruit-Cranberry Martini recipe. I had mentioned that I had made those while celebrating the birthday of one of my other closest friends, Peggy. In that February 23rd post, I gave the recipe for Mini Chorizo-Chipotle Chicken Empanadas, but not for the martinis we were drinking. As Peggy and Anne know, there wasn’t exactly a recipe. The grapefruit cranberry martini… was “built” out of necessity.  

People are used to having a special drink when they come to my home and I didn’t have anything prepared after a crazy busy day and was planning to just serve wine… turns out – that wouldn’t do! So I looked in the fridge and all I had was cranberry juice, and the birthday girl wanted a martini… oh yeah, I have all those citrus trees… and so this drink was born. We drank them all night until the cranberry juice ran out.

So here it is – I raise my glass to all the women in my life who have touched my heart and soul … a toast … to girlfriends and friendship! xoxo

Ruby Red Cosmo

1/2 cup or 2 parts Absolut Citron
1/2 cup or 2 parts cranberry juice
1/2 cup or 2 parts fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice
Citrus slices

Fill a martini shaker half full with ice, add vodka and juices, shake well and strain into chilled glasses.

Garnish with citrus slices of your choice.

Makes 2 to 3 martinis, depending on the size of your glasses