“Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” ― Roald Dahl

September 13,

It's Roald Dahl Day,

Happy Birthday Roald Dahl!

Roald Dahl, one of my favorite authors of all time, was born on September 13, 1916. Known as one of the greatest children's writers of all-time, Roald has penned such legendary titles as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Witches, Matilda, and several other wonderful titles. Roald also wrote children's poetry as well as several short story collections for adults. A little known fact is that he also wrote several film scripts including James Bond - You Only Live Twice ( didn't see that coming, did ya?!),  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In addition he did numerous episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and his 1943 book The Gremlins was the inspiration to both the 1963 Twilight Zone episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", and the 1984 Steven Spielberg film Gremlins.

Roald Dahl's life was anything but ordinary. As a fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force he was injured when his plane crashed, fracturing his skull, and temporarily blinding him. He would heal and continue flying in some of the deadliest battles in WWII, eventually reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant in 1942, and serving as an Intelligence Agent for the British Security Coordination. It was in 1942, while dispatched to Washington DC that Dahl would begin writing. His first piece was for the Saturday Evening Post, titled "Shot Down Over Libya." In 1953 he married actress Patricia Neal and  would have five children. After his daughter Olivia died in 1962 at age 7 from Measles, Dahl became a leading proponent of vaccinations, his 1982 book the BFG was dedicated to his little girl. After his wife had three anuerysms during pregnancy in 1965, Dahl took over her rehabilitation and care, she would learn to walk and talk again, and would eventually return to her acting career. Following his divorce from Neal. Dahl remarried Felicity Crosland. On November 23, 1990, Dahl died of a blood condition in Oxford; he was buried with his snooker cues, some very good burgundy, chocolates, HB pencils, and a  power saw. 

Here's to day dreams of floating off in a peach, to trying to figure out exactly where oompa loompas were from, to a childhood filled with endless dreams supplied by books, and to dreams I can now share with my son! Thank You and Happy Birthday!

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” 
- Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach Shot

"'Something is about to happen,' he told himself. 'Something peculiar is about to happen at any moment.' He hadn't the faintest idea what it might be, but he could feel it in his bones that something was going to happen soon."
-Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach

That my dear James is a Buzz...

Ingredients:

1 oz. Jameson's Irish Whiskey

.5 oz. Peach Schnapps

Splash of Cranberry

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice

Shake that drink for me, Shake that drink for me!

Strain into a shot glass

Enjoy, Can you feel it?

Blueberry Mojito

Do you know what this drink is?

By Mojito, It's a Mojito!

WRONG! It's the most amazing, fabulous, sensational Mojito in the whole world.  

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Caribbean Rum

2-3 Lime Slices

2 Springs of Mint

6-8 Blueberries

1 tsp. Sugar

2-3oz. Club Soda

Directions:

In a tall glass pour rum and sugar into glass

 squeeze limes and drop in glass

Place appr. 8 mint leaves and blueberries in glass

Muddle wit the muddler that by now you should have

(Slackers can use the back of a spoon)

Add ice and top with club soda

Garnish with a lime slice, mint sprig and/or blueberries on a cocktail skewer

Oh My!

It happens every time... they all become blueberries. Blueberry junkies that is, not actual blueberries in this case!

http://www.roalddahl.com/

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” 
- Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator