The Orange Fashioned

Big turnaround in the second half today, not unlike Thursday. Everyone has been talking about the seniors stepping up in the second half. Today, the team started to hit their threes, and that opened up the lane, giving the guards room to drive, and either go to the hoop or dish. And they rebounded better in the second half; didn’t Christmas have a great game? But there is another factor that no one has yet talked about yet: the Orange Fashioned.

See, on Thursday, I was at Murphy’s Law with Matt and some of his buddies, and we were drinking beer all through the first half. During halftime, I realized that we needed a change. Someone had to do something different. So I asked the gal behind the bar to make an old fashioned, using only oranges. Actually, I asked her if she had orange bitters but no luck there. (In fact, I was lucky she could even make an old fashioned.) Anyway, that’s what Matt and I drank in the second half on Thursday, while Cuse rallied to pull away from NC Asheville.

Today, another lackluster first half, despite the 17-2 run. Fortunately, the defense kept K-State from scoring very much and we held onto that skinny one point lead. But this was now four games in a row with no offense, and little sign they could play deep into the tournament, even if they scratched out another win. So what to do? I made another Orange Fashioned. This one was one hundred percent orange, and look how well they played in the second half.

Here’s the recipe, because John thinks that the more of us there are drinking Orange Fashioneds, the better their chances: Muddle a slice or two of orange with sugar and water (or simple syrup), and some bitters. If you can get the Fee Brothers Orange Bitters, all the better. But if not, any bitters will do. Add a couple ounces of Crown Royal (or other rye whisky), ice, and stir. Don’t shake.

Most important, wait until half-time. Don’t break the cocktail out too early. And let’s see if they can keep advancing on Thursday. Go Orange.