Harry Potter’s Butterbeer
I was in college when I read the Harry Potter series for the first time.
The books had been coming out since I was in junior high, but by the time I had heard of them I was in high school and had long since gotten too old and too cool for stories about magic.
My three younger siblings, however, fell for the Boy Wizard hook, line, and sinker.
They would attend the midnight release parties at our tiny local bookstore, then stay up reading through the night until they had finished the newest release, repeating that cycle every year or so when each new book came out.
And each of them (my two younger sisters and my younger brother) had to have their own copy of each book since none of them were patient enough to wait and read one copy in turns–and risk the first reader ruining the surprises and plot twists!
Oh my goodness I used to make fun of them so much for their absolute Potter Mania. Nerds.
But they would respond that I couldn’t truly know what I was even making fun of them for and why they were so crazy about it because I hadn’t read the series. Touché.
So one summer when I came home from college I decided to read them, since there were three complete sets of the series just gathering dust (my younger siblings had long since read them all).
Suffice it to say, I can admit when I’m wrong.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the series, and I definitely understood why my siblings were so enthralled.
My oldest daughter received the Harry Potter books for this past Christmas, and had all seven books finished by the end of January. She would have been done much sooner, except that we started putting limits on how much she could read in a day, and how soon she could begin the next book.
After she was finished, I re-read the series as well, and it’s been so fun to discuss plot points and characters with her!
As soon as I saw this recipe in the June issue of Food Network Magazine, I knew that we needed to make it! We celebrated Harry Potter’s birthday on July 31 with a butterbeer toast and loved every sip.
It’s so easy to make, too! It’s just a simple syrup + club soda + butterscotch whipped cream and it is delicious.
It’s not too sweet, and not overly butterscotch-y. It’s pretty much how I would imagine butterbeer would taste! You know, if Harry Potter was really real… It’s so good!
Butterbeer, Food Network Magazine June 2019.
