No Booze can still be FABULOUS? WHAT?

Summer may be winding down, but "Party Season" is just getting started.

The one thing I love about fall and winter is all the Holidays and Party Occasions on the way...this is truly the only thing I love about Winter...well that and a whole new FAB Boot selection on the way...

So with family , friends and questionable relatives about to descend on your home for a festive gathering, it is important to make all your guests feel special and FABULOUS...

Even the ones who DON'T DRINK...!!! I know, it's hard to believe, but yes, there are people out there who don't partake in an alcoholic beverage. I often wonder how they manage to survive, but they do...And it is imperative to make them feel as welcome and deevine as everyone else.

My tip for this, is to set up a chic Non-Alcoholic mini bar or station at your party. Make it entirely self serve, you only need to check on the ice once and a while.

You only need a few offerings, keeping it simple

is always best. Some carbonated

water, fun flavoured sodas and some juice is a

great choice.

Also offer a small fresh garnish place, some berries or citrus wedges for the guests to add to their bevy. It's a small touch but a fun one to make the libations more fun and festive.

This is a simple way to offer your guest who don't drink or are driving something a little bit more fabulous than coffee, tea or pop.

It also brings your Fabulous Host status way up !!! Look out Martha..

For this last long weekend of summer...A party is a MUST...We need to squeeze out every last drop of summer...

This weekend I am whipping up Water Melon Lemonade...One of my Favourite combinations...

For more Tips and ideas on how to be the host or hostest with the mostest, and more FABULOUS mocktail recipes. Be sure to check out the Deflate the Elephant Website and take the pledge on their Facebook Page. Drinking and Driving affects everyone, make sure your guests stay safe so there are many more fabulous party to come.

Cheers and I hope you had a Summer filled with FABULOUS'NESS....

No Booze can still be FABULOUS? WHAT?

OH CANADA!

Canada Day is by far my Fave summer holiday...To me it is the best way to kick of my favourite season...

With 4 kids, 2 teens and 2 toddlers, it is always a chore to try and decide what to do for Canada Day. Mama wants low maintenance and indoor plumbing. Dad would prefer to pee in a bush and eat grubs off a rock. Guess who wins?

Here are a few fun, easy and some have indoor plumbing, ideas on what to do with your friends or family for Canada Day...

CAMPING

Anyone who knows me knows I DO NOT CAMP...I GLAMP...no bugs, indoor plumbing and room service are preferred. Also with toddlers,1 still in diapers, I am sorry it is not fun...So this year I have given into my husbands desire to go camping and we will be pitching a tent...right in our own back yard . So mommy can sleep and pee inside ... It is FREE and fun and the kids

could care a less where we are so long as they get to sleep in a tent...WIN WIN!

PICNIC

I LOVE picnics, with wine...I love the whole idea of the fun foods you can wrap up. The pretty blanket you can sit and eat on, the cool picnic kits that you can find, so fun. See I'm an outdoors'ey girl. The best part is you can have them anywhere!! No reservations required and they are always kid friendly.

POOL PARTY

If you have a pool, you are so lucky! if you don't , makes friends with someone who does, even better, no maintenance! I have always loved a good pool party, the sun, the surf...well sort of, Kids splashing around, so fun! This can be a great way to spend a day with the family and friends, just be sure to be safe, both around the pool with kids and with the sun screen!!

FIREWORKS

There is something about fireworks that makes me feel like a 5 year old kid, I LOVE them. What I don't like is driving to a "place" to see them, paying for parking, peeing in port'a'potties, paying $7 for a bottle of water and then waiting 60 minutes at the end of the night to get out of the parking lot. Oh goodness what a mess... What I DO like is fun, neighbourhood firework parties, lawn chairs, coolers and indoor plumbing. I suggest to talk to some families in your neighbourhood and creating a Fab HOOD firework extravaganza at someones house or a local park. Just be sure to check into your cities by-laws to make sure you wont get busted...There is no fun in spending the night in the "Big House."

BACKYARD BBQ's

By far these are my favourite as I LOVE to entertain. I do believe that Canada Day is about hotdogs and potato salad, cold drinks, family and good friends. There is nothing more invited then having people over to your own home. If you are having one, I will be waiting for my invite!

Regardless of what kind of party you are up for on Canada Day, the main thing is to be a great host or help a friend be a great host. The best way to do this is to visit...

www.deflatetheelephant.com , where you will find FABULOUS Mocktail recipes, tips and ideas on how to help make sure non of your guest drink and drive.

Be sure to also visit their FaceBook page and take the pledge today!

Here is my favourite Canada Day Mocktail recipe...Enjoy and have a Happy and Safe Canada Day...

Cheers

OH CANADA!

FLIRTY THIRTIES are almost up!!!

So as of today I have exactly 6 months left in my Flirty Thirties...On June 21st 2011 I will enter my FABULOUS 40's...

I am very excited about this...but then realized that time is running out...for what you ask? For me to do all the things that a women can do while in her 30's...but could not dream about doing in her 40's...

I am really not sure what they are but there has to be something...So here is where I need your help...Tell me what it is I have to make sure I do before I become a "Respectable 40 year Old Women"... (it could happen)...

Leave me your a comment with your idea on what I NEED to do and I will do my best to complete and document it of course...

Please keep in mind that I am happily married to George Clooney so no debauchery requests please... (send those to my personal email...)

So looking forward to these next 6 months and all your FABULOUS..and maybe some what scary...ideas...

Cheers

FLIRTY THIRTIES are almost up!!!

MY DREAM DINNER PARTY MENU!!!

So I was sent this Summer menu by Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum. Now normally I would give the once over and see if I

could change it to Vodka...But when I read through this Deevine menu...I couldn't possibly change a thing.

I am going to make this e

ntire menu and when I do I promise to blab all about it...

But just in case I massacre the food I had to share it with you

now...

If any of you make any of these please send your comments and pics...I am excited to have some friends over and have a dinner party!!!

Cheers

Dee

Appetizer

Start with Blue Costello Cheese & Mango Chutney with a Classic Appleton Estate

Reserve Daiquiri. The rich, smooth cheese, dusky spices and deep tropical dried fruits are balanced with the acidity of the classic Appleton Estate Reserve Daiquiri. Your guests are bound to ask for more.

Blue Costello Cheese & Mango Chutney

1 lb. Green mango flesh, seeds removed

2.5 oz. Dates

2 oz. Raisins

¾ oz. Fresh peeled ginger root

5 oz. White wine vinegar

3 Cloves garlic

2 oz. Salt

2 tsp. Masala powder

Pinch Ground cinnamon

Cut mangos into slices, sprinkle with salt and wrap in a cloth. Rinse and pat dry before use. Let dry for 2 hours to draw out water in the mangos. Finely slice dates and ginger. Peel garlic and crush. Heat vinegar, stir in sugar until dissolved. Add garlic, salt, cinnamon and masala powder and cook on high for 7 minutes. Lower heat, add fruit and simmer for 30 minutes, stir often. Cool before serving. Serve with toasted sourdough bread.

Reserve Classic Daiquiri

2 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve

1 oz. Fresh lime juice

½ oz. Simple syrup

Shake and fine strain into cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Main Course

For the main course, wow your guests with a Jerk Pork, Mango Salsa & Appleton Estate Reserve “Apple Cooler.” They’ll never believe your culinary abilities.

Jerk Pork, Mango Salsa

For the salsa:

1 cup Fresh mango, diced

1 cup Ripe seeded tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 Serrano chili, seeded and veins removed, finely diced

1 Jalapeño, seeded and veins removed, finely diced

1 tbsp. Fresh pressed lime juice

½ cup Red onion, finely diced

1 tsp. Garlic powder

½ tsp. Sea salt

½ tsp. Fresh cracked black pepper

1 tbsp. Smoked paprika

½ cup Cilantro, finely chopped

1 tbsp. Fresh mint

Mix all ingredients (excluding mint) and refrigerate overnight to allow flavor to develop. Chop and stir in mint before serving

For pork:

1 (6 to 9 lbs) Pork picnic shoulder roast

6 to 8 Cloves garlic

2 Bunches scallions, finely chopped

1 tbsp. Ground thyme or 3 tbsp fresh time leaves

½ cup Group allspice berries

½ cup Packed brown sugar

1 tsp. Ground cinnamon

½ tsp. Ground nutmeg

2 tsp. Kosher salt

½ tsp. Fresh cracked black pepper

2 tbsp. Soy sauce

In food processer blend onions, allspice, garlic, brown sugar, chilies, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper and soy sauce. Coat pork with spice marinade and refrigerate for at least 1 day. Preheat oven to 450˚F. Place meat in baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Lower heat to 300˚F and bake further for 3 hours. Let roast sit for 30 minutes before carving.

Appleton Estate Reserve

“Apple Cooler”

2 oz Appleton Estate Reserve

1 oz freshly pressed Fuji apple juice

¼ oz Ginger liqueur

½ oz fresh pressed lemon juice

¼ oz simple syrup

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker fill with cubed ice. Stir and Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with orange zest.

Dessert

Lastly, finish off your exquisite three course meal with Ginger Ice Cream in a Chocolate Cup & Appleton Estate Reserve “Medjool.” The cool but warming gingerbread ice cream and lingering coca and spices combine with the decadent date-infused Appleton Estate Reserve for a long leisurely taste sensation. Your guests will never want to leave this comfort zone.

Ginger Ice Cream in a Chocolate Cup

2 Vanilla pods

¼ oz. Fresh pressed ginger juice (from stem)

1/5 oz. Fresh pressed galangal juice (from stem)

1 pinch Ground nutmeg

16 oz. Heavy cream

3 oz. Granulated sugar

3 Egg yolks

10 Frozen gingerbread cookies

24 Molded Valrhona chocolate Cups

Halve vanilla pods and scrape out seeds. Add pods and nutmeg to cream and bring to a boil, add sugar, stir and dissolve. Whisk egg yolks in a large bowl then strain cream onto them, stirring constantly. Strain out vanilla pods and whisk in vanilla seeds. Place in an ice cream machine until almost set. Pause machine. Add broken gingerbread pieces and stir through. Continue using ice cream machine until fully set. Serve in molded Valrhona chocolate cups.

Appleton Estate Reserve “Medjool”

2 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve

2 Medjool dates, seeded and chopped

¾ oz. Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth

½ oz. Fresh pressed lemon juice

¼ oz. Homemade orange syrup

Muddle dates in the base of cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients. Shake and strain into cocktail glass and garnish with orange zest.

For Orange Syrup:

4 Large unwaxed oranges

1 Cinnamon stick

1 Whole star anise1 Small unwaxed lemon

10 oz. Granulated sugar

10 oz. Cold water

Strip zest from oranges and lemon. Place zest in a saucepan with sugar, cinnamon, star anise and cold water. Bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain solids and drizzle into cocktail.

www.cocktaildeeva.com

MY DREAM DINNER PARTY MENU!!!