Jello Shots

I have made jellos shots for parties before. Big parties, small parties... the most I made was about 500 jello shots...

I had the island of my kitchen looking like a science lab with different bowls of different flavours and colours of jello mix.

Here is how to make them:

Follow Jello Box instructions EXCEPT when it says cold water, substitute half (give or take depending on how strong you want them) with booze. You need to still use SOME cold water and all the hot water or they won't set as well.

1. Add hot boiled water to the jello powder in a bowl.

2. Stir until powder is dissolved.

3. Add half the amount of cold water.

4. Add the remaining amount called for of cold water using your favourite booze.

5. Pour into small cups (I use the paper bathroom dixie cups, McDonalds ketchup cups work too) or citrus fruit (See photos below)

6. Sit in frigde to set. (I put on cookie trays and stack in my fridge several hours before or night before party)

Usually they are ready within a few hours, depending on the amount and concentrate of booze.

So fill limes like this then slice them up:

These are cute too, look like little watermelons...

Flavours to Try:

-Lemon Jello & Pinnacle Whipped Vodka - tastes like lemon merainge pie

-Orange Jello & Pinnacle Whipped Vodka - tastes like orange creamsicle

-Orange Jello & Malibu - tastes like a tropical treat

-Lime Jello & Tequila - try pouring into cut limes

-Strawberry or Blue Raspberry & any flavour - my favourite mmm... even use plain vodka or rum, no extra flavour required.

Try different flavoured jello and booze to create yummy treats.

More Tips:

-If using plastic cups spray with cooking spray first so they unstick easier after.

-If you want layered coloursw simply pour in a bit of one colour, let it set, pour in 2nd layer, let it set and so on.

-put popcicle sticks or toothpicks in to set as well for easier removal. (I don't do this as the paper cups can be squeezed to get jello out).

-Experiement with flavours!!!

Comment on any flavours you love below....

Spiked Watermelon

This summer treat is my most favourite thing....

It's simple enough... Let me explain....

First, find the perfect watermelon... I get a big one and use half as "Mommy's Treat" and half for the family to enjoy sans booze.

Here's how to pick the best watermelon:

So how do you pick the perfect melon? Some people try their luck with a pick-and-go method. It’s like a drive by watermelon-napping. Picking one up and shaking it never works. Some people just lack the confidence to pick a good one and go for the pre-cut, pre-packaged watermelon. Pitiful, to say the least.

Next time you find yourself on a watermelon hunt, refer to the following tips to nab a sweet one.

When picking the right melon one should:

First check its shape. Symmetry is the key.

Pay attention to its weight. Watermelons are mostly water so a heavier melon means a juicier melon.

Press the skin of the watermelon in various places of its surface. A good melon will not have any soft spots. Get one that’s as hard as a rock.

Notice the color. A darker green color outside offers a sweeter melon inside.

To check for ripeness, look for the sweet spot. Search for a yellow spot on the melon. This is where it sat during its growth period. The yellowish color indicates ripeness.

Lastly, smack it like it’s a bongo drum. Listen for an empty drum-like sound. Like a “Toom-Toom” sound. If it just makes a dense thud sound, set it down and test another one.

That’s it, simple enough. You can now confidently pick out a delicious watermelon for all to enjoy, perfect for the summer heat.

Bring your watermelon home and chop up what you need.

I cut just the edible part to marinade (why waste booze in the rind)

Put in a tupperware container with a few shots of booze and some water (enough to submerge the melon, I usually do a quarter of the container in alcohol and the rest water for a fresh taste that isn't too overwhelming)

Put lid on and refridgerate for an hour or so. (Sometimes I eat right away but the longer you leave it the more saturated the melon is in boozey deliciousness)

Note - Do not leave more than a day, it gets soggy and starts to go bad in my experience.

Eat!!!

I personally love Snirinoff Green Apple Vodka as my alcohol of choice, the apple tastes great with the melon.

You can add more alcohol than water if you wish but I did all booze the first time and it was too potent to enjoy (but got me hammered pretty quickly)

If you are just wanting a refreshing snack, use more water than alcohol.

Mix it up and try different flavours.

This is my own version of spiked watermelon after too many wasted and messy whole watermelons spiked (with the hole cut in the melon and the booze dripping in it over night)

My way is faster and more of a marinade :)

The best on a hot day - delicious, sweet, refreshing!

Just keep it away from the kids (lke jello shots, I always keep the boozey ones out of kids reach and ensure the children have their own alcohol free versions!!)

Mandy's Mandarin-Mango Martini

-1 oz. orange juice
-1 oz. grey goose
-1 oz. mango absolut

Mix in shaker with ice

Serve in Chilled Martini Glass with Mandarin slices as garnish.

Mmmm... sweetness!

Olympic Martini Recipes

While buying gold, silver and bronze martini glasses to give to your friends is one way to do it, you can also use different coloured stir sticks, coasters, or glass trinkets.

Another way is to make your martini's based on the three prestigious medals....

Here are some recipes for Gold, Silver and Bronze Martini's.

Gold Cocktail

•2 1/2 oz Stolichnaya Elit vodka
•1 1/2 oz Malibu Coconut Rum
•1 tsp shredded coconut
•Garnish: Coconut flakes
•Edible gold powder (available at bakery/cake decorating outlets)

1.Coat bottom of martini glass with gold powder.
2.Combine remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice.
3.Shake well.
4.Strain into gold-coated martini glass. The gold powder should float to the top.
5.Sprinkle extra powder to deepen color.
6.Garnish with coconut flakes.

Silver Cocktail

•2 oz Malibu Rum
•2 oz Cupuacu puree
•Splash of fresh lime juice
•Edible silver powder (available at bakery/cake decorating outlets)
•Garnish: Lime wedge

1.Coat bottom of martini glass with silver powder.
2.Combine remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice.
3.Shake well.
4.Strain into silver-coated martini glass. The silver powder should float to the top.
5.Sprinkle extra powder to deepen color.
6.Garnish with lime wedge.

Bronze Cocktail

•1 1/2 oz Kahlua
•2 oz Monte Cristo 12-year
•1/2 oz Grand Marnier
•Edible bronze powder (available at bakery/cake decorating outlets)
•Garnish: Coffee beans
1.Coat bottom of martini glass with bronze powder.
2.Combine remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice.
3.Shake well.
4.Strain into bronze-coated martini glass. The bronze powder should float to the top.
5.Sprinkle extra powder to deepen color.
6.Garnish with coffee beans.

Olympic Cocktail recipes courtesy of cocktailtimes.com

Can't be at the Games? Host your own Olympic Party

Not everyone can get to the games, but enjoying and celebrating the Olympics is easy to do from home.

First of all, the games are played (and replayed) all day on almost every channel. Invite some friends over and let the party begin...

Food:

Ask friends choose a country and make a dish that is authentic to that country. A variety of ethnic food will help everyone get into the spirit. Or choose a country you are rooting for and doo all the foods from that one country.

I root for Canada so I would make poutine, pancakes with Maple Syrup and maybe some smoked salmon ha ha ha. - - - OK - - - I am joking... mostly.

But there are many countries with such delicious food, it would be fun.

Beverages:

You have to have booze. Again, you could base your drinks on a particular country (I would say Canadian Whiskey for example) but why stop there?

Make Olympic Medal Martini's in Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Try drinks with your favourite countries flag colours.

Garnish with mini flag stir sticks or toothpicks (you can usually find at the dollar store)

Decorations:

Flags is the easy answer, big ones, small ones, a variety of ones... though you can use items from whatever sport you are watching to get into the spirit.

At a hockey party I had people over with their hockey masks and sticks with Canada Flags on them.... Very Fun!

Just don't use the olympic rings - Vanoc will get you ;)

Celebration:

As if the food and booze weren't enough... I have coloured sparklers and some fireworks in which I use to celebrate. When Canada got their first Gold (Love you Alex Bilodeau) we set off the red and gold while my daughter had red sparklers sizzling as she drew shapes in the sky wearing her Canada Jersey.

Of course hooting and hollering and screaming and cheering works well too ;)

So, no matter where you are - enjoy the Olympics and Celebrate!

Sip Resto Lounge

Sip Resto Lounge is a wonderful lil' lounge on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver.

Though Granville St. is home to the night clubs in the evening and a questionable crowd in the daylight, Sip Resto offers an ambience and relaxed setting with delicious and unique food.


Their uniqueness is that everything they cook contains alcohol.

From the Seven Cheesey Dip (7 cheeses, sun-dried tomato, spinach and glenfiddich served with a pita for dipping at $14) to the Thyme Chicken Fettucini (with cherry tomatos, capers, lemon, grilled asparagus, fresh basil, asiago, and a chardonnay cream sauce for $18) to the Pina Colada Prawns (with bacardi glaze and malibu dip at $12) EVERYTHING has alcohol in it to some extent.

Some of the flavours are interestingly paired, but much of the food I have tried there is absolutely delicious.

The staff is friendly for the most part and it can get quite packed on weekend evenings (the venue itself is quite small and narrow - with next to no bathroom space)

I have been with a few friends and we really enjoyed their selection and variety. It's fun to take out of town guests or first - timers there also and boast "everything has alcohol in it so be prepared"

Let me know if you go and what you like best.