BEST DRINK IN THE WORLD

Ocean Trust Mango Martini...Tai had two and Debi had 3...but gosh -- $1 from each drink goes to Ocean Trust. We had them 2 day in a row! Isn't that what holidays are for?

Tai Collins, Debi Tucker & Susan D'Elosua

Here's a cocktail that "gives back" and is certainly worth toasting this holiday season:  the Ocean Trust Martini from Bonefish Grill restaurants, which gives $1 back to the Ocean Trust Foundation for every OT Martini sold in any of Bonefish Grill's 150+ locations. 

The Ocean Trust Foundation is an ocean conservation foundation building partnerships for the environment 

OceanTrust Martini Recipe from Bonefish Grill
Ingredients:
1 each Orange Slice
1 each Large 3-4" mango wedge
2 oz Absolut Citron vodka
1 oz Fresh sour mix
1 full turn Peppercorn Mill
.5 oz Soda Water
Garnish Orange Twist
Procedure:
Combine orange slice, mango wedge, Absolut Citron, and fresh sour mix in a shaker tin. MUDDLE WELL. Add ice. Take a peppercorn mill and give it 1 full turn. Shake 20 times. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add soda water to the top of the martini. Garnish with orange twist.

We Miss You Debi...

After a two month visit -- Debi left us to head back east! We love and miss you!!!

Shapiro Event Photo Booth Fun

Debi Makes a Trifle...

Honestly, when Tai met Debi (we won't tell how many) years ago, she didn't cook or even go into the kitchen. Now she makes trifle "to-die-for" that disappeared in minutes. Recipe to come...

Fruit Trifle

 

White or Yellow Cake mix (your choice...Pillsbury, Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines)  Follow mixing directions on box.  Bake in 9 x 13 pan,  once the cake is cool, cut cake in small squares for layering in trifle bowl. It made be 3 to 4 lines cut into the cake long ways, then 6 to 7 lines cut into the cake the other way. (Make small squares)

 

16 oz of thawed frozen sliced strawberries

4 to 5 container cups of Swiss Miss or Jello Vanilla Pudding  (cold pudding)

Thawed Cool Whip  (or make your own whipped cream)

Fresh berries.....4 to 6 oz of Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries  (washed and drained)

 

The process of this dessert is layering,  First) cake, second) thawed strawberries, third) pudding, fourth) placing some of the fresh fruit on that layer, etc..  You should be able to layer this at least 4 times to fill the bowl.

 

Start by putting two tablespoons of the thawed sliced strawberries on bottom of trifle bowl

Place small cake square on bottom of trifle bowl (cover the bottom of bowl with the cake squares)

Then spoon on the thawed strawberries on the cake squares (covering the cake just enough)

Then spoon one cup of vanilla pudding on top of thawed strawberries, spreading the pudding

Then place some of the different berries (ones that you like of course) on top of the pudding

 

Start the next layers like the last until the bowl is full.

 

Then  put the cool whip on top. 

 

To decorate the top with the fresh fruit...cut strawberries long ways in half (not sure how many this will take)

with tip of berry down, place along the edge of the trifle bowl all the way around. Place the other berries in the center on top of the cool whip.

 

Chill in refrigerator,  if not going be eaten within two to three hours after you are finished putting it together..  It's good chilled.

 

Enjoy!!!! 

 

Debi Tucker

Why Limit "Happy" to An Hour?

We LOVE Happy Hour and dinner at one of our favorite spots -- La Vecchia Cucina in Santa Monica. Our darling friend Annie is the hostess there. We LOVE the Chianti, the Tri-Colori Insalada, the pizza, and Tai loves the Rigatoni Bolgnese. We want to cook here. Very authentic Italian. And Marissa loves all of their soups.

Debi, Tai, Marissa & Sweet Jessica!

Din Din

So this may not help our "bikini Bodies" but Debi was so thrilled when she discovered that California had Dairy Queen's (and there just happened to be one on the way home) -- that we had to have Blizzard's for dinner! Marissa had cookies dough, Debi had banana with hot fudge, and Tai Oreo cookie! Yummmm. We don't eat at home the same as we did in Europe.

Another Boat, Another Island, Another Adventure...(Only Back Home In Cali)

Tai and Marissa are back home in California and Tai's dear friend Debi Tucker has arrived for a month long visit to help with A Chance for Children summer camp and just plain have fun. Debi has always wanted to go to Catalina Island and Marissa had never been -- so with "Catalina calling" -- we just had to answer!

Sunday Fun Day!

Seriously, we're not sure what's going on with the weather this summer. It's August and summer has never quite arrived. So much for wearing all of the cute dresses we got in the South of France. But Sunday's are still for gathering and food and fun. Horseshoes are a must right there with our buffet that always includes Tai's famous guacamole. We LOVE Sundays!

The Guest List Included: Greg Bonann, Tai Collins, Marissa McDaniel, Debi Tucker, Saadiq Hassan, Jessica and her sister Jenn Brakulis, Jay, Jane & Julia Bakerink, Kathe Marshall, Eric & Lori Rovner, Lon Rosen, Eric Locko

Maybe Our Life IS a Vacation

Tai, Marissa, Debi, and Tai's god daughter Brittany take a morning bike ride in Santa Monica. An activity they try to do a few times a week. Marissa got a new green sparkle bike. They wish they were "Bikini Bikers" but it's been too cold!

YES MORE SHOPPING!

We're sorry Alessandra but we just LOVE shopping!

...and fun lunches too!

Lunch at Mick's Cafe