Will the meeting between Caroline and Danielle be calm and cleansing? Or will heads roll?

I think the tip off was that Danielle had ‘body guards’ that she now calls ‘security’ and that they had guns with them. Guns. Really?

Of course Caroline’s main reason for meeting with Danielle was to get her to drop the charges against Ashley. Which of course Danielle did not.

Danielle seems to be delusional, fixating on key phrases like ‘I deserve respect’ and ‘Caroline is the matriarch of her family and I (Danielle) am the matriarch of my family’. And of course Danielle had to throw in another dagger asking Caroline how it was working out for her now that her friends are being indicted. I assume Danielle is referring to Joe’s DUI and Ashley’s hair pulling charges. You could see that was the moment Caroline gave up trying to talk reasonably to Danielle.

And how funny is Caroline’s ‘you are a clown‘ line? Caroline of course was referring to the ludicrous life Danielle has lived to date. Danielle really had to think about that one, but all she could come back with was an insult to Caroline’s red ‘clown hair’. OK, don’t make us bring up your square boobies Danielle – which thanks to Kim G., we know waaaay too much about. So Caroline had to call Danielle garbage. Again. And at least Danielle took herself out this time. Like a good trash service. MEOW!

So, no table flipping. But I think it is clear to EVERYONE that Danielle could not possibly be part of the RHONJ next season. Yeah!

I just hope whatever Danielle does in the future, she does not drag her children into it like she did tonight – she actually made her girls thank and hug the ‘body guards’ for bringing mommy home alive. How weird for those poor kids.

BUT, it does look like we will have Kim G. on RHONJ next season, as Kim G.is making a guest appearance on the RHONJ reunion. Uggh. But I guess every show needs a person to hate.

I think the best part of the RHONJ reunion is going to be the discussion about what Danielle did to Dina and why Caroline called Danielle garbage at the last reunion and broke down crying. Hmmm. My theory is that Danielle had an affair with Dina’s husband – which would show he has absolutely no taste. I have absolutely nothing to base this on, but it’s usually an affair that breaks things as fast as Dina left the show.

What do you think happened?

T-Cee

Teresa Giudice in Italy. Or is it LaLa Land. I know that Teresa likes to ignore things that aren’t what she wants, but has Teresa lost touch with reality? Milania seems to be in charge of both Teresa and Joe. Caroline and Albert appear fed up, and Jacqueline is blotto for most of the trip to Italy. And still Teresa plods forward. Is it just for the cameras at this point?

Joe is clearly angry about everything. No one on the show seems to be real happy right now. Maybe the “reality” of the show has just gotten to be too much. The whole Italy trip seems to waver between boring and out of control. Are Milania’s tantrums really the most interesting thing they had to film?

Are the RHONJ ‘real’ issues overshadowing the ‘reality show’ that was taped months ago? Not only have Teresa and Joe filed for bankruptcy, but just yesterday, Teresa had her lawyer in court trying to explain why they spent $60,000 after filing bankruptcy to get out of paying back the $11M they owe. Legally it was explained that she can do that since it was income Teresa earned after the bankruptcy filing. But, I have to say, it makes them look really irresponsible. And Joe still has his DUI issues to work out. So Milania’s tantrums must just be a distraction to them at this point. But not so much for the others with them – even Caroline said ‘I’ve had my kids already’. Caroline and Albert will be ready of a vacation from this vacation.

But, on the bright side, it is rumored that we won’t have to see Danielle on season 3. Danielle’s been given the Italy ‘boot’. Allegedly. We can only hope. I for one, do not want to watch any more of her crying over her “searching for my mother for 47 years” and in the next breath saying “if she is drinking, or on drugs, or homeless, I don’t want to have anything to do with her” — Oh really – which is it Danielle – you want your mother or you want to cry for the cameras?

I don’t know how this is all going to play out, but the reunion is sure to be explosive!

See you next week.

T-Cee

The Blue Lagoon cocktail (pg. 122 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time) is another summer drink made with blue curacao. This BLUE LAGOON however is also made with gin which is not a particularly favorite cocktail ingredient of mine.

It is interesting however, that I made the BLUE LAGOON on the same day that I was surrounded by a ‘sea of blue’ – I’ll explain that later, but first, here’s the recipe, courtesy of Ms. Sandra Lee.

Blue Lagoon cocktail drink

• Superfine sugar (I used regular sugar)
• 3/4 oz gin (I used Seagram’s)
• 1/4 oz. vodka
• 1/4 oz. blue curacao
• 1 splash lime juice (I used Rose’s)

Wet the rim of a (tall shot) glass with water.  Dip rim in sugar.  In a cocktail shaker, combine remaining ingredients, add ice cubes.  cover and shake.  Strain into glass.

Note:  Use a tall shot glass for this – the small quantity gets lost in a cocktail glass unless you fill it with ice first.

OK, now you’ve got the recipe, go ahead and make one and enjoy my ‘sea of blue‘ story .  Actually, it’s not a long story.  I was simply taking my son to practice at the school which is being renovated. Not only is the school campus a mess, the streets surrounding it are also a mess – some streets are blocked off entirely and entrances and exits to various parts of the campus have been changed.

So, I decide to follow the two cars in front of me that are going down a street next to the school. They appear to be driving with no hesitation, so I figured they knew where they were going. Zip, Zip, around the corner – no problem. Zip, Zip, into a parking lot which I assumed they must know is a back way through the construction.

WRONG. Those two parked their cars and the officers in each of the cars got out and made a bee line for the building – apparently they were late for work and the parking lot was the precinct back lot. And of course the split second I realized this, an iron gate slammed behind me locking me in the parking lot. Now I look around and realize I am surrounded by a ‘Sea of Blue‘, so I burn rubber racing around the parking lot to catch up with the last officer entering the building, roll down my window,and yell “hey, do you know how I can get out of here?” She looks at me like I’m from mars and says “how’d you get in here?” I indignantly reply “I followed you”. (I’m thinking, I’m a taxpayer and what the hell kind of security is this? – but I wisely keep this thought to myself). So, the officer has to get on her talky thingee and get some guy to remotely open the gate, and I make my escape. Not bad for 7AM! I wonder what else I’ll do today.

I really didn’t get into any other trouble that day, but that evening, I did make the BLUE LAGOON cocktail in honor of my Blue Sea adventure.

So does the BLUE LAGOON cocktail get a Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, or LEAVE IT? The BLUE LAGOON cocktail drink was not particularly tasty – even a bit bitter. Although the BLUE LAGOON cocktail was a tad better when I threw it in a glass of ice, I have to give it a Semi-HomeTested rating of LEAVE IT. Sorry Ms. Sandra Lee.

Salude!

The Mixed Berry Daiquiri (pg. 124 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time) is a cocktail full of anti-oxidant rich blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. So it was a fun Girl’s Night and an exercise in creating a youthful appearance!  We were certainly feeling younger by the end of the evening.

My friends and I do not rely on Science for this, we just know what we know and we know when we are feeling younger.  Any questions?

Mixed Berry Daiquiri (feel younger cocktail)

• 3 oz frozen mixed berries
• 1 3/4 oz sweet and sour mix
• 1 1/4 oz spiced Rum (I used Cpt. Morgan)
• fresh mixed berries (for garnish)

In a blender (I used my Margaritaville) combine ice, frozen berries, sweet and sour mix, and rum.  Cover and blend until smooth.  Garnish with fresh berries. Pour into a chilled glass.  Serve with a straw.  (We decided it was too thick so I added another 1/2 oz of the sweet and sour mix).

Be sure to make a blender full when you have a group of friends over.   And modify the ingredients for thickness – if you use more frozen berries and more ice for example, you will have a thicker cocktail.  Add more sweet and sour mix as I did, and you will have less requirement to use a straw.  Then let the party begin.

OK, time to rate this cocktail. Do I give the MIXED BERRY DAIQUIRI cocktail a Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, or LEAVE IT?
Because the MIXED BERRY DAIQUIRI cocktail was delicious and made us feel so youthful, it gets a Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT A LOT.

So, invite your friends over and mix up a blender full of Mixed Berry Daiquiri cocktail. Leave your comments below to tell me what you think of this anti-oxidant rich youthful cocktail. (don’t forget to click on ‘submit comment’)

Salude!

T-Cee

This week on RHONJ Teresa was still spending like crazy in Venice. First she ditched the guys ’cause she had to skootch on her heels to find Chanel. Which as Caroline dryly stated – there is a Chanel store right in NYC where they can shop everyday. But did this deter Teresa? NO. But amazingly enough Chanel was closed – shop owners apparently close the entire store to have lunch. Now I know this is true for little shops, but Chanel closing down for the lunch hour? Is this true? So Teresa manages to go into a jewelry store to buy some humongous green ring – not really sure what kind of stones it was, but hopefully, it was costume jewelry – isn’t Teresa supposed to be bankrupt?

Anyway, I normally like Teresa a lot, but during this Venice vacation, she was a tad annoying – insisting on doing what she wanted regardless of what anyone else wanted, even dumping her kids on Caroline and Albert for the day. But it was her non stop chattering that was over the top this week. Teresa was so busy talking that she almost bonked her head going under the bridge on the gondola – she needs to pay attention and sit down on the gondola! Uh oh – don’t tell Teresa I said that. Don’t want her flipping tables again.

And Joe. Joe looked super stressed. OK, Teresa and Joe filed for bankruptcy, and now here they are in Venice having what appears to be a very expensive vacation. Well I guess they also have to get over the stress of Joe being pulled over for driving under the influence. Joe’s story, and he’s sticking to it, is that he was really tired and he took a REALLY BIG YAWN and that’s what made him swipe 4 trees and crash his car. Joe’s story continues that he was so stressed afterwards that he walked to a (friend? relative?) house right from the accident and downed 3 or 4 scotches. And THAT’S when the police came and gave him the breathalyzer which of course Joe failed.

Oh Really! Well stranger things have happened and I guess we’ll have to let the New Jersey Police decide this one.

In the meantime, enjoy a Ciroc Blue Ocean cocktail (pg. 122 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time) and then tell me if you think Joe yawned or maybe passed out a little bit.

T-Cee

The Ciroc Blue Ocean cocktail (pg.122 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time) is a delightfully fresh summer drink. And it gave me an excuse to use some of my favorite liquor glasses. You’ll see when you make this blue curacao inspired drink, that it makes a very small quantity. So although in her recipe, Sandra Lee just specifies to ‘strain into a glass’, I found that the quantity just gets lost in a regular 6oz. cocktail glass. So when you make the Ciroc Blue Ocean cocktail, dig out your tiny 3 oz. glasses. And although this cocktail is more a shot size drink, you won’t want to down it like a shot, you’ll want to sip this one and savor the flavors.

Ciroc Blue Ocean (cocktail)

• 1 oz. vodka (I used Smirnoff)
• 1/2 oz. blue curacao
• 1/4 oz. grapefruit juice
• 1 splash sugar syrup
• Thin lemon or lime slice

Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.  Add vodka, blue curacao, grapefruit juice, and sugar syrup.  Cover and shake vigorously.  Strain into a glass.   Garnish with lemon or orange slice.

OK, time to rate this cocktail. Do I give the Ciroc Blue Ocean cocktail a Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, or LEAVE IT?
This is a tiny but beautiful summer cocktail and gets a Semi-HomeTested rating of LUSH IT.

So, if you can’t go to the ocean, kick off your shoes and enjoy the Ciroc Blue Ocean cocktail. Leave your comments below to tell me what you think of this blue curacao inspired cocktail. (don’t forget to click on ‘submit comment’) Or tell me about your favorite blue curacao cocktail.

Salude!

T-Cee

Bethenny really does seem to have it all. And that’s great. How funny was it when Bethenny and Jason hit the road on their way to vacation when they realized that in spite of all the baby stuff they were lugging, they didn’t have the porta crib. Ha! All us moms have been there.

Jason sure took a lot of ribbing about trying to use ‘just the tip’. It was just a tad odd that the new baby nurse would enter into that discussion! Anyway that went on for about 10 minutes – Bethenny is such a hoot. Bethenny must have said ‘just the tip’ about 50 times. Jason DOES seem to be chompiing at the bit.

Hey – I just thought of something weird! Did you notice that Bethenny’s maid of honor was not around for any of the baby celebrations? She maybe was in a quick camera pan of a party, but she hasn’t been around since she showed up sloshed at Bethenny’s wedding. We’ll have to stay tuned for more on that. Someone Google that and let me know.

Hey, I have to say I’ve really enjoyed this show. It’s been nice watching a reality show where nice people go through normal life events with high spirits and actually care about each other.

I hope BRAVO brings the show back for another season! Hmmm, Bethenny DID have to go on a business trip to do a TV show – wonder which one that was…. RHONY?? Getting ready for next season?…. will Bethenny return to the Real Housewives of New York?

What do you think? Should Bethenny continue her own show or do the RHONY?

OK, have a Blue Seafoam cocktail (pg. 128 Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time) while you contemplate that.

T-Cee