Just when I thought nothing exciting happened to me today, my girlfriend called me. Her house had been broken into a few nights ago (which I knew) and she just got a call from some guy who claimed to have found her purse, license, and phone in a dumpster and could she meet him on the corner of Main and Smith Sts. (not real streets). She told him she would meet him in front of the grocery store there figuring it’s still light out and lots of people would be there – so could I go with her?
No problem, but first we call the police to meet us there – hey we watch TV – but they really aren’t interested as evidenced by the time-frame they give us which is ‘we can’t say when someone will make it down there’.
So, me and Nancy Drew (not her real name) get to the grocery store – No police here yet. We see the guy – Ms. Drew has his description, hat and all – but we need to get some reward cash in case he really is just a good hearted Samaritan. And we figure we’ll get the grocery store security guard to come out with us, since you never know, people have been held up in grocery store parking lots of late – and we live in a nice area mind you.

So, we go up to a very official looking store employee near the customer service counter and I ask her where her security person is. She says they don’t have one. I check this information with her twice, ’cause I just can’t believe it. And then we go directly to the window to get cash. Now I’m thinking I must look suspicious having just checked that there is no security and asking for cash. Nancy Drew and I have a big giggle over this. But we have to finish our mission, so we go back outside.

Still no police. So our plan is, I’ll hold the car keys and both our purses (so we don’t get robbed if he is a bad guy) and stay behind 20’ or so. Oh, yeah, and I’m supposed to get help if he tries anything.
When Nancy Drew goes up to him, we see that he appears to be homeless and he proceeds to talk about how he dumpster dives, etc. So I join the chat fest, and he says ‘yeah I thought it was you 2 ‘– he had seen us park the car, go in the store, etc. … so we won’t be opening our Detective Agency anytime soon. Then I realize, I still have to go home, make a cocktail, take a picture of it, and tell you all how good or how crappy the cocktail is, so we say our goodbyes.

OK, I’m finally home and the whole time I’m making the cocktail, I’m thinking ‘why is it called Strawberry Slide’? (See Sandra Lee Cocktail Time book pg. 84) There’s white rum (I used Bacardi), there’s orange liquor, there’s pomegranate juice, but NO strawberry anything! Maybe there was something left out of the recipe?? I hope so, because it is pour down the drain awful.

So do I rate this LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, or LEAVE IT? I have to say I give this a Semi-HomeTested rating of LEAVE IT! So sorry Ms. Sandra Lee!

Now your turn – tell me about an adventure of yours.
Salude!

Watermelon Fizz

This was a big Fizz(le) for sure. I made a non-alcoholic version of this Watermelon Fizz (from Sandra Lee semi-homemade Cocktail Time book, pg.83) for my kids, and without the watermelon vodka, it was very bland. I could have tried adding more limeade, but then it would just have been a frozen limeade drink. Which would have been great, but I make that for them all the time.

So… I tried adding more fresh watermelon, but that did not bump up the taste. Oh well.

So… when my dinner guests arrived, I made the full version including the Watermelon Vodka to mixed reviews. My husband and I did not think it was flavorful, but my 2 guests liked it – or DID they… maybe they were just being polite. So I explained my cocktail blog project to them and they insisted that yes, they did like it.

To be fair, maybe it’s just too early in the season for good watermelon?? I did notice the one I bought fresh that day looked slightly mealy. So if I get a hankering to use up my bottle of Watermelon Vodka, I may try it again.

BUT for now, how do I rate this? LUSH IT, LUSH IT A LOT, OR LEAVE IT.

I’m going to have to say I give this a Semi-HomeTested rating of LEAVE IT. So sorry, Ms. Sandra Lee.

Cheers!

PS: Anyone have a good Watermelon Cocktail recipe? Please put it in your comment. Thanks.