Kiddies hit the booze, study shows

In a study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh and University of Michigan, researchers found children as early as 10-years-old may have already sipped alcohol.

I can definitely confirm this. Matter of fact, I miss knowing how bitter it was back then. Like the study says, it took place at a family gathering.

There was a football game going at the house of my dad's friend, Sid. It was just the three of us, and I was plopped in the middle of the couch. I watched as they brought Budweiser to their lips. And then I asked for it.

They obliged, and after the sip I ran to the bathroom and spit into the sink. In the study, researchers found 6 percent of the kids finished a whole drink.

Twelve years later when I turned 18, I had my first whole beer.

Women and Alcohol

Alcoholism has become an increasing problem amongst
the youth of our nation. Women especailly face a greater

risk of becoming a victim of sexual abuse, or alchoic related
health issues. In fact a new study from the United Kingdom.
has found that two thirds of women have reported to drinking
so much that they woke up the next morning with no memory
of the night before. What is so frightening about this study is
that more and more women are facing sexual assults because
they over indulge in alcohol. Some women are even unaware
that they were victims of sexual abuse. In many ways alcohol
has victimized women. With shows such as "Girls Gone Wild"
women are viewed as being attractive when drunk. There is
not much television content that uplifts women. So women continue
to be victims.

Halloween Drinks For The Children.

Very Spooky Drinks








Adults arent the only ones that like to splurge
on fancy drinks during the holidays. There are
actually tons of ways to be creative this halloween.
Witch's Brew is a great non alcoholic drink that
kids love during this season. Witches Brew will
be a smash hit at the kiddies halloween party.

Witch's Brew.

4 cups cranberry Juice Cocktail
1 cup chopped & candied Ginger
3 Orange
120z frozen Limeade concentrate
2 cups grapes
4 cups water
1/2 gal Ginger ale

In a quart pan boil cranberry juice and ginger over high heat.
Add orange peel to cranberry mixture. Cover and chill 4 hours
Stir in cranberry ginger mixture, apple concentrate, limeade,
grapes and water. Add ginger ale and 1 pound of ice. Serve in
spooky cups. Enjoy!

Halloween picker upper

This month is the only one where TV stations offer 24-hour horror movies culminating towards Halloween. We get to catch up on some of the cheesiest, worst-est flicks imaginable with the lingering hope that we might get scared by them.

If your brain is feeling drained, it might be good to revitalize it with a "Brain Hemorrhage."

The Mix

1 oz. Peach Schnapps

1 tsp. Bailey's Irish Cream

2 drops Grenadine

Pour the Schnapps into a large shot glass. Now, it's very important that you pour the Bailey's slowly. And top off with the Grenadine.

Happy Halloween!!!

Cocktails from the beaker

Ritzy clubs in Downtown L.A. seem to get all the good stuff: The Edison (ancient power plant turned lounge), The Standard (modern motif with itsy bitsy food proportions), and the Green Door (a scaled-down Palace of Versailles).

Whatever the price, find one that dabbles with "molecular mixology."

This is the avant-garde fusion of technology and drink. The plate of sushi pictured here is actually a combination of various drinks transformed into gel, paper, and paste.

The results of such masterpieces stem from experiments involving the density and viscosity of fluids, and specialized items, such as sous-vide, to bring out certain flavors.

Care to hit the lab?

Here's one mix with basic molecular principles without the heavy lab instruments:

Quantities for the Waylon:

2 ounces Old Forester 100-proof bourbon

3-4 ounces Coca-Cola

Dash of Liquid Smoke

Preserved lemon for garnish

Mix:

1. Add the bourbon to a tall glass filled with ice.

2. Add the Coca-Cola, Liquid Smoke, and stir.

3. Garnish with a slice of preserved lemon and serve.

The Best Cheap Wines.

Best Cheap Wines



















Looking for a great tasting wine but you lack a
stack of cash in your pocket. Well there are a
variety of great wines that are extremely affordable.
With the growing number of wineries opening up in
the beautiful California country sides. Its easy to find some
quality wines at great rates. Here is a list of some of the
best tasting cheap wines.

1. Trader Joes Coastal Cabarnet Wine. $4.99

All I can say is yummy!

2. Amaicha Torrontes. $4.99

A white wine that complements
seafood and spicy foods.

3. Banrock Station Shiraz. $5.99

A sweet wine with hints of cherry
flavors.

4. Barefoot California Merlot. $5.99

A great red wine. Compliments all foods.

5. Barefoot California Chardonnay.$5.99

A smooth wine that will leave you wanting
more.

Cheaper by the damage

Here's a way you can get up to 40% off on the most sought after wines.

It's expensive being a perfectionist, so luckily I'm not one. I can handle buying things used--a yard sale is just as good as Ikea, chipped China dishes only need duct tape.

When my friend told me about AccidentalWine.com, I went berserk. It turns out that during shipment, an occasional wine bottle will break, spilling over other bottles and "blemishing" the wine labels. These ruined bottles never see the store floor, forever becoming stuck in limbo.

That's where the Accidental Wine creators Micah Forbes and David Forbes come in. Their address book of friends who are wine sellers, bring the Forbes their damaged bottles to sell online.

A bottle of Tenuta Di Ghizzano Nambrot 2003 that usually goes for $60, will go for $45 at Accidental Wine. The damages are comparable to the photo above, although the website doesn't photograph the bottle's actual condition.

Absinthe minus the illegal taste

"Can you really see green fairies?"

Yes, but not in America.

Sadly if you want to poison your mind with minor hallucinations, you'll have to travel all the way to Europe. It's not the alcohol content that gives you that legendary buzz (sometimes reaching 150 proof), but an extra ingredient added to absinthe.

Actually, it was the original herb from which the liquor's name is derived. The Artemisia absinthium is a green flower (hence "the Green Fairy"), also known as wormwood.

However, there is no proof of absinthe causing hallucinations, so that Euro trip will be spent culturing yourself (aw shucks). It's speculated that the "Fairy" rumors began in the 19th century--a time where producers of the liquor added poisonous chemicals to give the drink a more vivid color... that poor, old Van Gogh.

So, if you're still hurting for a taste of tradition, I recommend buying a bottle of Pernod (legal, no wormwood).

Luckily I was given a face-to-face demo on how people in Paris prepare the infamous drink.

  

First, go to a local BevMo and buy an absinthe kit. It should include a pie cutter-esque spoon.

Second, pour your absinthe into its specially designed glass, and place the spoon over it.

Third, put a sugar cube on the spoon, dabble some absinthe on it (all around spoon), and carefully set it on fire.

Fourth, pour water over it, extinguishing the fire and dissolving the cube.

Lastly, dilute the drink to where you best feel comfortable. Drinking it straight, while exciting, not that great on the stomach.

(Optional: have ice chilling at the bottom before pouring absinthe. Don't add too much water...it will over dilute.)