It is summertime and the weather is urging us to go outside and enjoy its warmth. Grill parties and garden parties are an obstacle when you do not drink alcohol. Why not invite your friends to a juice party.

Being the mother of a teenager, I find it important to set an example. I stopped drinking alcohol on a regular basis about 4 years ago. I now drink on rare occasions, it is hard to break a habit and the hardest thing was to constantly say no to friends who said... come on just one drink! It took about 6 months until that stopped and my friend stopped trying to make me have a drink. I started by only having a drink on Friday and Saturday evenings, then only once and month and then I completely stopped for 2 years. The slow transition was best for me but of course, everyone is different.

I have shown Gwenifer that life can be just as enjoyable with the weekend wine and when I do have a drink I tend to treat myself to something really special. Teenager (and adult) peer pressure is quite a force and hard for anyone to overcome but setting the tone for our children is part of the parental job. Enjoying the finer things in life is possible if you save up and then the taste is of course even better than you ever remembered.

Pour first juice into the glass and then the other to create an ombre of colour just like a sunset. Add lots of fresh ice and for those who want to drink alcohol, you can offer a dash of champagne, vodka, or Campari to the juices.

Fruit juice is the most refreshing for summer, served with plenty of ice, and if the weather is hot garnish the glass with a spring of mint.

Lipstick club
1 Pomegranate
1 Apple

Orange, match, and set
1 Pomegranate
1 Orange

Orange rise
½ Pineapple
1 Orange

Amazing Pineapple & Rhubarb
1 Pineapple
2 Sticks of Rhubarb

Summer Rainbow Juices

Strawberry Vegan Cream Crunch

That-Will-Stick-to-Your-Ribs Tartlets