Summer's here, and with that comes barbeques, patio parties, and casual evening soirees with friends and family. Looking for a quality bottle to bring to the party? Look no further! Award-winning wine writer Natalie MacLean shares her top picks with us each week! Wine of the Week for July 26, 2013 Cathedral Cellar Triptych K.W.V. 2009 W.O., Western Cape, South Africa Smooth and delicious with full-bodied layers of fleshy black plums. Smoky and smooth. Amazingly great price. This wine is a blend that leads with cabernet sauvignon, but also includes shiraz and merlot grapes. Just enough oak to bring this whole delicious package together. Good finish. Pair with hearty meat dishes. Alcohol: 14% Sweetness: Dry Drink: 2012‐2015 Price: $15.95 Score: 90/100 Product No: 53124 Natalie MacLean is the Canadian author of Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search for the World's Best Bargain Wines. Check out more of her wine picks and food pairings at www.nataliemaclean.com.  

Channel your inner bartender this summer with fabulous, delicious and quick cocktail recipes from Shoana Jensen! For the next six weeks, we'll be serving up a brand new drink recipe each Friday to help you kick off your weekend! White Zinfandel strawberry sangria

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
• 1 Fuji apple, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup whole fresh basil, stems attached
• 1-2 tablespoons elderflower cordial, to taste
• 1 bottle of Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi White Zinfandel, chilled
• Raspberry club soda to finish
• Lemon sugar rim (raw sugar)

Directions In a large pitcher, combine everything except the soda. Refrigerate the mixture for 10-15 minutes. Rim the glasses with sugar. Add the soda and give it a gentle stir before serving. If desired, serve over ice & garnish with some fresh basil. [embed]bcid:2567731260001[/embed] Did you try this cocktail? Share your comments below! Follow Shoana Jensen on Twitter @ShoanaJ, or visit her site here. Glassware and pitchers courtesy of HomeSense.

Capture the heat of the summer with a sizzling Mexican party! Themed parties are fun all-year round, but we think that a Mexican fiesta is perfectly matched to the hazy days of summer. Read on for our menu ideas, décor tips, and more! Menu: From salsas to tacos to nachos to fajitas, Mexican food is always flavourful and easy to customize to suit your guests. If you're hosting a larger crowd, we recommend making one spicy dish and one mild recipe, so that everyone will be sure to find something they enjoy. Another good option is to have a taco or fajita bar with lots of fresh toppings for your guests to choose between, including a range of salsas (and a hot sauce for your spice-obsessed friends). Below are some of our favourite Mexican-inspired recipes for every course: Appetizers Skinny Mexican salsa Black bean tortilla chip soup Cedar-planked nachos Drinks Lime margarita Raspberry mojito Watermelon raspberry lemonade Main Dishes Mexican egg bake Chicken tinga Juicy pork carnitas with Mexican crema Slow cooker chicken salsa tacos Roadside fish tacos Spicy steak fajitas Shrimp quesadillas with nectarines Desserts Latin sundaes Margarita pudding Dulce de Leche cake balls Décor: Bright colours are a must for Mexican fiestas - think in oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds. A bit of clashing is okay! Fun items like sombreros, pinatas, and maracas will add a Cinco de Mayo-flavour to your festivities. Desert plants like cacti and succulents will also fit right in at your party! You can make them into creative centrepieces by placing them in clear cups with layers of coloured sand. Entertainment: If you're having kids at your fiesta, a pinata is the perfect Mexican party game! You can get crafty and create a pinata on your own with papier mache, or you can buy one pre-made from a party store. Another great way to really set the theme is to have a festive playlist: we suggest checking out music-streaming sites like Songza or 8tracks and finding playlists by using search keywords like "fiesta", "Mexican", or "salsa".

During the lazy, hazy days of summer, the last thing you want to do is warm up the kitchen by using the stove or oven. Luckily, there are many alternatives for cool, healthy and delicious meals to keep you going during a heat wave. Here are 4 cool summer menus to help you beat the heat! A refreshing light lunch Coconut water and pineapple  Crisp melon tomato salad The ALT sandwich   Slow cooker saves the day Old fashioned iced black tea Chicken salsa tacos Mixed bean salad Raspberry fool   Seasonal fruit menu Watermelon raspberry lemonade Plum, fennel, goat feta and prosciutto salad Chilled summer cherry gazpacho with homemade creme fraiche Strawberries and cream   Get your grill on summer menu Charred cherry tomato bruschetta Inside out cheddar burgers Balsamic grilled vegetables Corn black bean and mango fandango salad   What's your favourite thing to cook during the summer? Tell us in the comments!

Channel your inner bartender this summer with fabulous, delicious and quick cocktail recipes from Shoana Jensen! For the next seven weeks, we'll be serving up a brand new drink recipe each Friday to help you kick off your weekend! Cool melon cocktails

• 1/2 honeydew melon, cut into small cubes
• 1/4 cup elderflower cordial
• 3/4 cup Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato, chilled
• 1 cup crushed ice
• Club soda
• ginger sugar to rim glass (Raw sugar)

Directions: Rim cocktail glass with raw sugar. In the glass, muddle the melon. Add the elderflower, wine & ice. Top the cocktail with a splash or club soda. [embed]bcid:2553565498001[/embed] Did you try this cocktail? Share your comments below! Follow Shoana Jensen on Twitter @ShoanaJ, or visit her site here. Glassware and pitchers courtesy of HomeSense.