BURNSVILLE, Minn., Nov. 29 -The latest vintage of non- alcoholic drink recipes from AAA offers big bouquets and rich flavors as the Auto Club seeks to take the alcohol, but not the fun, out of upcoming holiday celebrations.
For a true taste of Christmas, try Juniper Dream, served at Dream Dance in the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, Wis. Or sample something a little more on the sparkling side, such as Yuletide Royal, crafted by Five-Diamond award-winner Gerhard Schmied of The 1913 Room in Grand Rapids, Mich.
These are just two of the alcohol-free recipes for party drinks included in the 2005-2006 edition of The Great Pretenders Party Guide, published by The Auto Club Group and available free to the public.
The colorful, 17-page booklet includes 13 non-alcoholic recipes provided by hospitality managers at some of the AAA Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants in the eight states served by the six AAA clubs in The Auto Club Group (ACG): AAA Chicago, AAA Michigan, AAA Minnesota/Iowa, AAA Nebraska, AAA North Dakota and AAA Wisconsin.
The Great Pretenders Party Guide, now in its 27th year of publication, is part of AAA's ongoing campaign to reduce deaths and injuries caused by drunk drivers. Having tasty, non-alcoholic beverages available can help hosts moderate alcohol consumption by guests as a party progresses.
The guide's introductory message notes that, in 2004, almost 17,000 people died in the United States as a result of traffic crashes in which alcohol consumption was a factor -- more deaths than America has suffered in the Iraq War, the Afghanistan liberation operation, the 9/11 disaster and the recent Gulf hurricanes combined.
To emphasize the drunk driving problem, the guide has several charts showing how alcohol affects drivers. There also are tips for helping party hosts monitor alcohol consumption and deal with someone who drinks too much.
In addition to non-alcoholic drink recipes, the guide has four recipes for party snacks, reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc., from "All About Party Foods & Drink," one of the books in Scribner's "Joy of Cooking" series.
To obtain free copies of The Great Pretenders Party Guide, visit any AAA Minnesota/Iowa branch office, call (952) 707-4466, or download a copy of the booklet at http://www.autoclubgroup.com/mnia .
