I am generally more of a Zinfandel drinker, but do enjoy other reds on occasion. Upon opening, the nose shows plum/cherry and subtle tobacco, all of which hold throughout drinking. The strongest flavor in this wine is sweet black plum. Overall wine is mellowed with a hint of buttery oak. A light note of licorice [...]
Pulled Chicken Confit in Asian Glaze over Edamame Rice
I have seen confit made many times on television, and it always intrigued me. Since I had some chicken drumsticks on hand and didn’t feel like doing them my typical way, it seemed the perfect time to experiment with this technique. Confit is usually served on the bone, but I decided to pull the tender [...]
Lemon, Walnut and Blue Cheese Pizza
I was in the mood for a bit of kitchen experimentation this afternoon. I came up with many different pizza recipes, some more successful than others, but this Lemon, Walnut and Blue Cheese Pizza was the hands down winner. It packs a big flavor punch, and the smell of fresh lemon is lovely in the [...]
Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet: Wine Review
I am always on the lookout for good quality reasonably priced wines. I’ve nearly bought the Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet (2009), a few times now, but always ended out grabbing something I’ve already tried and knew I liked. Tonight, I decided… was the night to try a bottle. Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet 2009 Price: $8.99 [...]
Invino: Exclusive Bargains on Incredible Wines (w/ Free Bottle Offer)
I recently had the opportunity to check out the Invino website. As a wine lover, I was like a kid in a candy store, investigating this website. The selections offered are from top of the line vineyards, and the discounts are rather impressive. Most of these are bottles not likely to be found at your corner wine shop.
Gorgonzola and Horseradish Potato Salad Recipe
This Gorgonzola and Horseradish Potato Salad makes an excellent side for grill meats, barbecue and of course roast beef sandwiches. Keep it in mind for your upcoming tailgate party. Gorgonzola and Horseradish Potato Salad Recipe Ingredients: 1 – 1 1/2 lbs. potatoes (all purpose or red bliss) 1/3 c. Mayonnaise 2 tbs. low-fat buttermilk 1 [...]
Stacked Vegetarian Antipasto Recipe
This time of year vegetables are plentiful. It is the best time to add a few new vegetarian dishes to your repertoire. I typically make my vegetarian antipasto on the grill and just heap everything on a big platter. Today was a little cooler with off & on rain, so I decided to roast the [...]
Spicy Calamari, Shrimp and Garbanzo Beans Recipe
I picked up some calamari this weekend, and wanted to make something a little different. I’ve never paired squid with garbanzo beans (chick peas) before, it seemed high time to do so. Spicy Calamari, Shrimp and Garbanzo Beans Recipe Ingredients: 2-3 calamari (squid) tubes 6-8 large shrimp 1 cup canned garbanzo beans 1/3 cup diced [...]
Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Drumsticks Recipe: Easy No-Bake Dessert Pops
I came up with this easy chocolate peanut butter and pretzel recipe, after munching on a handful of chocolate chips & lightly salted peanuts. Pretzels seemed like a logical addition to make them into drumstick pops, and the thought of an edible stick seemed to make sense to me. Great no-bake dessert to make with [...]
Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry Recipe with Peanuts and Broccoli
A very easy pineapple chicken stir fry recipe. The trick to the pineapple sauce is the use of pineapple preserves. The preserves not only omit the need for other sweeteners, but as the sauce reduces helps to thicken it into a glaze, which nicely coats the chicken and broccoli. To further enhance the gentle sweetness [...]
Mushroom Barley Recipe | Mushroom Barley Side Dish or Vegetarian Meal
Barley is an earthy nutty grain, which pairs well with mushrooms. While most Americans are accustomed to eating barley in soups, it is rarely served as a dish in itself. I admit I don’t cook it all that often, but it does make for a nice change from the typical grains served at dinner. This [...]
Chocolate-Peanut Cardamom Oatmeal Cookies: Recipe
I concocted this recipe earlier this week, and I think this is my new favorite cookie. I was looking to create a cookie slightly sweet, a little salty, with interesting texture, not the typical chewy or crunchy cookie. I guess the goal was half way between a cookie & a crunchy granola bar. I was [...]
