indecisive? try a threesome.
If you can’t make up your mind about which wines to buy last minute for Thanksgiving, try this threesome. I did, and they all made me want to share with others.
I’m impressed when a winemaker’s knowledge extends beyond a single variety into a landscape of many. They coax production of blends whose mystery languishes in a multi-faceted balance, wrapping hints of each varietal around my palate. The following wines are crowded to their corks with varietal orgies, but each arrives perfectly balanced and sleek in the glass.
Ladybug White Old Vines Mendocino White Wine Cuvee III (lolonis.com)
French Colombard, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
sniff: an aromatic journey from the toasty wine barrel, salty sea air, peach and lemon trees, white pepper and rising yeasty dough.
taste: a slight spritz and medium-acid enlivens youthful flavors of white peach, lemon zest, white grapefruit and white pepper, which fade into a calm honeyed, dried apricot finish.
eat: good for the pre-feast noshing
Seven Daughters Winemaker’s Blend (7daughters.com)
24% French Colombard, 19% Chardonnay, 17% Riesling, 17% Symphony, 11% Orange Muscat, 6% Gewurtztraminer, 6% Sauvignon Blanc
sniff: a sweet and low chariot carries a symphony of companions: peach & lemon; vanilla & honey; mineral & petrol; fresh grass & roses.
taste: a zesty beginning promises bright orange and lemon citrus, which soon fade into a creamy background, but energy revives with a mineral finish.
eat: good for round one of feast, and will segue into dessert as it grows sweet and mellow as it warms
Clayhouse Vineyards Adobe Red 2006 (clayhousewines.com)
58% Zinfandel, 17% Syrah, 13% Petite Sirah, 12% Malbec
sniff: cloves, cinnamon, raisin, stewed sugar plums, oak, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, leather, earth, warming
taste: wild berries planted alongside a barn, baking in the cali mid-day heat, then plucked at night and dipped into warm chocolate.
eat: aid the digestion of your first round and rev up for round two with this red.
Filed under the grape seduction | Comment (1)tag, i’m it
As a kid, I loved playing tag with pretty much anyone who would join in on the fun, especially during the summer nights when the warm air kept us out past sunset and the dark skies made finding anyone that much more rewarding. Well, now in my 30s, I don’t remember the last time I was tagged “it,” but it just so happens that this wonderful blog-o-sphere not only keeps us living our our writerly dreams, but also continues the tradition of playing tag with fellow bloggers!
Last week, NCFoodie of In my mind I’m going, tagged me and shared sentiments about my blog that make me blush :-) So here it is, my entry to keep the game going…
The golden rules of tagging:
*Link to the person who tagged you
*Post the rules on the blog posted
*Write six random things about yourself
*Tag six people at the end of your post
*Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
*Let the tagger know when your entry is published
Here are some random facts about me:
1. I like to watch bull riding.
2. I was in an academic/beauty pageant in high school.
3. I can’t eat cooked peppers but can eat them raw.
4. I once had a pet rabbit named Sushi—I think my mom named her.
5. I shoot pool left-handed, but am right-handed.
6. I was born seven weeks early.
Here are the bloggers I’ve tagged to come out and play . . .
1. http://minnieatworld.blogspot.com/ Minnie Eat World - A fantastic food writer and editor.
2. http://www.andreasrecipes.com/ Andrea’s Recipes - My fabulous Adopt-a-Blogger mentor and creator of Grow Your Own.
3. http://veganyumyum.com/ VeganYumYum - A fellow Bostonian and superb food photographer and writer.
4. http://foodmee.blogspot.com/ foodmee - A friend and fellow foodie.
5. http://shizuokagourmet.wordpress.com/ Shizuoka Gourmet - A great food and sake writer from Bourgogne who nows lives in Japan.
6. http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/ Love and Olive Oil - A favorite food writing couple.
Many thanks to NCFoodie for my “it” tag and the kind praise :-)
Filed under side dish | Comments (2)get relief from unwanted visitors on thanksgiving
Turkey? Check.
Fixings? Check.
Wine? Check.
Desserts? Check.
Much needed relief from indigestion? Umm…
I’m anticipating eating more than a fair or reasonable share of grub this Thanksgiving, especially since we’re hosting a post-Thanksgiving feast for our friends a few days after the actual holiday. Unlike every other year where I bury the memories of a not-so-blissful indigestion, this year I know what I’m in for, and I plan to be prepared!
As I’m slowing building a collection of the Be Well Red Teas from The Republic of Tea, I picked up get relief. The label reads that “Cinnamon, anise, and peppermint make this a civilized, no-nonsense way to say farewell to those unwelcome gastro visitors.” Perfect.
I’ve taken this Rooibos-based herbal blend for a couple of taste tests before the big day. After all, a girl doesn’t want to be surprised when it comes to the results of a “relief” tea. Aromas of Anise and Cinnamon comfort while Peppermint and Stevia freshen with a subtle sweet cleanse. It’s a straight-A-sipper.
Check, please.
Filed under teas and tonics | Comment (0)no bake dessert
Whether baking isn’t your forte or visions of Thanksgiving fatigue dance in your head, I offer you a no bake solution for dessert — dessert teas. I discovered a selection of baked good teas by Tea Guys (related post: tease me), and admit that the quality and taste of the “real thing” is present in all.
They boast the rewarding scents and flavors without the effort. I could fancy them up as lattes, but for now, I choose to let hot water and a splash of milk do all the work. Their aromas and tastes fool my senses into baked good belief, but I sip easy knowing it’s all flavor without the guilt. Would also pair well with dessert…if I must.
Key Lime Pie (caffeine medium loose black tea)
Crisp sweet and tangy key lime is clean and fresh as yogurt smooths the finish.
Carrot Cake (caffeine free herbal tea)
Maple brittle calms the way for carrots, raisins and coconut to mingle with cinnamon, cloves, ginger and walnuts.
Ginger Snap Cookie (caffeine free rooibos tea)
Glazed almonds and hazelnuts nuzzle toasty warmth then wake with the exotic pineapple, mango, papaya and coconut.
Sweet Pumpkin Spice (caffeine free rooibos tea)
Toasted rice, candied peanuts and pumpkin seeds warm with cinnamon, mace and ginger at their heels.
Contact Tea Guys to find a retailer near you.
Filed under teas and tonics | Comments (6)frolicking with fred
I’ve been seeing a lot of FRED lately. And, I need to confess, I like him. I met him at T J Maxx. Then I read about him in Food & Wine. Seems everyone finds him irresistible.
So far, I’m smitten with his ice kabobs. Water freezes into ice chunks along stirrers nestled in brightly colored silicone trays. Once popped, they are perfect for keeping martinis fashionably chill. Maybe if I introduce him to my fiance, we can invite FRED to the wedding. I’m sure all would appreciate the way he spruces up cocktail hour.
Filed under market maven | Comments (3)
