Wine Slushies, Winesicles and Ice Pop Molds – Are You Ready For Summer?
May 18, 2012 - Written by DianaWhat happens when you stick your bottle of wine in the freezer to cool quickly and forget about it? Wine slushies….. I’m sorry, I didn’t have an ice bucket and I thought that was the easiest way to do it. I’ve thought about making a wine granita. That’s where you put a liquid in the freezer in a shallow layer and scrape it around every so often mixing it with the liquid that’s left, to create a true wine slushie. Truthfully, I was sure I was creating some sort of really big snobby wine faux pas… until I found out what they’re doing in Chicago. Do you think we could do this ourselves?
Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park Hotel offers the perfect adult beverage, in a popsicle. Back by popular demand, this year’s winesicles offers some delicious and frozen options for wine lovers. Come to eno wine room inside the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park for an adults only sweet summer treat.
Red, White and Blueberry!! – Available for Memorial Day Weekend
- Brachetto d’Acqui
- Sweet White Wine
- Blueberry Infused Simple Syrup
- Water
The winesicles mentioned below are available from Memorial Day through the end of the summer. Each one is available for $5.
Muscatsicles
- Muscat (semi-sweet)
- Orange Juice
- Pineapple Juice
- Simply Syrup
- Pinch …
Friday Unwind – CalNaturale Wine in Tetrapaks- What Do I Think?
March 30, 2012 - Written by Diana
I was going to go easy tonight with a white wine spritzer. I’ve been working a lot of overtime to complete a project, and I had decided to try out this wine, and use it in a spritzer. Unfortunately -when I was looking for a spritzer – the spritz was gone. No seltzer or even soda – we don’t buy it often, but it’s gone. So even easier – it’s wine review night – CalNaturale wines – Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and they are made from organically grown grapes!
My dad used to buy boxed wine in the 70s and 80s, but I wasn’t a fan, so I decided to try out the tetrapacks, hoping wine has improved. Plus, organic wine is definitely something I would look at. I’m not sure I understand the green vs greener argument of tetrapaks vs glass or glass vs tetrapaks. It’s more energy to produce glass, but can be recycled vs, less energy for tetrapaks, but while it takes up a lot less space, doesn’t get recycled? I do know that if you are traveling, the tetrapaks are more …
Spiced Sangria
September 22, 2011 - Written by DianaSpiced Sangria – Wow, this looks so delicious I had to share. I love all the fall fruit used to make this lovely spiced Sangria.
3-4 fresh figs, sliced (or 1 cup dried figs)
1-2 fresh gala apples, sliced
2-3 clementines, sliced (not peeled)
1 lemon, sliced
2 bottles VOGA Italia Merlot
3 cups sparkling apple cider
1 cup orange juice
½ cup brandy
½ cup dark spiced rum
4 cinnamon sticks
5 whole clovesInstructions:
Slice apples and insert whole cloves directly into the fruit.
Combine all fruit slices in a glass pitcher and slowly pour in brandy and wine. Cover and chill from 2-24 hours (the longer, the better!)Before serving, add sparkling cider and orange juice. Stir gently and serve over ice.
Makes about 15 servings.
Photo by @Rich Brainerd 2011-12, http://2eat2drink.com .
What I’m trying – Wine Doctor Intelli-Stopper
August 24, 2011 - Written by Diana
The Wine Doctor Intelli-Stopper helps to preserve the wine left in your bottle after you’ve opened it, plus removes any air left in the bottle. The Classic wine preservation kit contains one pump, to remove the air and two stoppers. You line the preserver pump onto the stopper and pull the air out until the red indicator disappears. It’s easy to use, and though I don’t have a scientific way to measure success (except for the red indicator), I can tell that when I take out the stopper, the whoosh of air tells me that the stopper worked. I’ve had other stoppers and I also have an electric preservation kit, but none of it comes close to the Wine Doctor Intelli-Stopper. The preserver is small enough to stick in a drawer and doesn’t need to be plugged in to an outlet, more pluses if you ask me.
Red Wine Blends for your Valentine
February 12, 2011 - Written by Diana
My husband and I are doing you a big favor – we’re tasting wine blends so that you can get our honest opinion of what we think. It’s a tough job, but we’re doing this so you can enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your loved one. So far, I’d have to say we are enjoying them and it’s not like wine punch – a mixture of different wines just thrown together, but it does have different compatible flavors hitting your tongue in a nice way.My husband predictably liked the Barefoot Sweet Red Blend. He likes sweet wines, but Barefoot Sweet Red isn’t a dessert wine, it’s a smooth, sweet red wine a little fruity, a little sweet, nice tasting, but not too sweet. Sweet Red ($7), is a deliciously sweet blend of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Petite Sirah. I’m including a Sangria recipe below that I would be great to share with your significant other. My dad used to make Sangria for our summer gatherings, but there was never enough to go around. This wine is perfect for Sangria.
Grilled Veal Chops in a Red Wine Sauce
September 13, 2010 - Written by Diana
The kids are gone, so bring out the good meat. Does that sound bad? When you have kids sometimes you want a bit of something more, but spending the money with teens around could be a waste since they consume every thing in two minutes and then run. It’s difficult to want to cook dinner some nights with just two of you, but if you can change it up a little and make it interesting, it’s worth it. I thought veal chops was just the thing to change it up a little. I grilled the meat and then made a red wine sauce to go over it. Simple fast and easy – even for a busy work or date night.
Ingredients:
- 2 veal chops
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- 2 tbs butter
- 1 shallot
- sage leaves
- 1 cup red wine (like cabernet sauvinon)
Brush veal with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill on a hot grill pan (or on the grill). In the second pan, melt butter. Slice shallots and throw into hot butter along with the sage leaves. When the onions are soft and carmelized, add the red wine. Simmer until …
Fun Valentines Ideas!
February 13, 2010 - Written by DianaI saw a commercial that showed a man in a grocery store picking out a Valentines card for his wife. She passes by and asks what he’s doing, and he says – nothing. Then they mention the store and say fast, cheap and easy. Well, maybe fast, cheap and easy, but imaginative? Thoughtful? Creative? Depends on what you expect. My husband does buy me flowers because I just love to see blooms on my kitchen table in the middle of winter. I like to make my husband some Chocolate Covered Almonds. They’re so delicious and he’s a lover of nuts, especially those. For my kids I make chocolate bars with fruit or nuts, or in fun shapes. I have lots of ideas and most are quick and easy (though not as easy as running into the store to pick up a card) and they know that I do it because they’re worth the effort and that there’s love involved.
Host a Wine and Chocolate Tasting:
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Wine Tasting in Shenandoah National Park
June 15, 2009 - Written by Diana
View from Strongman Mountain
I know the postings have been sporadic lately. We went on vacation and my partner (ahem) didn’t find the time to post. We didn’t have any internet or even cell phone connection in our cabin – except one bar on the top floor with the phone up against the top part of the window. It didn’t matter, we were there to unwind, hike, read, have fun and disconnect. It was family time – well mostly.
One evening my husband and I decided to take a little time to ourselves. We drove up into Shenandoah National Park for a wine tasting. They have a person from a Virginia vineyard come up and do a wine tasting with a group of about 12 people. You get to sample the different wines, plus their representative tells you about what he thinks you should know about the different wines. They’ll tell you how they think it tastes on the palate, where you’ll get the most taste, what you should be looking for and how to pair it. The restaurant servers …
Vineyard Cuisine – Meals & Memories from Messina Hof by Merrill & Paul Bonarrigo
October 1, 2008 - Written by Diana
Merrill was from Texas, the grand daughter of German immigrants. Paul was from New Jersey the grandson of Italian immigrants. They met in Texas, married and started a vineyard that they called Messina Hof. This book tells of their meeting, their families, their traditions.
It contains recipes passed down from their immigrant backgrounds, most of which pair up well with or use Messina Hof wines to create. The story continues with their vineyard/winery building and their raising of their son. Throughout the book are delicious sounding recipes. There are guidelines on pairing wines with foods. The Bonarrigos talk about building a community with their vineyard including people in picking the grapes, building a villa, hosting weddings.
Kaaterskill Reserve Wine
July 13, 2008 - Written by Diana
Last night, it was pouring rain and my husband and I were supposed to be working on the house but we were just exhausted. I cooked up a fajita salad for dinner, and then we had ice cream in the living room while finishing up watching a movie. So here we are relaxing and eating ice cream and I remembered something we bought last year. It was an expensive small bottle of wine, we bought when we were up in Windham, NY last summer. I had forgotten about it, plus we don’t often get the house to ourselves to hang out. So I got the Kaaterskill Reserve Wine and poured it over our Butter Pecan Ice Cream. It was delicious and sweet and just perfect over our ice cream. A few years ago, my sister-in-law poured Raspberry wine over our vanilla ice cream and that was where I got the idea.
