Great Gifting: Homemade Limoncello

"Pure sunshine in a bottle." 

That's my favorite description of Limoncello, the refreshing and iconic drink of the Italian Coast. Hubby and I fell in love with the lemon liquor during our honeymoon in Italy. After each dinner (and occasionally even lunch) our cameriere (waiter) would deliver the delightful chilled shot glass of brilliant yellow liquid. Whether sipped or shot, a glass of this elixir leaves you with a slight afterglow, as if you have been kissed by the sun.

Since we couldn't stay in Italy forever (oh, how I wish we could have) we had to hunt down our new favorite after-dinner digestivo stateside.  Ten years ago, that wasn't so easy.  Luckily, a co-worker's Italian Mama graced us with her family recipe. Making limoncello became Hubby's passion, nearly an obsession, as he tried to duplicate the taste he so fondly remembered from our lazy days in Italian cafes.

Don't worry, we shared. Limoncello became a holiday tradition. Friends and relatives threatened to withhold our gifts if we didn't give them another years supply under the tree. Yeah, it was that good.

When we bought our home years ago, one of the first garden purchases we made was our own little lemon tree. Kept in a huge pot by the pool, our little tree produces a healthy crop each year. As soon as they are ripe and ready, it's time to make the cello. Hubby zests and I save all the juice and freeze it for later use. A few years later, we added another tree (which finally produced fruit for the first time this year!)

I'm going to share our TOP SECRET recipe with you. This recipe makes quite a big batch -- enough to last you a year (unless you have a wicked drinking problem) and to share. Make it. Put it in a cute bottle. Heck, you could put it in a plastic water bottle. Your friends will LOVE you...

Italian Limoncello

1 kilo lemons - 2.2 lbs (about 10)
1 liter grain alcohol*
1.25 liters water
700 grams (3 1/2 cups) sugar

Step 1

• Using a zester or a fine grater, remove only the colored part of the lemon rind. Avoid the white pith just below — it is bitter and will change the flavor. (This part is messy, but your whole house will smell like a citrus grove.)
• Pour the grain alcohol into a large glass jug or jar (must have a lid to seal). Add the zested rind. Let it sit for four days to two weeks at room temperature. (Yes, it must be glass. Large mason jars or recycled gallon sized wine bottles work well. The citric acids will corrode plastic.)

Step 2 (four days to two weeks later)

• In a large pot, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Cool. 
• Layer some cheesecloth over a mesh strainer and set over a large bowl.  Pour the grain/rind carefully into the strainer, filtering out all of the rind. Pour the (now vibrant yellow) alcohol back into the glass jar. 
• Add in cooled sugar water.
• Store in glass or distribute into smaller, decorative bottles. Keep servings in the freezer —it is best ice cold.

*Many recipes call for vodka, but we prefer grain. Higher alcohol content = no chance of it freezing when you store it in the freezer. But if you can 't find grain (I'm told some states won't sell it?) you can use vodka.

*We don't waste the lemons after they've been zested. We freeze the juice in ice cube trays and save it for cooking and lemonade.

*Don't worry about letting it sit. The longer you wait to drink it, the better it tastes. But make sure to drink it ice cold. 

As I stated before, this makes a fabulous gift. You can find decorative bottle many places such as Ross, World Market, Pier 1, TJ Maxx, etc. You can also recycle glass beverage bottles for a simple and inexpensive presentation—the Sweetleaf Tea bottles are the perfect size and the caps even state "Homemade Goodness"

I've made many lables over the years, but this is a scan of my original Limoncello tag I've used for over ten years. Maybe it's time to update, but I'll always love it.

 front                                       back

Now, make go some Limoncello. Take two shots and email me in the morning.

If you do any more I don't want to hear from you (and don't blame your hangover on me).

Salute! 

{that's "cheers" in Italian, you know...}

Echelon Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio: A Relaxing Review

photo by EchelonVineyards.com

Above is the perfect example of what I've WANTED to do lately...relax in my garden with a delightful bottle of wine, watch the butterflies dance on the breeze, the squirrels play tag, and my family play in the pool.  Add in some food, friends, and a good book and I'd be in nirvana. (Some Nirvana playing in the background would work too...nah, not mellow enough...let's change that to some Jack Johnson & DMB.)

But with my temporary work schedule (more about that on another post) that's just a wistful daydream.

I can't even enjoy a glass of wine during the week — Quelle horreur!  The promising pop of a cork sliding from a bottle, the gentle glug of wine lapping against a crystal glass, the complex aroma swirling through the heavy air, that first sip of nectar... 


Can you tell I'm in withdrawal?


Luckily, the wonderful people at Echelon Vineyards were kind enough to send me samples of their Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Red Blend wines.  And a handy-dandy corkscrew, much to my Hubby's infinite delight.  Heaven in a box.

First up was the 2010 Pinot Grigio. This crisp, almost fruity wine was absolutely perfect after a long, hot Florida Saturday.

 The citrus tones complimented the hints of almost... sweetness...an ideal wine  for some alfresco poolside dining. (How I wished I had the time to pop on a pool float with a book and a cool glass of the wine!) I paired it with one of my favorite dinners of chicken in wine sauce with risotto, and the Hubby and I enjoyed a lovely evening in our own little backyard oasis.  Cool, refreshing, and delicious.


After a pedicure, lunch, and shopping with my mom on Mother's Day, I came home to find my Hubby cleaning the house and prepping dinner. {ahhh...}

He handed me my book and a glass of the Echelon Collection Chardonnay — bliss!  This Napa Valley Chardonnay seemed to gently roll out of the glass, richer and more lush than the Pinot Grigio, yet still lovely on a summer evening.  It's flavor hinted of vanilla and made me crave an apple pie. The wine was not overly oaky or buttery, as some Chardonnays tend to be. Lovely, mellow, and balanced.

It paired perfectly with my Mother's Day dinner of grilled balsamic chicken topped with prosciutto. If only there had been enough left to pair with dessert...

Both wines are excellent values for their price point of about $10 and would be a welcome addition to any get-together with friends or quiet evening in.


I do have to add, I loved this little bit of marketing prose by the Echelon Vineyards team:

We think you're entitled to some recognition too. We believe wine is a simple reward and makes every day a celebration. Whether you've completed a 5K run, successfully put the kids to bed for the night, survived a challenging work day, or finished making a killer roast chicken, pour yourself a glass of Echelon and celebrate life's small blessings!

I couldn't agree more.  Cheers!

*This product was sent to me for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.  I cannot guarantee a positive review for any product or services, but I can promise a review written with honesty and integrity. 

Celebrating with Cupcake Prosecco

Last Wednesday I finished the first draft of my novel. {cue applause, fist bumps, high-fives, and whoo-hoos }  Surviving my first such labor called for a celebration. It was time to break out the bubbly.

Luckily, my dear Hubby was thoughtful enough to take out the good flutes and pop my bottle of Cupcake Vineyards Prosecco into the fridge to properly chill. The celebration was ON.

 A few bubbly basics: just because a wine has bubbles does not make it a champagne. Any wine which bubbles when poured into a glass is considered a sparkling wine. Varieties are produced around the globe, from South Africa to Germany to even Texas. Most are produced by a similar technique: a second fermentation of the wine produces carbon dioxide which is kept under pressure and creates bubbles. A true Champagne must be made in the Champagne region of France, about 90 mile northeast of Paris. 

Prosecco is a sparkling wine made only in the Veneto region of Italy (think gondolas and grapes).  It is generally a fresh, dry wine, meant to be drunk while still young (the wine, not the drinker).

I first sampled Prosecco while while on my honeymoon in Italy. I have many fond memories of drinking the bubbly (and some pictures that I don't quite remember) after my wedding in Rome and while wandering through a flooded Venice with a bottle in hand.

So generally, it's safe to say I like Prosecco. And I most certainly enjoyed the Cupcake variety.

It was much lighter and less complicated than a fussy Champagne. The crisp, clean flavors reminded me of fresh tart apples with a drop of homemade lemonade. It was vibrant and dry with just a subtle dose of sweetness. The nose was slightly citrusy, but the dry effervescence of nearly any sparkling wine usually overwhelms me too much to properly detect the aroma.

The Cupcake Prosecco would be a delightful addition to any celebration, and its price point simply cannot be beat. While it is excellent on its own, it would make a mean Bellini or Mimosa as well.

Cupcake Vineyards NV Prosecco D.O.C. 2010

Pairings: Perfect with nearly any appetizer.

Price:  Suggested retail $13.99, but I've seen it on sale for as low as $7.99 (a steal!)

Availability: Nationally



Related Posts: Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Review


*This product was sent to me for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.  I cannot guarantee a positive review for any product or services, but I can promise a review written with honesty and integrity.  

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Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc: Flippant Food & Wine Friday

Any blog regulars or twitter followers should know how I adore wine. Some women relax with crochet needles, some go for Prozac, I savor a glass (or two) of wine at the end of the day. So when Cupcake Vineyards asked if I wanted to review a selection of their wines...there was no arm twisting necessary...only dreams of untwisting a few caps from bottles of their varied vintages.

And I do mean varied.  When most people picture a vineyard, rows of lush grape vines and villas come to mind, the grapes harvested, bottled, and distributed from the same carefully tended land.  The Cupcake Vineyards winery resides in Soledad, California, far south of the famed Napa Valley. But since each grape variety has distinctly different needs, they also buy grapes from around the world, taking advantage of the unique soils, micro-climates, and generations of experience to expand their wine selection.


Cupcake's Sauvignon Blanc hails from the cool climes of Marlborough, New Zealand, the country's largest wine growing region.



I was nearly startled by my first sip of the Sauvignon Blanc. The cool, crisp, nearly tart wine was the virtual opposite of my go-to buttery and oaky chardonnay.  After a few minutes if opened up just a bit, the flavor mellowing into a delightful mix of fresh greens and zingy citrus.

This pale, light-to-medium bodied wine was quite refreshing. The winemaker calls out the bright lemon and lime tastes; I was reminded of a Granny Smith apple (perhaps because I was staring at a bowl full of them). Either way, I was inspired to bake an apple cake as I sipped the delightful wine.

It paired well with a grilled chicken salad, the wine echoing the crispness and freshness of the vegetables. Perfect for a summer afternoon or dining al fresco on a balmy Florida fall evening.




Cupcake Vineyards 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

Pairings: White meats (chicken, light fish, shellfish), light vinaigrettes, salads.

Price: Suggested $13.99

Availability: Nationwide








*This product was sent to me for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.  I cannot guarantee a positive review for any product or services, but I can promise a review written with honesty and integrity. 
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One-Buck Chuck and my Frugal Food Challange

So back at the beginning of the month I wrote about My October Food Budget Challenge and promised to save ALL of my grocery receipts. The USDA thinks my little family of three should be spending $464 to $963 per month on groceries. I disagree.

Now, I DID mention that I am not including my wine budget. You can't make me. 

But I do have to show off a Target frugal find from Friday:

No, I DO NOT DRINK Arbor Mist. 

OR White Zin.

(Well, maybe in college, but that was a LONG TIME AGO.)

 

But I know people who do. 

I'm just trying to be a nice hostess.

(They don't have to know it cost $1.)

The Martin Codax, however, is a Albarino from the wine reigion of Rias Baixas in Northwest Spain. 

Reviews say its a pretty decent bottle for its $16 price point.

Personally, I like this bottle's $2 price point much better.

I would have bought more, but I scoured the shelves and it was the ONLY one.

I only hope it didn't sit in a truck for two years and taste like vinegar when we pop the cork.

Now back to the REAL budgeting.

Week 1 was tricky. I hosted Kiddo's birthday party and had ten family members over for lunch, cake, and drinks and I had to bring store-bought cupcakes into his class.  There was also a ton of stuff I use on sale at Publix (with coupon matches--come on, how can I turn down pasta for a quarter?) so I had a much bigger shopping week than usual.

Week 1:

Publix $60.37 (saved $95.41 though)
Aldi $52.49
Walmart $15.84

TOTAL $128.70

Week 2:

Publix: $7.43
Aldi: $36.28

TOTAL:  $43.71

The USDA says I should be spending between $108 (thrifty) and $192 (liberal) per week, so even with the big party week, I'm still doing okay.

{sticks tongue out at USDA}

We shall see how it goes. I still have to do a Costco run before the end of the month. Ka-ching.

Wish You Were Here

Heaven.

 

Did I mention there is a hammock, a book, 

and cloudless blue skies involved as well?

Cheers & wish you were here...

Filet tastes on a franks & beans budget: My October Challange

While wasting time being productive on twitter last week, I stumbled upon a tweet which piqued my interest. 

Groceries? Money? I followed the link to the Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels.  After I pushed my jaw back up from my chest, I found the information exceptionally interesting. According to these scientifically and mathematically formulated charts,  my little family of three should be spending at the grocery store each month:

$4880 - thrifty plan
$633.90 - low-cost plan
$783.80 - moderate plan
$964.40 - liberal plan

$964 per month? We'd have to be dining on filet mignon with a side of every off-season fruit and veggie sauteed in truffle butter each night for dinner. Maybe some homemade tiramisu as well (that darned marscapone cheese IS expensive). I could make all the recipes I wanted to try —  like truffled deviled eggs — from the new Cook Like A Rock Star cookbook I am reviewing for Bookshelf Bombshells. I would never have to clip another coupon in my life.

Now, these numbers are assuming all monthly means and snacks are prepared at home. Hubby and Kiddo brown-bag lunch and we almost never eat out, so these number should mesh, right?

 

I am not about to reveal our wine budget. 

You must possess top secret wino clearance to be privy to that information.

 

What a fabulous idea. I believe I will.

I  blogged last year about my grocery shopping addiction. If you haven't read that post yet, you should — it explains my love affair with grocery stores and the rush I get when I score fabulous deals. Not all of us can climb mountains, jump out of perfectly good airplanes, or afford a vicious drug habit — a girl has to get her thrills somewhere. Everyone needs some hobbies, and well, I love food and I have a puney budget, so I have learned to make due.


I am nowhere near an extreme couponer; those people are certifiably crazy and I'm sure there will be an official disease named for them soon (couponaholic? suffering from extreme unnecessary stockpiling syndrome?). I do not illicit looks of terror form the cashiers when they see me coming.

I shop at three stores. I hit Costco for frozen meats, paper goods, and sometimes produce. I go to Publix for whatever is on sale (BOGO dry goods, frozen foods, and a tiny bit of meat and produce), and I use Aldi for just about everything else (milk, eggs, produce, and many other things are ALWAYS cheaper there).  Oh, and I hit the Entenmann's outlet for bread and bagels ($1 for whole grain Arnold breads and Thomas' bagels, okay). 

Yes, this takes some extra time, but time I have, money I don't. It works for us.

So this month I am going to save all of my grocery receipts so I can discover what I really spend on food. I don't have a set budget; I buy whatever is on sale. Some weeks I spend next to nothing, some weeks I stock up. I will be curious to see how it really evens out.

I am also starting will a full pantry and freezers (they are always full). Technically, we could go an entire month without shopping and not starve, but that would just be no fun. I will shop as per normal.

I have a couple of birthday parties and family entertaining events to work in this month. How much will that add to the bottom line? I'll find out and let you know.

This should be interesting. And I will see if I have to eat my words...

Christmas in September?

While running through JoAnne's this afternoon I was shocked to see holiday decorations already lining the isles. No, not Halloween (that's already on clearance), not Thanksgiving (currently marked 50% off), but Christmas. In September. But, I'm still getting used to this back-to-school thing...I haven't even started thinking about Halloween yet...it's still 90 freaking degrees outside, for Christ's sake... STOP the PRESSURE! 

Then one ornament caught my eye, then another, and yet another.  WINE ornaments. Hmmmm...Maybe I'll have to go back in a few months when they are on sale, there is a slight nip in the air, and I feel the slightest hint of holiday cheer...

{Please excuse the photo fuzziness — my phone is practically an antique.}

If you are on my holiday gifting list, please at least pretend to be surprised if you see one of these under the tree.

Cheers my friends...

Bombshells and Blueberry Puppy Dogs

Have I mentioned that I am a Bombshell yet?

Bookshelf Bombshells is the brainchild of several close friends who have a few crucial things in common: they all read, they all have opinions, and they all have breasts. Clearly, the way forward would be to share all of those things with the Internet (metaphorically so, for that last bit). Thus was born Bookshelf Bombshells, book reviews and author interviews by beautiful, brainy women. Our staff of literate ladies are hot for everything between the covers, from vicious vampires to juicy memoirs, from hard science to soft romance. We lust for the well-written word.

http://bookshelfbombshells.com

I was tickled when I was invited to be the Food & Wine Book Reviewer.  A chance to read  cookbooks, foodie memoirs, and drink guides before they are released?  The opportunity to test new recipes before their collections hit the bookshelves? Oh, yeah...I did not have to be asked twice.  I am also the reigning Copy Kitten — which basically means I (along with several other brilliant women) get to proof everyone else's work. Rather amusing, considering half the time I barely have the chance to proof my own words before I throw them up on this site.

My first review is  Slippery Tipples by Joseph Piercy: A Guide to Weird and Wonderful Spirits & Liqueurs. Sound intriguing? Check it out.

Of course, I chose to test out the recipe featuring one of my all-time favorite indulgences, limoncello.

Blueberry Puppy Dogs

10cl limoncello
2cl lemon juice
2cl simple syrup (sugar and water mix)
1 cup of blueberries
10cl carbonated water

A delightful frozen cocktail for hot summer afternoons. In a blender or with a hand blender mix the blueberries with lemon juice, simple syrup, and limoncello until they form a rough slush. Add the carbonated water and freeze for two hours. When ready to serve thaw for twenty minutes and spoon the icy slushy mixture into tall glass. Drink with a straw and maybe garnish with a sprinkle of chopped blueberries.

-From Slippery Tipples by Joseph Piercy

Are your lips smacking yet? You know you want to read more. For the full book review (and many more spanning genres from chick lit to urban fantasy with a plethora of others mixed in) head over to the Bookshelf Bombshells site, follow us on Twitter @bookshelfbmshls, or "like" us on Facebook.

  CHEERS!

 

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TangerineCello Recipe

"Pure sunshine in a bottle."

That's my favorite description of Limoncello, the refreshing and iconic drink of the Italian Coast. Hubby and I fell in love with the lemon liquor during our honeymoon in Italy. After each dinner (and occasionally even lunch) our cameriere (waiter) would deliver the delightful chilled shot glass of brilliant yellow liquid. Whether sipped or shot, a glass of this elixir leaves you with a slight afterglow, as if you have been kissed by the sun.

Since we couldn't stay in Italy forever (oh, how I wish we could have) we had to hunt down our new favorite after-dinner digestivo stateside.  Ten years ago, that wasn't so easy.  Luckily, a co-worker's Italian Mother graced us with her family recipe. Making limoncello became Hubby's passion, nearly an obsession, as he tried to duplicate the taste he so fondly remembered from our lazy days in Italian cafes.

Don't worry, we shared. Limoncello became a holiday tradition. Friends and relatives threatened to withhold our gifts if we didn't give them another years supply under the tree. Yeah, it was that good.

When we moved into our home we were pleased to discover it came with a mature tangerine tree. It produced bushels of fruit. And we had no idea what to do with all of it. One year Hubby got a flash of culinary brilliance and decided to adapt our Limoncello recipe to use up our bounty of tangerines.

A new specialty drink was born. And drunk. And enjoyed.

I'm going to share our TOP SECRET recipe with you. This recipe makes quite a big batch -- enough to last you a year (unless you have a wicked drinking problem) and to share. Make it. Your friends will LOVE you...

Trattoria Morgan's Tangerine Cello**

 **(to make Limoncello simply sub lemons for the tangerines)

1 kilo tangerines - 2.2 lbs (about 10)
1 liter grain alcohol*
1.25 liters water
700 grams (3 1/2 cups) sugar


Step 1

• Zest tangerines. Take a zester or a fine grater and remove only the colored part of the rind.  *Avoid the white pith -- it is bitter and will change the flavor.* (This part is messy, but your whole house will smell like a citrus grove.)
• Pour the grain alcohol into a large glass jug or jar (must have a lid to seal). Add the zested rind. Let it sit for two weeks. (Yes, it must be glass. Large mason jars or recycled gallon sized wine bottles work well. The citric acids will corrode plastic.)

Step 2 (two weeks later)

• In a large pot, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Cool. 
• Layer some cheesecloth over a mesh strainer and set over a large bowl.  Pour the grain/rind carefully into the strainer, filtering out all of the rind. Pour the (nice orange) alcohol back into the glass jar. 
• Add in cooled sugar water.
• Let it sit another week or two. Store in glass or distribute into smaller, decorative bottles. Keep servings in the freezer -- it is best ice cold.

*Many recipes call for vodka, but we prefer grain. Higher alcohol content = no chance of it freezing when you store it in the freezer. But if you can 't find grain (I'm told some states won't sell it?) you can use vodka.

Take three shots and email me in the morning.
If you do any more I don't want to hear from you (and don't blame your hangover on me).

Salute! 

{that's "cheers" in Italian, you know...}

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Wordless Wino Wednesday: The Morning After

On a much lighter note...

Remnants of a good night. 

{No, not last night, but a memorable recent Saturday evening.} 

2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2008 Gnarley Head Old Vine Zin

2009 Big Ass Zin

and a reserve bottle of Winking Owl Chardonnay

+

Steaks on the grill

Potato, Proscuitto, & Fontina Cakes (recipe to come)

Sabrina's Spinach Salad

=

Cheers, lovelies...

Fab &Funny Wine Charms

Saturday night we had friends over for an evening of wine tasting, recipe experimentation, and intelligent conversation. I broke out the "good" Waterford tulip white wine glasses only to find {gasp} trash bag twist ties wrapped around their delicate bases. Hubby couldn't find our wine charms and went all MacGyver on me. Hence, our Redneck Wine Charms.

I was not amused.

It was time to find some proper wine charms.  It does get rather old trying to delineate whose glass is whose...especially after you have consumed a few glasses...

The only place I could find ANY cool, fun, or funky wine charms was Etsy.  Which ones should I choose?

Best Seller Wine Charms $16

Cult Movie Poster Wine Charms $23

Retro Pin-Up Wine girls $19

Girls Night In $12 

Naughty Scottish Words $10

Famous Paintings $10

Comic Book Wine Tags $22 (for the Hubby)

Or the epitome of class and charm, Dickie Wine Charms (not from Etsy)

Which ones shall I buy?

Why Sharing a Birthday Stinks

A long time ago, in a sweltering suburb a few hundred miles away, a little girl was born.  Growing up as an only child, this little girl thought birthdays were all about her.  She never had big fancy parties (bounce houses and magic fairy face painters had yet to be discovered) but enjoyed intimate celebrations with neighborhood friends and family.

On the night of her ninth birthday she received a wonderful surprise: she had a new cousin.  Her mom announced the news while the girl was frolicking in the backyard swimming pool with her best friends.  It beat out the Barbie clothes and bicycle by far.  It was the best birthday present ever. 

Flash forward about fifteen years.  This young, independent woman met a sweet, smart, and even kind of cute guy.  On their first date they discovered they have many things in common: a passion for books, a love of history, similar tastes in music, both graduated from the same university, and both share the same birthday.

Well, same date but four years apart.

And his older brother was also born on this crowed day five year before him.

Apparently October was a very busy time for making babies. (She filed that away for future reference.)

Fate was just screwing with her.  This was either REALLY creepy or they were meant to be.

Flash forward again to present day. The couple has been married for 10+ years. And this woman (yes, it's ME) freely admits SHE HATES SHARING HER BIRTHDAY.

She doesn't want presents or parties.  Once she passed 21 there was no need for a big celebration.  Once she passed 30 there was no need to really even mention the day.

All she wants is one day a year she doesn't have to clean up cat puke, cook, load the dishwasher, or clean pee off the bathroom floor.  If she had her OWN birthday these teeny tiny little requests could be easily granted by her husband and son.  But it's her husband's special day too.  And birthdays are a BIG deal in his family.

She can't really go out with girlfriends because then the celebrations would be lopsided. Men don't go out with their 'boyfriends'.

So what does the birthday couple do? A few of the birthdays were a blast. The year Disney granted free admission on your birthday worked out well; the family enjoyed a day at the Magic Kingdom for the price of a child admission.  Last year the Dave Matthew's Band was thoughtful enough to hold a concert on the couple's special day and the duo danced the night away under the stars.  But even things like concerts are tricky; it has to be a band BOTH love (no Godsmack or Micheal Franti & Spearhead).

Most of the time they pickup three meals out so no one has to cook.  Okay, but once again they have to agree on where to go and precious time is wasted with the "Where do you want to go?  I don't know; where do YOU want to go?" debate which can last for hours.

As if they were twins (eeeww) the couple often receives joint gifts.  Yes, they are appreciative of anything anyone is kind enough to bestow upon them, but it is still a bit creepy.

Luckily they do share one love: wine.  Granted he is partial to reds and she to whites, but a bottle of vino has become the gift du jour.  Thank God they have that in common.

She is still tying to convince her husband to let her move her birthday up or back a day.  Then they could each have a day to pick meals and not have to pick up dead bugs.  She thinks it's a win-win deal.  Maybe it will happen...someday...Until then they will just have to enjoy a special glass of wine together on their special day.  Cheers.

Why I Deserve My Mommy Wine...And So Do You

First came The Wine Sisterhood,  Girl's Night Out, Working Girl Wines, and Little Black Dress: sassy wines with snazzy labels targeting the growing women's wine market.  Then came Mad Housewife, Mommy's Time Out, and Mommy Juice:  wines marketed towards not just women but {gasp} Mothers.

 Why are Mommy Wines such a hot button issue?

The big brouhaha is over Mom wines has me in a sober stupor.  I was overjoyed the first time I ever spotted a bottle of Mad Housewife as I pushed my shopping cart full of toilet paper and a testy toddler through my local grocery store.  It might as well  have been illuminated by a ray from heaven.  How did they know I was a mad housewife?  They must have made it just for me.  I immediately popped a bottle of chardonnay in between the applesauce and fruit snacks even though it blew my grocery budget.  I didn't care.  I deserved a treat too.


Now, don't worry.  I didn't rush home, leave the groceries in the trunk and plop Kiddo in a playpen in front of Baby Einstein while I cracked open the bottle and downed it in one goldfish bowl-sized glass.  Relax.  I am a responsible parent.  I am an adult.  And I am not an alcoholic.  But I did enjoy a glass later while I cooked dinner. 

And yes, my child was still awake.

And yes, he sees my husband and I enjoy a glass of wine on a regular basis.

And I think that is just fine.

I do not understand the whole viewpoint stating children should never see a mother enjoy a glass of wine.  Beer is marked directly to dads.  It is perfectly acceptable for fathers to sit and watch the game or hang by the bbq grill with a frosty beer in hand. 


This Father's Day cake from our local grocery store is a perfect example of the double standard.

Dad + beer = good 

but 

Mom + wine = unacceptable?

 I do agree that kids should not see their parents acting like drunken fools.  I'm not talking about downing a bottle while watching Sponge Bob with the neighborhood kids. Wine should not be the beverage of choice for an afternoon playdate.  But there is nothing wrong with savoring a glass of wine with dinner, even in front of the children.

So many average Americans just don't understand the culture of wine.  It's in no way a beverage to chug just to get drunk.  It is a delicacy to savor, to swirl in a glass to release the aroma, to sip while enjoying each variety's layered and distinctive flavor.   Wine has a unique relationship with food; when properly paired with a dish (be it calamari or cheesecake) it enhances the complex flavors of both the food and the wine. 

It's no wonder Europeans think Americans are so uptight. Wine is not taboo across the pond; instead it is a common beverage to drink with  meals.  Many children are given watered down wine from a young age in order to develop their palate and an appreciation for the taste.  Growing up in Germany, my mother's primary school took field trips (including tastings) to the local wineries.  Wine and the art/science of winemaking is a vital part or their culture, industry, and life.   {Calm down, I'm not advocating doing that here, just loosen up a bit, please.}

We have all heard about how numerous studies have shown moderate consumption of red wine is good for your heart but it also has some other benefits.

Red wine can rev up a woman's sex life: An Italian Research study found that women who were moderate red wine drinkers had a higher libido than those who drank other alcoholic beverages or who abstained. (Women who drank more than two glasses were no included in the study so drunkenness would not influence results.)

Wine is good for your waistline:  Reuters reported trim middle-aged women who drink moderately (red wine especially) are more likely to maintain their weight as they age opposed to non-drinkers. 

And in our home wine is also beneficial to our sanity.  Many nights when Hubby finishes working at his stressful job he joins me in the kitchen while I cook dinner.  We listen to music and sip on a glass of wine as we discuss our hectic days.  It is a ritual: we bid adieu to our accumulated stress and  relax as we enjoy each others company.   Hubby's doctor actually told him that a daily glass of wine keeps his blood pressure down and keeps him off Prozac.

Before children we relished going to wine tastings and preparing gourmet wine paring dinners with friends. At one time we had a moderate collection of decent wines, but my choice to stay at home with Kiddo limited our wine budget significantly.  We still crack open a good bottle to celebrate birthdays, holidays, good news and to share with great friends.  But if we ever win the lottery we will have a fully stocked and rocking wine cellar.  No more cheap wine for us.

We have always been label whores.  Wine purchases are often made not by the WA Points but by unique and funny names and labels.  And as a woman and a Mom I am drawn to the labels that reflect my lifestyle: Mommy Wines.  They are unpretentious, engaging, and a bit tongue-in-cheek, just like me.

Yes, I understand that some people out there are alcoholics or just do not know when to say when.  But the rest of us should not be judged by their behavior.  I am an adult.  I am a responsible parent.  And I enjoy wine.

Yes,  I deserve a bottle of Mommy wine.  Not because my life is so damn hard I need to get drunk, but because I deserve to be recognized as a responsible and respectable wine consumer.

Keep bringing those beautiful bottles on.

Wine Pairing Playlist for the Apocalypse

 The final countdown is ON.  I never imagined my last day on Earth would be spent at a soccer game.   If I had my way I would be listening to the following playlist while hosting a wine tasting of epic proportions.

One song, one bottle (or at least a taste of each).  No one will really care as 6 p.m. approaches.

 

It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)  by R.E. M. with Conundrum California White

Rapture by Blondie with Rapture Cabernet Sauvignon (duh)

Don't Fear the Reaper by  Blue Oyster Cult with Ghostly White

Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley with Redemption Zin 


Cities in Dust by Siouxsie and the Banshees with Zombie Zin

Death Don't Have No Mercy  by Grateful Dead  with Velvet Devil Merlot

Sympathy for the Devil by Rolling Stones with Sympathy For the Devil Icewine (a gimme)

Waiting For The End of The World by Elvis Costello with Cataclysm Cabernet Sauvignon

Until the End of the World by U2 with Temptation Zin

My Apocalypse by  Metallica with Return of the Living Red

 

The End by The Doors  with 7 Deadly Zins

Apocalypse Please by Muse with Plum Loco Sweet Plum & Cherry Wine

 When the World Ends by Dave Matthews Band with Pino Evil

 Here Comes The Flood by Peter Gabriel with Clean Slate Riesling

 Heaven is a Place On Earth by Belinda Carslile with Angel Juice Pinot Grigio

The End by The Beatles with Relax Riesling

and, well, since the end is coming anyway why the Hell not... 

Why Don't We Get Drunk And Screw by Jimmy Buffett with some of my favorite Sin Zin

Party on, Winos...
Cheers!

Wordless Wino Wednesday

I don't usually do this, but I happened to find this old photo yesterday.

{Yes, that's me on my 1st Birthday.  Explains A LOT.}

It was a GOOD day...

{Flashback to Friday night}:

Today was a good day.

I discovered I was not going to be forced to apply for the lingerie maid job I saw posted on Craigslist just to keep a roof over our heads.  (Seriously--scrubbing a gawking stranger's toilet while wearing a teddie --would that not be the absolute WORST job ever?) 

 I had three times as many blog hits as ever in my scattered history.  I gained a bunch of new followers (thanks and welcome to all of you!) and found dozens of smart, sassy and like-minded women with fabulous blogs of their own.  And I discovered I was pregnant.

Just kidding!

(Although I did email that to my parents and nearly cause them to suffer simultaneous heart attacks.  To quote my Dad, payback is gonna be a bitch.   I was just carried away by all the whirlwind of snarky comments I had been making all day.  I am a BAD daughter sometimes...)

But the best news came by way of  an after-hours phone call that put an end to a few of the roughest weeks we've been through in a while.  Hubby still has a job. Praise God, Hallelujah!  Moments like that make me wish a was a good little Protestant girl...

His "company" is going through massive layoffs, giving pink slips to over half his office and nearly 5,000 employees overall.  After 16 years of hard work and dedication he was informed his position had been cut.   Our world was about to drastically change.

Loss of health insurance.  Insane cobra costs.  Losing hundreds of hours of accrued vacation and sick time.  Massive mortgage payments.  Credit rating going down the crapper.  Meager savings disappearing with one poof of an evil magic wand.  I know far too many other families have been suffering in these horrible economic times. But somehow it seems like an F5 twister barreling towards you when layoffs threaten to devastate YOUR home.  It's freaking terrifying.

But now the stacks of resume books and interview kits can be set aside, or at least just casually browsed through instead of studied as if it was the night before the Bar Exam.  I may still keep looking for a part-time job (unless someone actually wants to pay me for blogging...hint, hint...) but I can stop practicing  Would you like some fries with that?   Kiddo isn't going to end up in after-care just yet. I can stop buying ramen noodles in bulk and testing out unattractive hair net hairdos.

I can still work on my novel.  Life will go on.

Today was a good day.

Time to crack open a couple of good bottles of wine to celebrate.

Chicks Dig Vino: Fab & Funny Wines for Any Girl Gathering

Yes, I admit it, I am a label whore. I will buy a wine simply because the label intrigues me or makes me laugh so hard I snort wine out my nose. Sometimes it's just not the points that make a wine pourable. Sometimes the wine's personality is so just much more intriguing. A bottle or two of these hip vinos is sure to get more than just gossip flowing at your next gathering of girlfriends. Cheers!





Mad Housewife
At the end of a absurdly long day don't we deserve to leap off the carousel of household catastrophes to savor a much deserved glass of Chardonnay...or two...or three...? For red vino aficionados, a Cabernet and a Merlot are also available from the vineyard that was supposedly inspired by the film "Diaries of a Mad Housewife." I am going to have to splurge on one of their "Don't be silly darling, it's just a wine..." t-shirts immediately. Tons of neat stuff to check out on their website Mad Housewife Cellars.






Bitch and Sassy Bitch
When the party turns into an all-out Bitchfest it's time to pull out these cute little numbers. All the way from South Austraila, the Bitch Grenache is rapidly becoming available in local markets. The newly discovered Sassy Bitch simply screams for a night out with girlfriends, gossip, and a bit of glamour. Every girl should be entitled to revel in her bitchiness every now and then.




Mommy's Time Out
Heaven would be a quiet corner where a perfectly chilled Pino Grigio is waiting for me while my child is left to figure out that temper tantrums, baby powdering the bedroom, and flushing frogs down toilet does NOT make Mommy happy. All by himself. While I get some much deserved chill-out time. Wouldn't it be lovely if life actually worked that way? I have a bottle of this tempting Italian White I am saving for the moment I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.




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Working Girl Wines
We all know that every woman is a working woman no matter what her official title may be. These labels from Olympic Cellars Winery, "Created by women, in support of women," include Go Girl Red, Working Girl White, Rose the Riveter, and the token hot guy Handyman Red. And you can gulp your glass guilt free, for portions of the profit support various women's charities. WorkingGirlWines.com








Old Tart
We all have one of these in our circle of friends...or family. This blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Terret is supposedly flying of the shelves across the pond. Made for adult consumers who with voluptuous bodies, who are fresh, fruity, and a bit up-front. OLD Fart Grenache is also available, but personally, I'd prefer this dame at my party. As the bottle says, "Be smart, enjoy the tart!"












Cat's Pee on a Gooseberry Bush
Sometimes we need an escape from our furry babies as well. Having been the mom of five fab felines, and I have cleaned more than my share of ill placed puddles and piddles some memorable days. So, I simply couldn't resist including this New Zeland Sauvignon Blanc, self described as "Extremely playful, with aromas inclined to leap out of the glass at you and a long and racy body." I'm assuming those aromas are much more pleasing to the palate than than the name suggests.








White Trash White
It's a scenario that is all too familiar. After a few glasses of wine someone inevitably breaks out the country tunes, and often a sing-along ensues. Next time anyone attempts to subject me to such a situation I'm going to insist this wine is served. Perhaps not for the Manolo and martini set, but guaranteed to give the rest of us a good chuckle. The back lable reads: Nestled in the scenic foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the quaint community of Oildale. Strategically planted btween pumping oil wells and oil sumps are rows of grapevines. This blend of oil and tar-tainted soils leds itself to a wine grape flavor seldom duplicated throughout the world of viticulture. At your next trailer park potluck, surprise your neighbors with this teasingly trashy white. No catfish should be served without it.
'Nuff said.





Tiny Bubbles
Yeah, she looks like she would be the life of any party or its obnoxious downfall. This cheap bubbly should be good for more than a few giggles once her cork is popped. And she kind of reminds me of my 4th grade teacher. Another amusing addition from the Harper Hill Oildale Winery.











UTTER bastard
No night of female bonding is complete without a little man bashing. This lively little Syrah would be the perfect accompaniment to trashing any bastard in your life (whether he deserves it or not). If you prefer a Chardonnay or your man can stand to lose a few pounds, the FAT BASTARD is also readily available.









SinZin
Who can resist this lusty little Bacchus? Perhaps we should save the sinning for a weekend in Vegas, but this Greek God of wine and intoxication is sure to get any party started. My husband wanted to have this label tiled on the bottom of our swimming pool. Seriously. Damn tasty Zinfandel though.









Rude Boy
No need to hire a stripper, Ladies. The back label "warns," When this bottle of wine is chilled Rude Boy will reveal all. This hunk's pants disappear when this South African Chardonnay hits the right degree. Never has reaching the proper temperate been so climatic. I will be on the hunt for this hunk for my next soiree...be waiting for it ladies...