Uncle Nick's Gift Ideas

I'm so stuffed after our feeding frenzy on Thanksgiving I can hardly think. I don't know about you, but I just need a week to chill out. I have to be in shape to go over my holiday shopping list.

This might sound strange, but now I can understand what my mom meant when she would tell us "just wait until you reach my age . . ." though she still kept on going. Mom was "the" energizer bunny of the 50's and 60's.

She loved entertaining and all that went with it -- she was the quintessential hostess for every holiday and any family event that called for a gathering. It's funny, but when I think back she taught me more than I realize.

It is most evident today as our lives have become complicated and are intertwined with extended families. Entertaining today takes on a new life very unlike it was back in the day.

So be it, we have to change with the times. I now realize I have less time to do more for the holidays and I'm sure I'm not alone.

I had an AHHHH! HA! moment and decided to list a few shopping deals that just might free up some time for you and help you to shop stress free. And of course, save money.

We have embraced shopping on-line in this age of technology, though I personally have only started about a year ago. It was a life-changing experience for me and so unlike my holiday shopping way back 'in the day'.

Now I purchase many of my wines from and MyWinesDirect.com and wine.com.* It is always easy and their sites are very user friendly.

This season you can shop for great wine and great deals with FREE shipping on all wine and gifts at MyWinesDirect.com, the ultimate in savings and convenience! Select from individual bottles of wine, wine clubs, or gourmet gift baskets.

Don't fret yet, you can even get an e-Gift certificate. Just choose a denomination starting at $50 and then hit send. No stress and it just may be the perfect gift.

You can save up to 40% on the everyday assortment at wine.com. No promotion codes are necessary. The prices are marked and you can find wines from under $10 and up. There are some great deals there.

You can also get the Deal of the Day at wine.com and save on holiday gifts until December 17, 2010.

There is a big saving with FREE shipping and you will definitely save time and be stress-free.

You can also find food and wine pairings at wine.com to help you choose the perfect wine. I hope this helps with your shopping whether it's for gifts or for your holiday gatherings with family and friends.


Salute!
Winelady Cooks

*Disclaimer: I'm an affiliate of mywinesdirect.com and wine.com and I receive compensation for certain products.

Happy Healthy Holidays Is Well Within Reach

Have you ever tried a recipe and have it NOT turn out exactly the way it was meant? In the many years I've been cooking for my family I confess, oh yes, I have had many, many recipe disasters.

Way back then the internet was not even a blip on the screen. I had to rely on Julia Child. Of course I did pick up many of Julia's tips and tricks while watching, but at that time most of her recipes were more than I could manage.

I wish I had the opportunities that are available today on the internet. How exciting to be able to learn how to cook real food for the holidays and not have a recipe for disaster.

There is help out there. Join forces with the lovely Jenny at the Nourished Kitchen. Get started right now with a FREE
mini cooking lesson to help you get ready for Thanksgiving. You can't beat that.

I know you're thinking what in the world will I get from something that is FREE? Well, the Free mini-cooking lesson includes 1 video, 1 complete menu, and 8 recipes. You can make your holiday dinner the talk of the family with 8 recipes and how-to's for no disasters.

Imagine what you can do for Christmas! With Jenny's help you can have a healthy holiday menu with all the tricks and tips you need from the Nourished Kitchen.


You can have healthy and delicious dishes for the holidays. Check out this Happy & Healthy Holidays Online Cooking Class!


After viewing this video you will realize that Jenny is the kitchen angel you've been waiting for.

Jenny's holiday cooking course includes more than 30 meal plans, 175 recipes, 29 videos and an exclusive forum to answer all your questions.

I know I've always wondered what I was doing wrong when my roast beef turned out dry and not quite as tender as it should. Jenny can help.

How about making delicious holiday cookies? What steps are we missing to get them just right? Do you need help with making a pie crust? With Jenny's help you can make the best pie in the neighborhood.

Did you sign up for the FREE cooking lesson? You are missing out if you don't. See for yourself why Jenny's help in the kitchen is PERFECT.

You get the complete holiday course which is 10 classes for only $89. I know, that sounds like a lot especially now, but if you think about it that is less than $10 a class. Quite a good deal for the help you need to make the perfect holiday meal you are sharing with your family and friends.

I think Jenny is the angel you've been waiting for. She also offers individual classes at $15 each if you want to choose only certain classes. Now that's a sweet deal.

You should really check out for yourself the FREE mini-cooking lesson. You have nothing to loose and will probably come out with some delicious and healthy dishes for your family and friends to enjoy.


Mangia!
Winelady Cooks

Dinner and Dessert

This is the big Turkey Day 'week' of the year. That being said, I'm now ready to cook, bake, eat, drink and be merry.

This week we will be having the all-American roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, dressing, cranberries, and lots of green veggies. That's what the crowd wants so that's what they will be served.

This happens to be one of my favorite meals to make. Though this year I'm only a supporting player since we are doing a pot luck. This is a great to way to share and be thankful -- share the cooking without the pressure. It's the way to go.

If you are having a traditional turkey dinner wine pairing can sometimes be tricky since there are many competing flavors in this meal.

There's sweet and tart cranberry, vegetables that may or may not have lots of herbal flavors, creamy-style gravy and of course the turkey which is probably the easiest to pair.

WHITE WINE

The white wine choices for this menu may not be our favorites but you will be surprised how well they pair with all the different flavors. I know it can be difficult to serve a new wine (believe me, I know) but when you realize how delicious the food and wine are together you will be even happier at the end of the day.

Dry Riesling is one of the better white wine choices for Thanksgiving. It has a slight sweetness to it and a crisp acidity making for a winning combination to compliment the competing flavors.

A dry Riesling can also be the perfect white wine for those who just do not like very crisp, dry white wines but rather prefer a sweet wine (or those who prefer a white zinfandel).

You can also choose Sauvignon Blanc which has lively acidity and herbal characteristics that pair well with the vegetables. Or choose a Gewurtztraminer which will pair nicely if you have some dishes with a spiciness in them.

Of course you can always go with a crisp Chardonnay.

RED WINE

For red wines the traditional Beaujolais Nouveau which is released on the third Thursday in November is a young and fruity wine that has the acidity needed to compliment the turkey dinner.

Another red wine suggestion is Pinot Noir which is very food friendly. It has an earthy characteristic that will pair well with dishes having the same earthiness.

When serving a large meal for any occasion it is always a good choice to have both a white and a red wine. It's nice to give each guest the option to decide which wine they would prefer.

When setting the table add additional glasses so the guests can taste both wines and decide which they prefer.

To give you one more suggestion you can also chose a sparkling rosé wine. This too, like the Pinot Noir, is a very food friendly wine. It's a dry wine with crisp acidity and will certainly make your dinner feel like a celebration.

A SWEET ENDING

Dessert, let's not forget one of the stars of the day. A Moscato d'Asti is a sweet dessert wine with a light fizziness to it. It's lower in alcohol and it should be served well chilled.

Other dessert wine choices are Port or Tawny Port wines, Banuyls, and French Sauternes or Tokaji (Tokai) from Hungary. For something more affordable and sweet choose a Spumante.

Happy Thanksgiving!


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Winelady Cooks

Prep For Sides, Holidays Are Coming

I always get way ahead of myself when it comes to thinking about the side dishes I'm going to make for the holiday meal. I stress myself out.

I just have to take a deep breath, relax and then I can calmly plan for my menu.

This year my planning ahead has led me to thinking about potatoes, specifically mashed potatoes. They are always a favorite and they partner well with the ever popular sweet potato.

My plan here is to share a few tips to assist you when preparing your potatoes for the best mashed potatoes ever.

Mashed potatoes are delicious but if they are over-cooked, over-mashed, and over-stirred they are a gluey mess.

Keep these tips on hand when your begin your prep.

• Choose russet potatoes -- they have less water content and will make fluffier mashed potatoes.
• Keep HOT: the key to light and fluffy mashed potatoes is keeping the potatoes hot when mashing and adding ingredients.
• Cut potatoes in large chunks and cook in salted water just until done (done is when they can be pierced with a sharp knife and not break apart). If they start to fall apart they are overdone, not good. So keep an eye on them when cooking.
• Mash potatoes over low heat and stir in "hot" milk to the mashed potatoes, herbs, butter, or whatever you like. They are not ready to be placed in their serving dish.
• The mashed potatoes can be chilled and re-heated in the oven or microwave, top with butter, cheese, or other topping if desired. AVOID stirring them when reheating. This will make them gluey.

The key to enjoying the holiday is prep, prep, and enjoy!. Whatever we can do in advance will make a world of difference. This one dish will get you started and you are on your way to a great meal.



Mangia!
Winelady Cooks

Jets UnCorked

Calling all New York Jets fans, or for that matter any one who is a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon.

This limited release wine commemorating the new Meadowland's stadium inaugural season has been given the name 'Jets Uncorked'. Only 8,000 cases of this 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon were made at the Girard winery by winemaker Marco DiGiulio.

They are sold in a select few retail stores, mostly in New Jersey and a few New York City restaurants will have it on their wine list. But don't fret, the wine can be purchased on the New York Jets web site.



This cabernet sauvignon has characteristic ripe red cherries, currants and black fruit flavors with a bit of oak and a spicy finish. Great at your tailgating party with the juicy grilled steaks.

Happy Football Season!


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Winelady Cooks

Hot Pot Roast Calling

Suddenly the north wind is blowing, the leaves are flying around and the hanging flower pots are swaggering and I'm hoping they don't fall off the shepherd hooks.

This weather is calling me home for something hot and comforting.

Pot roast is it today. I have everything I need in the fridge so I don't have to venture out on this first day of really nasty, cold, and damp wintery (even though the calendar says it's still fall) weather.

A traditional pot roast is made in a dutch oven. If I had a large enough dutch oven I would use it, but in all my years of cooking for my family I never did invest in a heavy duty dutch oven.

I use oven bags-- I know, I know, but I can't help my clean oven fetish. A friend told me about the bags when they first came out way back when and I've used them ever since. I like them because they help me control the splattering and burning in my oven (I need all the help I can get!).

Globalization and technology have influenced the way we eat and how we think about food today which is a far cry from the t.v. dinners we had in the '50's. With all the changes over the years we are the lucky ones. We've learned so much about flavors and cooking techniques that we can take a simple pot roast and be creative. We can use whatever our family likes and make the best comfort food meal of the week.

My recipe is not a family heirloom. The recipe included in the package of the oven bags is my recipe guide. I follow it for the proper cooking temperature, time and approximate amount of liquid.

• Liquids - I use is beef broth and 1/4-1/2 cup of leftover red wine. The wine adds a little more richness to the sauce.
• Vegetables - potatoes, celery, carrots, and onions which are what the family likes the most. I also had a few baby bella mushrooms left over so I used them also.
• Everything goes directly into the oven bag which I place in a heavy roasting pan.
• Roast at the recommended temperature and suggested cooking time.
• I add a package of egg noodles to a pot of boiling water just when the roast is done and voila! dinner's ready.
  

Hot Comfort Food just when you need it.

This post is linked to:
It's A Blog Party's Delicious Dishes
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday hosted this week at The Well


Mangia!
Winelady Cooks

NYC Quick Bites and Wine and Chocolate

The quintessential hot dog cart in New York City is the easiest way to grab a quick bite to eat.

When you are short on time and are really hungry you can find one of these carts in many bustling Manhattan areas -- the financial district, near the museums, in the middle of midtown -- well almost everywhere.

If you have a chance to visit New York City you should definitely grab a quick bite from one of the many different food carts stationed around the city. Along with seeing all the magnificent sites in the city this is a must for a complete New York "experience".

We recently had tickets to an off-broadway show. We wanted to make the most of our night on the town so we decided to go to a wine bar. We enjoyed the second half of the evening at Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar. The ambiance was just right. It was comfortable with a bit of sophistication.


Ayza is more than a wine and chocolate bar. The manager explained to us that even though wine and chocolate are the soul of Ayza, it is considered one of the better French restaurants in the city. The food is inspired by the foods of the French Rivera.

We stopped in rather late after the show was over so we didn't order a meal. For me, the wine and chocolate pairing was perfect. I wasn't hungry but I always enjoy chocolate. The others wanted something a little more substantial so they ordered a cheese platter. It was a great way to enjoy food and wine pairings without extravagance.

Azya serves fresh made premium chocolates from the finest chocolatiers in New York. I chose the selection of six chocolates with a flight of 2 sweet wines. This was a great way to sample the chocolates with wine.

I chose 2 dark chocolates with cherry, 2 milk chocolates with butterscotch caramel and 2 dark chocolates with gianduja (hazelnut paste). The wines served were Muscat and Port.

Muscat Beaumes de Venise D. Durban -- This had orange and apricot liqueur characteristics. It had a nice bit of acidity that helped balance the sweetness.

Churchill Tawny Port 10 Year Old -- Delicious with a nutty and fruitiness to it. Just perfect with the dark chocolate with the cherries and the gianduja.

Muscat and Tawny Port can be purchased in most any wine shop. If you are planning to have guests during the holiday season you might want to pick up one of these wines to serve with your desserts, and chocolates of course.

Or you may want to have an enjoyable night out with friends. Bundle up and venture out on a dreary cold night and visit one of the wine bars in your area. Of late, many wine bars have expanded their menus giving you the opportunity to try different food and wine pairings without breaking the bank, and have enjoy an evening with friends.


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Winelady Cooks

Wine and Grape Juice

All natural 100% grape juice, according to dietary guidelines, is considered a serving of fruit. If we drank red wine would that also qualify?

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines considers table wine an alcoholic beverage. This puts it in the "extras" category along with solid fats and added sugars. Sorry, red wine is not a food group.

Here's the scoop on grape juice and red wine. Yes, drink grape juice, but again in moderation. It does have residual sugar which for some should be avoided.


However, there are some benefits in grape juice made from Concord grapes. Concord grapes contain many of the polyphenols that are in red wine. Studies have shown that large amounts of red grape juice decrease the stickiness in the blood which would help to lower the risk of heart disease.

Sounds positive, but how much grape juice should we drink? The studies never say how much. Though the studies do reveal that the effects of the grape juice are much lower than those of red wine. Sounds like a lot of wine drinking . . . not good, no way, call the doctor!

Oh, I shouldn't be flippant about this subject. It's just that these studies come out every few months with new statistics. All that does is confuse us.

What we need to remember is no matter what we do, what we eat, or what we drink, it should all be done with moderation.

If you think about it, we hear a lot about exercise being good for us. It keeps us healthy in more ways than one. But if we overdo our exercising we end up with sore joints, aching backs, and other ailments from over-taxing our bodies.

So just remember to listen to your doctor and only eat and drink what is recommended for your total health. If alcohol is not on the recommended list then grape juice may be a better choice.

Stay healthy, and if you are allowed alcohol then by all means have one 4 ounce glass of red wine with dinner. Choose a Pinot Noir which is said to contain the most resveratrol.

Why Pinot Noir? you say. The pinot noir grapes thrive in warm, damp climates which encourage mold and yeast that destroy plant life. Plants growing in this humid climate produce increased amounts of resveratrol, almost like a natural defense mechanism. The resveratrol fights against the damages from the growing fungus. It is this natural process that scientists have discovered resveratrol to have the antioxidant properties that also benefit the human body.

There are a few red wines with higher levels of resveratrol than others. Look for grapes that are grown in similar climates as the pinot noir grape, or grapes grown in cooler but damp climates.

Be Healthy!


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Winelady Cooks