Trivia, Wine & Happy Holiday!

Vintage Champagne

The most popular style of wine purchased for New Year celebrations is what everyone calls Champagne but most often it is actually a sparkling wine. It's the best choice economically since French Champagne is usually expensive.

You can purchase a sparkling wine that some winemakers produce by using the Méthode Champenoise which is how French Champagne is made.

Even though the sparkling wine was made just like French Champagne it can not be labeled as a Champagne because the grapes were not grown in the region known as Champagne and the wine was not made in Champagne, France.

Did You Know? --  Mark Twain once said: "Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right."

New Year Traditions & Sparkling Wine

Cava is Spain's Sparkling Wine. It is an excellent value and can be served with any meal any time of the year. One of the New Year's Eve traditions in Spain is to make a toast with a glass of Cava and a handful of grapes.

It is said that you will have a year of good luck if you eat one grape with each chime of the clock striking midnight and then wash it down with Cava.   Sounds like fun and who couldn't use a little more luck these days.

Cava comes is varying styles from dry -- brut (extra dry), seco (dry); to sweet -- semi-seco (medium) and dulce (sweet); and it comes either white or pink.   There is definitely a style for everyone to enjoy.   In some areas of the U.S. Cava is under $12.

Many other countries besides Spain produce sparkling wines. This is a list of the most popular sparkling wines available in the U.S.   Sekt is from Germany  --  Spumante, as well as Prosecco  (a Frizzante) is from Italy  --  and Crémant is France's sparkling wine.

Just one more interesting tradition.  In Chile on New Year's Eve a gold ring is dropped into a glass of sparkling wine and then of course they drink it, carefully (don't want to lose the ring). The gold ring is a symbol of prosperity.

Happy New Year!

Avocado Dip

Avocados are one of my favorite foods and they are one of the foods that have the 'good' fat which we all should add to our diets.

I always have avocados handy and add them to my salads, and sometimes I make a guacamole for lunch and instead of chips I use whole grain crispy crackers.

When I saw this dip recipe I quickly thought to serve this with cold shrimp appetizers for holiday gatherings this season.

It's so easy to make and is perfect with cold shrimp appetizers for your holiday gatherings.

With our hectic schedules especially when entertaining this recipe fits right in.   I wouldn't make this a day in advance, but this is so fast and easy you can make it a few hours before you are ready to serve.

Avocado Dip
(adapted from a recipe in Taste of Home Magazine circa 2008)
Ingredients

• 1 large avocado, roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 TBLS. mayonaise
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1/4 tsp. lime zest
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Add ingredients to food processor or blender and process until smooth.
2. Place in a serving bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Holiday Family Brunch Menu

Some of us are still wrapping presents, or maybe decorating the tree.  It's a hectic time but it's the time of year when we enjoy entertaining family and friends.

I like casual meals this time of year.  I always keep fresh berries and some seasonal fruit available for brunch and sometimes I just like to make breakfast for dinner.

You don't have to dig up special recipes, or spend a fortune buying the most expensive ingredients. Breakfast foods are nutritious and inexpensive and we usually have everything in our pantries.

Here is a simple menu I like to put together for a happy meal when it's least expected.

• Fruit Juice Cocktail (use sparkling water for the kids)
• Strawberry Bruschetta
• Whole Grain Pancakes with Berry Compote and Slivered Almonds
• Muffins
• Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate

Fruit Juice Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 quart juice (white grape, cranberry, orange, etc.)
• sparkling water &/Or sparkling wine for the adults

Preparation:

1. Fill each glass 2/3 full with juice then add the sparkling water or wine.
2. Add a fresh berry for garnish (optional).
3. Serve with or without ice.

Strawberry Bruschetta
Ingredients

• Fresh Strawberries 
• whole grain bread slices toasted
• agave nectar
• balsamic vinegar

Preparation

1. Slice or chop the strawberries and add a teaspoon of agave nectar and balsamic vinegar and stir until blended.  Set aside for 15 minutes.
2. Cut rounds or triangles from bread slices and toast.
3. Add strawberries to the toast and serve.

Whip up a batch of muffins and pancakes and enjoy a casual yet festive meal with family and friends.

Happy Holiday!

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Cookies and Crafting for Sandy Hook {#BloggersforSandyHook}

Crazy For Crust has organized a #Bloggers for Sandy Hook posting for today, Friday, December 21, 2012, to honor the victims, families, and community of Newtown.

Baking cookies and crafting for Sandy Hook will be one way we can show support in the aftermath of this unimaginable event.

Snowflakes For Sandy Hook

This was on our local news yesterday and there are bloggers also organizing #snowflakes4sandyhook. Below is the information:

You can also help the students of Sandy Hook have a winter wonderland at their new school! Get Creative!! No two snowflakes are alike. Make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to:

Connecticut PTSA,

60 Connolly Parkway,

Building 12, Suite 103,

Hamden, CT 06514

The boys and I will be cutting out snowflakes this weekend. I know this is one craft they love doing. I think it's because they can make a mess letting the paper just fall to the floor when cutting out the snowflakes.

Yesterday, we made these marshmallow treats for this post. It's a very simple process to make these especially with the kids.

All you need is medium size marshmallows, mini candy canes, holiday sprinkles, chocolate chips for melting.

YUM! was the review for this fun marshmallow treat.

• Chop a couple of candy canes while still in the wrapper. Remove the wrapper & put the chopped peppermint in a small dish and set aside. 
•  If you are using holiday sprinkles add them to a dish and set aside.
• We melted chocolate chips and dipped the marshmallows half-way in the chocolate.
• Then we dipped them into chopped peppermint and holiday sprinkles. Place the marshmallows on wax paper to cool until the chocolate sets.
• Add a candy cane to the center of the marshmallow.  I first cut a little off the bottom of the candy cane wrapper, leaving the top of the candy cane covered.   Then gently push the bottom of the candy cane into the center of the marshmallow.

Something people always think about in times like this is how they can help monetarily. After some searching, we found the Newtown Youth and Family Services website. According to their website, Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a “licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.” All donations made to them are going to go back to those affected by the school shooting. You can find their website HERE.

Foodie Friends Friday #25

Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #25!

It's been hectic this month but we are glad you took a few extra minutes to join us for this week's linky party and giveaway.

Our sponsor this week is Robyn from Robyn's View. Robyn is giving away Peppermint Foot Scrubs to three lucky winners. You can also visit Robyn on Facebook.

Enter Below to WIN a jar of Peppermint Foot Scrub

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, lets get this party started!

Here are this week's hosts.  When you link up to one blog it will show on ALL of the hosts blogs!! Please do stop by each of the host's blogs to say "hi" and let them know you joined the party!

Foodie Friends Friday at Foodie Friends Friday

Tracy at busyvegetarianmom

Robyn at Robyn's View

Marly at This and That

Lois at Walking on Sunshine

Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes

Cynthia at Feeding Big

Jodie at Binomial Baker

Dawn at Spatulas on Parade

Angie at A lil Country Sugar

Jutta at HungryLittleGirl

Kelly at Adorned Well

Cindy at Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Joanne at Winelady Cooks

Marlene at Nosh My Way

Ericka at Chef Picky Kid

Kiera at Luscious Delights

Thank you all for linking up and sharing your recipes. This party would not be a success without YOU! We wish you all a Very Happy Holiday! and look forward to seeing you soon.

Here are last weeks' winners:

Gift In a Bottle

If you are shopping for a bottle of wine to choose as a gift look for something a little unusual.

This Unusual Label May Not Be Appropriate 

I know you're asking, 'what is unusual?' about a bottle of wine. It could be the label -- there are many labels that have unusual images, phrases, or graphic designs. However, choosing a bottle with an unusual label at a price of under $10 just may not be a good choice.

Unless you are asked, you don't have to bring the wine to go with dinner; and if you are attending a holiday party it's a possibility the wine may not be opened for the party. Knowing this, then buying wine as a hostess gift is a little less stressful.

Here are a few tips to help choose a bottle of wine that will be thoughtful and appreciated.  Keep these in mind when shopping.

• wine from a country that might reflect the heritage of the person receiving the wine
• something from a small, family owned winery
• a geographic location that may be the person's favorite place
• the style of wine the person prefers (red, white, sparkling, or sweet)
• a sparkling wine for a special occasion the recipient will be celebrating

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a bottle of wine, but when purchasing a gift choose something that is in the $15-$25 range, unless the salesperson shares with you an excellent $10 wine.

Happy Holiday!

Loving Thoughts and Prayers

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Holiday Cookie Recipe #3 
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies

This past summer I saw a recipe in the newspaper for chocolate cookie ice cream sandwiches. The weather was hot and the ice cream sandwich was calling me.

So I made the cookies but when I tasted the cookies they were so rich and chocolatey I didn't want to make them into ice cream sandwiches. I just wanted to enjoy the cookie with an ice cold glass of milk. Then I could still enjoy the ice cream by itself. The perfect indulgence for a summer day.

Since the summer I have made these cookies many times but I never had a chance to post it. Now that I'm baking for the holiday cookie exchange I'm adding this cookie recipe and dressing it up with peppermint.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups Ghirardelli 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips (divided)
• 4 TBLS. butter
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• chopped candy canes (optional)

Directions:

1. Melt 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips with the butter in a double boiler. Set aside to cool (approx. 15-30 minutes).
2. In a small bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt. To the cooled chocolate mix in the sugar, eggs and vanilla stirring until well blended and then stir in the flour.
3. Stir in the remaining cup of chocolate chips to the chocolate mixture.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill about 1 hour.
5. Preheat the over to 350 degrees.
6. Use either a tablespoon or cookie scoop and add the cookies onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Press gently to flatten each cookie.
7. *If using the peppermint candy canes, sprinkle chopped candy on top of each cookie before baking.
8. Bake approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Test by lightly tapping the center of the cookie and if it a little soft and doesn't collapse it is done. Cool completely on the cookie sheet.
9. Chill for a few hours and pack in cellophane bags for gifting.

*For the peppermint topping, I bought mini candy canes that were individually wrapped. Leave the wrapper on and smash them with the rolling pin a few times, then add them to the mini chopper and pulse until they are chopped to the size you want.

Foodie Friends Friday #24

I am pleased to be co-hosting this week's Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party!


Please join us for this week's linky party and giveaway. This week's giveaway is from Amanda at Natural Living Mamma a resource for natural living tips, herbs, salves, essential oils, breast feeding tips, and over all wellness. Amanda is offering her Honey Coffee Scrubs this week. You can also visit Amanda HERE.

There will be 3 lucky winners. Each will receive one of Amanda's Honey Coffee Scrubs.

Enter Below to WIN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, lets get this party started!

Here are this week's hosts.  When you link up to one blog it will show on ALL of the hosts blogs!!

Please do stop by each of the host's blogs to say "hi" and let them know you joined the party!

Foodie Friends Friday www.foodiefriendsfriday.com

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom www.busyvegetarianmom.com

Robyn's View www.robynsview.com

Marlys at This and That www.marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com

Lois at Walking on Sunshine www.walkingonsunshinerecipes.com

Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes www.fromcalculustocupcakes.com

Cynthia at Feeding Big www.feedingbig.com

Jodie at Binomial Baker www.binomialbaker.blogspot.com

R Dawn at Spatulas on Parade www.spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

Angie at A lil Country Sugar www.alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com

Jutta at HungryLittleGirl www.hungrylittlegirl.com

Kelly at www.adornedwell.blogspot.com

Cindy at Cindy's Recipes and Writings www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com

Joanne at Winelady Cooks: www.wineladycooks.com

Marlene at Nosh My Way: www.noshmyway.com

Ericka at www.chefpickykid.com

LAST WEEK'S WINNERS:

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

I like chocolate peppermint block so I thought I would make a batch.

I originally tried to make a blend of dark chocolate and white chocolate, but I didn't have much luck getting the two chocolates to stick together.

So I just made white chocolate -- which for me is better because I only need to have one small bite and my sugar craving is satisfied.

If it was dark chocolate I probably would eat enough to satisfy my sugar craving and calorie intake for the week. White Chocolate Bark is IT for this year.

Bark is easy to make. It took me less than 20 minutes from start to clean-up then it just needed to chill in the fridge for a while. Mine was thin so chill time was less than 1 hour.

This recipe is not an exact science.  You can use as much or as little of any ingredients you choose.

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Ingredients

• 2 cups white chips (I used Ghirardelli)
• 6-10 mini candy canes chopped
• 1/4 cup dried fruits - this is optional (cherries, cranberries, apricots)
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts optional (almonds, walnuts, pecans)

Directions

1. Melt the chips over a double boiler
2. Add most of the amount of the chopped ingredients to the melted chips and stir.
3. Spread the melted chips evenly on parchment lined cookie sheet. Then sprinkle the remaining chopped ingredients over the top of the melted chips. Tap them lightly so they set into the melted chips but are still sitting on top (not fully covered in chips).  Then set aside to chill.
4. When fully chilled, break apart into chunks

Another easy to make sweet treat to enjoy!

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Foodtastic Friday

Sugar Cookies

Holiday Cookie Recipe #2

Sugar Cookies

How sweet it is to make sugar cookies for the holidays, it's versatile and easy to make. That's all we really want for Christmas!

I've been making this recipe for many years. Way back when my girls were teens, I bought a holiday potholder that had a snowflake cookie cutter attached and on the potholder was a 'Snowflake Cookie Recipe'.  That year I made the recipe which everyone loved and it has been a recipe we now make all year long.

When the kids keep asking for 'those cookies with the sprinkles' then you know a recipe is good. I couldn't find my snowflake cookie cutter so I just used a plain round biscuit cutter. I think I left my snowflake at my daughter's when I was making cookies with the boys.

Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
3. Gradually add in flour to the sugar mixture until smooth.
4. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for approximately 1 hour.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch and use your favorite cookie cutters.
7. Place cookies on parchment lined cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Add sugar sprinkles to the cookies and bake for 10 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned. Let cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet and then continue to cool on wire rack.

If you don't want to use sprinkles you can bake them plain and then decorate them using sugar icing.

Sugar Cookie Icing

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tsp. milk
• 2 tsp. light corn syrup
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract (or your preferred flavor)

Directions:

1. In small bowl blend the sugar and milk until smooth.
2. Beat in the corn syrup and extract until smooth and glossy.  If it is too thick add only a drop of milk or extract and stir, adding a drop at a time if still too thick. 
3. If you want to add color, divide the icing into separate dishes and add your choice of food coloring.
4. Dip cookies into icing or spread the icing using a butter spreading knife.
5. Set the cookies aside to let the icing dry and harden.  It dries in about 15 minutes.  Let it sit several hours to harden.

The sugar cookie is the perfect, go-to, easy cookie recipe for any occasion.



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Breathe - Wine May Taste Better

We all have the same questions when it comes to letting a wine breathe. Most of us just open a bottle of wine and immediately pour it and drink up.

That's fine and I'm sure no one is complaining. But some of us may have heard or read that opening a bottle of wine at least 20-30 minutes before serving is important.

If you have been wondering is it really necessary, or what is the purpose, here is a little helpful information I came across recently.

Aerating -- a wine term that refers to letting a wine breathe. Aerating is most effective with young tannic red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

When aerating a wine it allows oxygen to resuscitate a slumbering wine - awaken it, bring it back to life . . . However, just uncorking the bottle and leaving it to sit open for 20-30 minutes may not allow enough oxygen to get into the bottle for the wine to breathe.

It is best to pour the wine into a carafe or a red wine glass and let it sit for 20 minutes. You can give it a swirl or two which will also give it a little more oxygen.

This awakens the wine or softens it, and heightens the aromas and the flavors of the wine. Don't think of aerating as a wine-geek thing, but more as a way of enjoying the wine's bouquet and flavors as the winemaker intended.

Always remember to drink responsibly, drink what you enjoy - it's just a matter of taste!

Happy Holidays!

Foodie Friends Friday December 7

Welcome to the Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party!

Please join us for this week's linky party and giveaway. Three lucky winners will receive either a handmade ornament or a set of five holiday magnets made from recycled pop can lids from A Proverbs 31 Wife.

Last week's winners:

ENTER HERE for this week's Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Below is the list of this week's hosts.  Please do stop by each of the host's blogs to say "hi" and let them know you joined the party!

Foodie Friends Friday at Foodie Friends Friday

Tracy at busyvegetarianmom

Robyn at Robyn's View

Marly at This and That

Lois at Walking on Sunshine

Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes

Cynthia at Feeding Big

Jodie at Binomial Baker

Dawn at Spatulas on Parade

Angie at A lil Country Sugar

Jutta at HungryLittleGirl

Kelly at Adorned Well

Cindy at Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Joanne at Winelady Cooks

Marlene at Nosh My Way

Ericka at Chef Picky Kid

Kiera at Luscious Delights

When you link up to one blog it will show on ALL of the hosts blogs!!  That's a ton of exposure!

Now, lets get this party started!