Superbowl XLVI Menu

The Superbowl is here!  While I continue to have difficulty understand the rules and strategies of American football, I perfectly understand that this game = party.  As any host knows, planning a menu is important.  Some girlfriends and I concocted this one up.

Menu



Ranch Dip
Hummus
Salsa
with...  Carrots, Cucumbers, Tortilla Chips

Taquitos & Burritos a la El Monterrey

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Fudgey Brownies

Red Wine Spritzer
BEER - The BF requested Bud Light as apparently the superbowl commercials are hilarious and include a dog.

My theory is, that by blending frozen snacks and preparing some healthy alternatives any host can survive the party without an anxiety attack or too much prep work.  Couple that with paper plates and beer cans; simple cleanup!  Happy gametime!

Culture Bit: Post Mail Valentines

The Holiday season is filled with many wonderful things.  And one of those, are post mail holiday cards.  My mantelpiece is full of holiday cards, pictures of family and friends, glad tidings and bright colors.  I love it.


I received a letter from my dear college roommate.  I especially loved her letter because it included little pictoglyphs showing her life.  (She works for an art museum, is trying to use up outdated stationary, and loves her two poodles dearly).

I have decided to try to extend this post mail card tradition into the New Year via Valentine's Day. 


While many people associate "love" with Valentine's Day, a great many associate the opposite.  This includes practically all single women, and men who feel a sense of pressure from their counterparts (including the BF).  


And I have decided to embrace the joy that children have for Valentine's day and give out valentines.  Last year I sent out Valentine's day cards to all my dear friends.  And I have every intention to do that again this year.  


Because who doesn't enjoy getting a pretty card that says I love you?  

Wine-o: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Alcohol: 13.5%

After a lovely stint in Southern California for the holidays, my father and stepmother have turned me onto white wine again.  I bought this wine as it is a favorite of my mother's, but during her visit over Thanksgiving Arkansas was just too chilly for white wine.

The wine is full of citrus flavors and bursts on the tongue.  Previous years of this wine have had more of a spicy herbal taste to them, almost like a sage or rosemary.  However, to me, the 2010 tastes of tart citrus.

"New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at its best, this wine displays excellent palate weight and length,with flavours of ripe passion fruit, lemon and peach supported by fresh, zesty acidity."  Snooth.com Winemaker Notes

Freya's Score: 7

I confess I preferred earlier years where there was not as much citrus, and more of an herbal quality.

Cost: ~ $12 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  They have a discount section that provides cases of wine perfect for any party, event, or just a personal favorite that one wants to always have on hand.

Wine-o: Wilson Creek Winery Almond Champagne

Wilson Creek Winery Almond Champagne, Temecula, California

11% Alcohol

To celebrate the holiday season, Macadoodle's featured several specialty wine tastings to help customers plan for their Christmas meal.  I was lucky to find my friend Dan at the Wine bar and knew I was in for a treat.  I was surprised to see that the first wine was the Wilson's Creek Almond Champagne.

Now, I love Wilson Creek.  Mainly because this is my father's favorite vineyard in Temecula.  My father is lucky enough to live within an hour of Wilson's and is a proud member of the Wilson Creek Wine Club.  I asked Dan: "You mean start out the evening with champagne?"

"Well yeah, invite people into your home with a little bubbly!  Loosen things up a bit!" was his response.

Freya's Score: 8 -If you like almonds, and you like champagne, you will like this.  It is bubbly, the almond welcomes you with a friendly aroma and continues with a lovely slightly sweet flavor.  If you are looking for your bottle buddy for December 31st, this is a great alternative to a dry or overly sweet champagne.  Available in several Liquor Stores, including the Macadoodle's Pineville location.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

May your holiday be filled with good cheer, friends and family, and all you hold dear!

Stay tuned for updates and more wine reviews in the new year!  And look for our New Years Eve review: Wilson Creek Winery Almond Champagne

The Holiday Party with Glogg

The foundation of our holiday party every year is Glogg.  This Scandinavian holiday mulled wine is delicious and is spiced with cloves, cinnamon, raisins, almonds, and more.  I was thrilled to run by Macadoodle's to pick up a jug of Carlo Rossi red wine, port, and brandy to make this recipe.  To keep our guests bellies happy and keep the cooking pressure low I served a variety of hors d'oeuvres and holiday treats.

To spruce up the house I used these fun (and free) printables created by Chickabug.  It added some festivity with a banner on the mantle piece and bright holiday cards interspersed with the food display to create a more dynamic tablescape.

The Menu

Glogg - Warms you inside and out!  Maybe arrange for a taxi or designated driver...

Grapes - fresh fruits and vegetables offer a healthy option and provide color for your food display

Baked Brie with Handmade Plum Jam

Wasabi Peas - I did not make these, they are from Trader Joe's and are amazing

Dutch Spritz butter cookies - my Opa's recipe does not call for eggs and replaces water with milk, they turned out great!
Icebox Cookies - these cookies can be made in advance and kept in the freezer.  All you have to do the day of is slice and bake!

Note: due to an unfortunate incident involving the glass port bottle colliding with the cement driveway Noilly Rouge vermouth was substituted with wonderful results.

Looking for a Glogg alternative?  Try one of these holiday cocktails.

Wine-o: Lindeman's Pinot Noir

Lindeman's Bin 99 Pinot Noir, 2010 SOUTHEAST AUSTRALIA

Alcohol: 13.5%

This wine was definitely a fruity wine.  The taste was wonderful a day after opening with flavors of raspberry.  I would describe it as smooth and round: a simple tasting wine.  It was delicious with Thanksgiving dinner.

In the past 20 years this wine has received scores ranging from 80 to 84 and has an average price of 8 or 9 dollars according to Wine Spectator.

Freya's Score: 7  This wine was a great contrast to the 2011 Beaujolais Nouveu.  I very much liked the fruity flavors and roundness.

Cost: ~ $9 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  10% off all bottles of wine not already on sale!

Thanksgiving Menu

Last year we tried something new with the turkey.  We embraced our Arkansas life and smoked it.  We now love smoked turkey, there is no turning back, it is amazing!  A couple months ago for a friend's birthday The BF brined and smoked a wild turkey he shot in the spring, it was even better!

ThePioneerWoman.com

It is important to note that to brine anything, you must be prepared a couple days in advance as it takes that time for the meat to absorb the flavors.

This year we will of course have the smoked turkey, and I've decided to try to create a healthy Thanksgiving meal with decadent and delicious desserts.  I believe that one should enjoy what they eat, not only while they eat it, but afterwards.  I hate the feeling of looking to the next workout because I overindulged at dinner, or wasn't sure just how much of my spinach was sour cream and how much was actually spinach.

Plus, extra calories should be saved for sweets.


Our 2011 Thanksgiving Menu:

Smoked Turkey (brined for two days beforehand)

Turnip Greens

Sweet Potato Casserole

Mashed Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce


Desserts:

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Sweet Potato Pie


Wines:

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc (my mother's favorite)

Les Jamelles Pinot Noir


Wines may be purchased at most local liquor Stores and from the Macadoodles new E-Commerce Site

UPDATE:  After conferring with The BF, several compromises were made.  It was pointed out to me that Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without regular mashed potatoes.  The Sweet Potato Casserole will be replaced with Mashed Potatoes and the Pumpkin Pie replaced with another Arkansas and Southern tradition: the Sweet Potato Pie