Thursday, August 5, 2010

WINEsday wednesday: a day late


for all intents and purposes, we are going to pretend today is wednesday. because i forgot yesterday. because i was having too much fun NOT being at blogHer and instead romping around orlando and tampa with my momma and the babe. so, let's all put on our imagination hats and pretend it's still wednesday.

as some of you may know, we headed up to charlotte, nc, for a week to celebrate my sisters 21st birthday. and what better way to celebrate than with a wine tasting?! so i got to work, compiling a list of wines and the foods they paired with.


we picked out 2 reds and 2 whites to provide a full palate.

bottle number 1 (on the left) is purple moon merlot. a california red, bottled in 2008. paired with strawberries, pineapples and bananas, dipped in chocolate.

bottle number 2 is a bottle from oreana winery in downtown santa barbara. see that big smiley face? project happiness syrah. ::smiiiiiiiiile:: eeexactly. we paired it with 71% cacoa fair trade trader joes dark chocolate.

bottle number 3 is sutter home moscato. this is my favorite el cheapo, go-to bottle of wine. sweet, kind of fruity, and paired with fair trade trader joes milk chocolate. this botte, needless to say, was the first to go.

bottle number 4 is j.w. morris gewürztraminer. most similar to a bottle of riesling. paired with gouda.

all four of these bottles were purchased at trader joe's and all were under $5!



this one i want to feature




light, with a little spice, this was very "inexperienced palate" friendly. and for a 21 year old, who has never had a drop of alcohol in her life (uh huh. right. just keep telling yourself that, mom.) this was a perfect choice.

we actually made a spritzer out of this wine, mixing one part sprite and one part wine, for the birthday girl. though i didn't notice how many she had because i was too busy knocking them back. yes i KNOW it was my sisters birthday, but the baby took a bottle (finally!) and i was on vacation. sue me.

i know it's WINEsday, with the emphasis on wine, but i NEED to share a little about the food we had. because it was super yummy.


this, my other mother made (my mom's BFF for the past 19 or so years). mozzarella, basil and cherry tomato halves, drizzled with grape seed oil, and put on toothpicks like a mini kabob of caprese goodness.


i know this LOOKS like the after party. you know, like, you drank too much, stumbled across campus and then upchucked in a bush (which i have NO experience with, i promise). but honest to goodness this is yummy. and i made it. so even if you DON'T like it, tell me you do. because this is my blog.

it's black olives, kalamata olives and green olives, all pitted and chopped in a food processor. add chopped garlic. blend some more, then stream in olive oil while chopping. pour into a bowl and mix with crumbled feta cheese. serve on rosemary and olive oil triscuts. that's it. and it. is. so. yummy! it just doesn't photograph well.

the party was a hit. well. it was a hit with me. i thoroughly enjoyed it.


5 comments:

Leah said...

Moscato is hands down my favorite wine! Although, very sweet.

Leah said...

Oh, and YAY for Bella takikng a bottle! life will be a lot easier now :) Or..should be anyway!

Justine said...

lol. well. she *took* a bottle. not *taking* one. sadly. but we're getting there. maybe.

angela said...

I hopped here from your comment on my blog and found a post about moscato. I'm staying! Nice to meet you :)

Michelle @Flying Giggles said...

That sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to celebrate your sister's birthday. Happy Belated Birthday to her!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!