We’ve been making an effort to reduce our intake of high fructose corn syrup, even though the jury may still be out on whether it’s worse for you than plain old cane sugar. Soft drinks on their own were eliminated from our diets years ago, but a few small cans of Coke and Ginger Ale,ContinueContinue reading “Homemade Lemon Mixer Lab”
Author Archives: J Reilly
Simi Cab Vintage Throwdown: 2007 vs. 2013
For the New Year, 2016, we’ve decided to say goodbye to 2007. I’m referring to our last bottle of 2007 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley in Sonoma, California. We first tasted Simi in 2010 when we owned our liquor store and brought home a bottle of the 2007 vintage. We liked it well enoughContinueContinue reading “Simi Cab Vintage Throwdown: 2007 vs. 2013”
Discovering Bok Choy
Bok choy is known as Chinese cabbage but tastes more like a celery and spinach mash up.
What To Do With Italian Leftovers
After we made Eggplant Rollatini, I had about a half cup of ricotta cheese, a three to four ounce chunk of fresh mozzarella, and a half box of cooked spaghetti leftover. These paltry remains may only amount to a few dollars’ worth of food, but the Great Depression-era mindset passed on to me by my parentsContinueContinue reading “What To Do With Italian Leftovers”
Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Excellent example of a Napa Cab for under $20.
Fondue Family Tradition
My husband’s family tradition for Christmas Eve dinner is gathering around the fondue pot where bite-sized pieces of chicken, beef, and cocktail franks are skewered with a fondue fork and cooked in a cauldron of hot vegetable oil. With a few new ideas from The Melting Pot restaurant, we stepped up the family tradition with someContinueContinue reading “Fondue Family Tradition”
Scallops & Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
When your jar of roasted red peppers start to get soft, make red pepper sauce.
Bobal de San Juan 2012
Bobal is relatively obscure but, surprisingly, is Spain’s third most-planted grape.
Turkey Breast with Fennel
We’re not hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, so I’m subjected to the whims of relatives for holiday meals. I’m not ungrateful for the trade-off. Washing a few dishes is certainly easier than shopping and cooking for 15 people. But I long to control the destiny of my own turkey dinner, for better or forContinueContinue reading “Turkey Breast with Fennel”
Napa Wine Tasting Holiday
Visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday who live just north of San Francisco provided the perfect opportunity for a wine tasting excursion in Napa Valley. Remembering our recent experience with a 1998 vintage of Merlot (see blog “Rombauer Rescue”), we decided to start with Rombauer Vineyards in St Helena. When we told the staff memberContinueContinue reading “Napa Wine Tasting Holiday”
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