Paris is an experience that everyone should have. It’s a city you can’t help to fall in love with, one of those places that will always have a new surprise waiting.
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Traveling for Adventure vs. Traveling for Relaxation: Here’s What You Need to Know
¡Hola de México!
That’s 95% of what I remember from high school Spanish.
There are as many reasons to travel as there are travelers. It is not just about getting your picture taken with the latest cartoon creation… not that there’s anything wrong with that. But sometimes you may want to add a side of education to your adventures.
You all know by now that I LOVE to travel. In fact, I am in Tulum, Mexico as I type this. We came for a wedding, but left time for a few adventures! We’re headed to the Mayan ruins today, for example.
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Our Fridge Is Empty & Our Tree is Full [WIAW]
It’s Christmas time!
Didn’t we JUST have Thanksgiving?
We made it back from our travels in one piece Monday night, but I feel like a zombie now. How is it already December?
Did you start holiday shopping yet? I did a little t-shirt shopping in South Carolina for me. The people at the gym today loved my Furman University shirt.
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Low Alcohol Drinks & Spicy Bubbles
I took a lot of classes this weekend.
If only high school had been this much fun.
Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival is my favorite event of the year. It’s not just another tasting tent cattle call. Food and wine experts come from all over the Southeast to teach classes, host tastings, and showcase their best on the tasting trails.
Food and wine are also great bonding agents. I tend to go to these event alone, which has lead to meeting a ton of great people. This year I went with my friend Stephanie, whom I met at last year’s festival in the beer and doughnut pairing class!
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Top 11 in 2011
2011 was a big year.
I began this blog at the end of 2010 (yes, I missed my blogiversary), and I cannot believe how much my life has evolved since.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the wonderful bloggers out there. You have inspired me in so many ways – introducing me to new foods, pushing me to think of new flavor combinations, motivating fitness and healthy living by example and through kind comments.
Resolutions aren’t my cup ‘o tea – I like to tackle goals as I think of them throughout the year.
In lieu of posting those and in honor of a rockin’ 2011, I decided to list the top 11 posts for the year.
Often I see bloggers comment that they don’t necessarily agree with the top posts… but in this case I largely agree. There are a couple of soups/stews not on the list – but you guys apparently like breakfast and dessert (and I have no room to judge)! Out of these 11 my top 3 are #1, 2, and 7.
Top 11 in 2011
1. Sparkling (Champagne) Cake Balls (these would be great to bring to a NYE party – toast with balls!)
2. Peach Cobbler Chia Pudding (with an overview on the benefits of chia)
4. Rosemary Lemon Shortbread Cookies
5. Coconut Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies (with an overview on the benefits of coconut flour)
6. Coconut Milk Greek Yogurt (with PBJ Vegan Yogurt recipe)
7. Cherry Balsamic Chickpea Salad (this was one of my favorite meals of the year)
10. Garam Masala Daal (this post also includes my favorite Banana Cashew Chia Pudding recipe!)
11. PB&J Pancakes (gluten-free and vegan!)
Thank you to everyone who has read this blog, left a comment, passed along my link, written an inspiring blog… I am honored to have you all in my life and wish nothing but the best for us all in 2012!
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I stopped posting on weekends… but check back tomorrow for a special Saturday post that might come in handy this weekend.
If you are a blogger, are your “most viewed” recipes the one you like the most?
What is your biggest hope or goal for 2012?
Holiday Wine-ing
As we approach the holiday season, planning becomes more important.
We all get insanely busy and it’s necessary – for me at least – to have a play book.
My calendars are coordinated (work and personal), “to make” items are noted, grocery lists are written (in excel, if you’re a dork like me). Lastly, drink pairings are solidified.
Drink pairings are important. In order to get a good deal you need to shop NOW. Wine “specials” wane (at least on the stuff you’d actually want to drink) as Christmas nears and the price of champagne/sparkling wine increases just in time for New Year’s Eve.
What should you buy now?
- Beaujolais – This wine has been overlooked for years. The French red is not overly complex; it’s a fruit-forward, drinkable wine is what I think is nice about it for parties. 2009 was a great year for Beaujolais-Villages, and you should be able to pick up a satisfying bottle for under $15. You can even find a Cru (Cru is a designation meaning it came from one of the 10 best Beaujolais-Villages) for less than $20. Plus, it sounds fancy when you say it.
- Champagne/Sparkling Wine – The wine that was made for celebrations! Significant discounts will end about 2 weeks before Christmas. Plan ahead for NYE and pick up a few bottles of bubbly this weekend.
- Wines from up-and-coming regions – You know how you can get clothes or art for great prices if you catch the creator before they really hit it big? It’s no different with wines – you can find some wonderful bottles on the cheap if you branch outside of the norm.
A Few Specific Suggestions:
Beaujolais
As I said above, 2009 was a great year for Beaujolais. The 2009 Marcel Lapierre Morgon is a great choice for a holiday meal. it is light in structure, with lots of red fruit and a slight earthiness. You can drink it with your pre-dinner charcuterie, a roast chicken or pork dinner, and a chocolate tart.
Also good is the 2009 George Debouf Beaujolais-Villages. I picked up a bottle for just $10! This wine is a well-balanced red with subtle berry notes (think currents and raspberries) and little herbiness that is perfect with a variety of foods or on its own.
Interesting side note: It is against French law for Beaujolais producers to release the wine before midnight on the 3rd Thursday of November. No one remembers why.
Champagne/Sparkling
My latest affordable find is a 2009 Argentinean Sparkling Malbec from Ernesto Catena’s Alma Negra(translation = black soul) line. It’s a beautiful salmon color with notes of rose petal and strawberry. Not too sweet, the finish is smooth and elegant. The price for this bottle is about $16… not as cheap as Cooks, but your head won’t be pounding in the morning. 😉
Side note: Catena also makes one of my favorite, affordable Malbecs.
Up-and-Coming
This recent article picked up by Reuters lists the Top 10 Up-and-Coming Wine Regions. I remembered reading this article when I picked up this bottle from Portugal:
Portugal has long been known for sweeter whites, but it’s the dry reds that are gaining notoriety. This 2005 Alentejo Roquevale Redondo is one of the regions successes. Smooth in the mouth without compromising structure. It’s a figgy, a little dark, and perfect for red meats or game. It is a blend largely comprised of Tempranillo (Aragonez in Portuguese) and it was a steal at $12.
If nothing else, remember this helpful piece of advice:
Or you could always buy some of wine in a can.
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Christmas came early – I made the FoodBuzz Top 9 with my Sweet Potato Pie Oatmeal!!! Thank you everyone and welcome new readers!
What is your favorite wine to serve/bring to parties?
Do you ever buy bottles because they are “pretty?” No shame – we’re ALL guilty.
