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Here you'll find delicious recipes for any occasion. The perfect recipe is just minutes away!

Greeky Pizza with Red Blend Wine

Course five of my food and wine pairing dinner was a simple-to-make yet complex-in-flavor pizza paired with Project Paso 2010 Red Wine Blend.

Mushrooms Three Ways with Chardonnay

I wasn’t sure where to place the lone chardonnay in my wine and food pairing dinner. It was to be accompanied by mushroom flan. Being the fabulous hostess that I am I knew my guests tastes and decided to make my own mushroom course to pair with Aquinas 2010 Chardonnay. Mushroom flan does sound interesting to me and I would like to try it if given the opportunity, but I knew that wouldn’t be favored by the majority of my dinner party participants. The mushroom flan recipe called for porcini mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and yukon gold potatoes. Those sounded like a delicious combination so I started there when planning my mushroom course.

Soppressata Bean Soup with Petite Sirah

Course Two of my fabulous wine pairing dinner was a two-bean soup with bacon, soppressata, and various spices paired with The Crusher Petite Sirah. The original recipe for this soup called for Polish Sausage, but I love all things Italian so I chose to switch it up a bit. Soppressata is a common meat to use on cheese and charcuterie platters. It can be found hot and mild. For this soup I used mild so as not to detract from all the other powerful flavors. I loved this soup because it so vibrant and colorful and not very “soupy”. There is just enough broth for it to be called soup, but it is more similar in consistency to a chunky chili. In any case, it was delicious and I ate ridiculous amounts of it while preparing this dinner throughout the day. Even Elyse, my non-red-meat-eating friend loved it. I mean LOVED it! Jenn, the pickiest person in the world wrote “yum” on her notecard and even said aloud that it was a lovely dish. This soup is really fabulous all on it’s own. It doesn’t need any pairing at all!

Bacon Plates with Sweet Red Wine

I recently told you about my exciting gift of wine! I had in my possession six bottles of wine and six recipes with which to pair them. The best way I could think to tackle this challenge of pairing wines with recipes created especially for them was to host a dinner party with my friends. Armed with notepads and whetted appetites we began our culinary adventure with Smoking Loon Red Loonatic 2009 Sweet Red Wine. This wine was to be paired with an appetizer of bacon, dates, and bleu cheese. It actually came with a recipe that included three variations. Since this was going to be a six-course meal comprised of small plates I also had on the table a cheese platter that included elements from each course to nibble between servings (and pourings!)

Food and Wine Pairing

I started teaching myself about wine several years ago. I have many books and kits and favorite websites. I feel like I am pretty okay when it comes to choosing a nice wine to enjoy with my carefully crafted meal. I also feel like I still have a long way to go and so much more to learn. Wine is a complex and beautiful thing. Before the grapevines even break through the soil the impending wine is being crafted by the land from which it grows.

Something Sinfully Rich, Chocolatey and Amazing

I taught you the other day how to have a successful girls night.  One of the key components is to have something sinfully rich, chocolatey and amazing for dessert.  Here is the perfect solution.  I originally saw this recipe over on Recipe Girl.  It was love at first sight!  My salivary glands became activated immediately upon seeing that title and first photo.  As I read more about this chocolate wonder and skimmed the recipe I knew I just had to make it mine!

Pizza With The Girls

To have a successful girls night start with the four most fabulous women you know! Add a little wine.  Paint each other’s nails, gossip, and laugh until you cry!

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