Snow, dogs, and wine

There are some things in life that make me ridiculously happy, among them: snow, dogs (particularly my dog), and a good glass of red wine. Today was full of a few of my favorite things.

I’m one of the rare breed of humans who genuinely likes snow. Loves it, actually. I wake up early in the morning and jump out of bed and open the blinds, desperately hoping I have a snow day. It’s pathetic.

As a dog owner, I’ve learned to appreciate snow in an entirely different way. My dog (a Shepherd-Retriever mix) loves the snow as much as I do, especially going for long walks in it. But the way she leaps through it makes you wish you were eight years old again and could enjoy it just as much as she is. Do you remember what that was like as a kid? Man, snow kicks ass.

But here’s the thing. As much as I love snow, and my dog loves snow, and I love walking in snow… I have zero interest in participating in massive crowds of adults throwing snowballs at each other.

After several long walks in the snow today, I enjoyed a bottle of red wine. Here’s a secret about me: I’m impatient. Even though I know the wine will be infinitely better if I let it sit and breath, I rarely have the patience to do so. So imagine my luck when I opened a bottle today and got distracted by something for the next hour and a half. Man, was that an awesome bottle of wine (if you’re curious: 2008 Five Rivers California Pinot Noir from www.wine.com).

At a typical DC dinner party in December, a wine snob quizzed me mercilessly about the wine I drink. What grape do you prefer? What wineries have you visited? Don’t you despise the local whites? Then, when I admitted I prefer pinot noirs, she clucked her tongue in disappointment and told me that choosing that red was like choosing to drink regular coffee instead of a latte (apparently that proves I’m a Neanderthal). Look, I have friends who are happy to spend hours pouring over wine reviews and learning about the acidity of soil compounds and the difference it made in that 2006 versus 2003 Chardonnay — it’s fun for them. But as I’ve already told you, I’m impatient. Teach me while we drink and I’ll be happy. I believe in life long learning, I swear! But please, don’t make me listen to you explain about tannins and the importance of holding the wine on your tongue before I can enjoy it. Please? Also, if you want people to continue to invite them to their dinner parties, chill out.

Smile. Sip. Enjoy. It’s wine!

[Via http://tryingtobesquaredaway.wordpress.com]

Is Your Cellar Big Enough For All Your Wine Racks?

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to enjoy a bit of a boozy weekend in Dublin. My husband had been invited over by a supplier of the firm he works for. Everything was paid for and all we had to do was get ourselves to the airport for our flight to Dublin.

We were met at the airport by our host and he swiftly whisked us off to his house so we could unpack. My jaw nearly dropped when I first saw how large his house was – it was huge. He had everything you could ever imagine – a swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, gym and even a home cinema.

Waiting for us in his kitchen was some beautiful Australian wine, nicely chilled in a wine cooler and bottle opener all ready to go.

Our host was a real wine buff and has his own wine rack down in his cellar. He imports a lot of wine from Australia and was explaining that the cellar has to be kept at just the right temperature, which is quite difficult at times. He was saying that if the conditions aren’t right, then lots of problems can occur. One example he was telling us about was if the humidity is too high then this will make the corks dry out and this in turn allows air to get into the bottle and oxidise the wine, which would of course be disastrous.

After we had finished our drinks we were off for a night in the Temple Bar area. It was absolutely fantastic and the Irish are so hospitable and friendly. Nothing is too much trouble and they are really genuine people. Hubby was in his element knocking back his pints of Guinness. Mind you I think the next morning he wished he hadn’t drunk quite so much.

We had a brilliant weekend and it is certainly something I would love to do again. I think that if we go again it might be a good idea not to drink quite so much alcohol!

[Via http://hotsexygirlspics.com]

Yeah, Im a Quiter

So remember the  “game on diet” I was talking about on Wednesday?  Its kind of turning out to be the  “game that’s not really for me.”  I don’t think it’s a bad game, I think it can definitely help you form and practice a healthy living, but its kind of altering my already healthy lifestyle. 

I exercise, eat well, I’m happy with my weight (aka my clothes fit, weight is just a number), so why am I trying to alter my already healthy lifestyle to follow someone else’s rules?   Maybe it was my competitive nature coming out or maybe I thought (and it definitely is) nice to be involved in a game with my co-workers?  Who knows, but I think I’m going to be blowing the whistle on this game soon. 

One of the rules in the game is to eat 5 meals per day.  You get penalized if you eat more or don’t fulfill all 5 meals.  Like I said in my “About Me” section, I’m working on listening to my body and am trying to eat when I’m hungry and stop when I’m full.  Force feeding myself to get in that last meal or starving because I only get 5 meals per day isn’t really helping me work towards that perfect balance.  I’m sure it works for some people. I mean, the rules are pretty easy to follow and if you have a competitive edge it’s quite appealing (that’s what sold me on it) but if you’re already in a routine that works well for you, why change?  I’m a bit ashamed about quitting so early on, but this is a great example of how not all fitness regimens, diets, and fads work for everyone.  I need to do what’s right for me and my body!

Are you set in a comfortable routine?  How do you feel about change?

Glad I got that off my chest…  On to today’s eats!

I did stop for that tall skinny cinnamon dolce latte on my way to work.  So good : )

 

Notice, no cardboard “koozie” on cup.  Go green, if you don’t really need one, don’t take one!

Though the latte made me feel like a million bucks, that pain-free run I was bragging about earlier wasn’t so pain-free a few hours later.  One I got to my desk and sat for a bit, I could feel is getting tight.  I took and Advil and did some stretches to loosen up.

This one sitting in my desk chair with one leg (my bad hip) crossed over really, really hurts, but definitely helps.  I still have to manually lift my leg, place it there, and use my desk to hold it down, but my flexibility is already 100 times better than it was a few months ago! 

 

Whoa! Check out those Dankso boots!  Love these guys, just got them for my bday.  Thanks mom and Dad!

OK, for lunch today I went with a can of Progressive Minestrone soup, a pita with garlic hummus and salad greens, and a Ghirardelli dark chocolate white mint square. 

 …..Maybe there was some dipping going on

 

 

The soup turned out to be pretty filling and held be over till about 4:45 when I snacked on a TJ’s low fat string cheese and a serving of Triscuit crackers.

 

 

And a banana for some potassium : )

 

Yah for the weekend!  This week has been pretty crazy at work so I’m looking forward to doing absolutely nothing tonight.  I am currently enjoying a nice glass of red (in my super cool Crate & Barrel stemless wine glasses) and will be heading out for some Indian take out soon.  Bring on the naan!

 

 

Tomorrow is up early again for the horses.  I hope it’s not too cold out and maybe I can get a quick ride in then off to take my first spin class at Healthworks with the use of this weeks Groupon! I’ve heard so many great things about this gym; I’m really looking forward to it! I will report back with a full review!  It is also conveniently located next to Shaw’s so I can replenish my Barney Butter stash!!

 

Do you try to plan out your weekends or just relax and let things flow? 

How quickly does your jar of Barney Butter disappear????? Haha

Last of the 5 for 5!

1. I never really ate or enjoyed oatmeal until I starting readying healthy living blogs.  Now it’s a staple in my diet. 
2. I literally eat an apple a day.
3. I may be a quitter is games, but if I start reading a book, whether I like it or now, I have to finish it before I can pick up something new (It took me 6 months, no lie, to finish Eat, Pray, Love).
4. I’m super jealous of my sister Lauren who will be training for her second marathon this fall.  Chicago!!
5. There are 4 things in life that I do (like to) talk about.  Politics, religion, outer space, and Michael Jackson. 

[Via http://erineatsandexercises.com]

Latris, a restaurant on the marina, St Helens, Tasmania

Ocean Trout

It has taken me a long time to get to Latris and it was at the invitation of friends that I finally made it for lunch. The restaurant’s position at the St Helens marina is perfect for boat watching in sunny weather and guess what, it was all grey skies and turgid sea on the day. We took a table at the window whilst the proprietor was finishing an endless task of cleaning the full length windows whilst balancing on a narrow ledge over the water, one slip and he was in for a spontaneous swim. We just had a quote for cleaning all the full length windows at our house inside and outside so obviously he was saving his couple of hundred dollars.

Classic flathead and chips

I decided I would write something about Latris as the last post I did on the nearby Margot restaurant received quite a few hits from people searching the net for much needed information on restaurants in the St Helens area.  The search engines threw up my blog’s mention of Margot, possibly because hardly anyone comes to St Helens and writes about the restaurants.

My order of bouillabaisse came in a light and thin cream sauce. Garnished on the top with only one small slice from a French Baguette and there was a dab of rouille (rouille is rust in French). This saffron garlicky sauce is usually a real flavour booster but there just was not enough of it. The dish included some pippis, that I love, and perfectly cooked trout and white fish fillets but certainly not nearly enough variety. A vital missing ingredient was parsley, this much-lauded dish from the Mediterranean should not leave the kitchen’s ‘pass’ without this classic herb.

Bouillabaise

All the other dishes our table ordered, were deemed a success special mention for the trout dish.  Don’t get me wrong, my main was enjoyable just missing a real depth of flavour. We chose the Derwent 08 Riesling – crisp, not overly fruity, it worked for our respective fried and creamy fish dishes.

They have an odd rule at lunchtime, Latris will not serve tap water, you have to buy water and since my other half does not drink alcohol, he was locked into ordering it. So a bottle of Ninth Island rainwater at $9.00 was suggested by the staff if we wanted water, an imperative really. We drink nothing but rainwater at Binalong Bay since we do not have ‘town water’ so for us the fancy bottle and label did not resonate, it hit the nerve in the hip pocket. Well I am speaking for our friends who were treating us. They were far too polite to make an issue of it as I am doing here.

Expensive rainwater

Creme Brulee

My dessert was on point, a crème brûlée with just the right texture and the almond bread wafers on the side were perfect for scooping out the leftovers.  The only improvement I would make is in the presentation, a little side plate on a black paper napkin is the kind if presentation my elderly aunt would serve.

Latris interior

This is a restaurant I will return to – lets hope they don’t take offence about the next remark. As long as I can look at the view and not the mundane and somewhat cold interior. The design -  what is wrong with it? I would throw out the commercial office plants and dress the tabletops with sheets of old-fashioned butchers paper, the kind you get with takeaway fish and chips. Any more ideas and they would have to pay me for it. Roz

[Via http://foodfindertasmania.wordpress.com]

Theatregoers in Shakespeare's day 'enjoyed peaches, figs and oysters'

Topic:Fast Food-Tudor Style

A rich variety of seafood was on offer to peckish audience members, including crabs, cockles, mussels, periwinkles and whelks.

Sturgeon steaks were also popular with 16th century audiences enjoying plays by Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

Fruit and nuts were devoured in large quantities, with walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins, plums and cherries for sale.

The findings come from an archaeological survey of the site of the Rose Theatre on what is now the South Bank in London.

Archaeologists Julian Bowsher and Pat Miller wrote up a report published by the Museum of London Archaeology.

By analysing the distribution of food remains over the site, they found that different parts of the audience indulged in different snacks.

The rich, seated in the galleries, could afford imported treats like dried figs and peaches.

In a design that would please today’s eco-conscious architects, hazelnut shells were ‘recycled’ as an absorbent flooring for the yard, where the poorer viewers watched.

The Rose Theatre had a relatively short life. It was built in 1587 by Philip Henslowe, who also owned a brothel, and John Cholmley, a grocer.

Between June 1592 and May 1594 it was shut due to an outbreak of bubonic plague. Then followed a golden period, when plays including Dr Faustus and Tamburlaine by Christopher Marlowe were performed. It shut in 1605 when its lease expired.

Original Article:

Telegraph.co.uk

January 2010

[Via http://ancientfoods.wordpress.com]

Knowing How To Wine

Red and White

So i’m not one of these wine buffs that thinks he knows ever vintage from every year from every collection over the whole world. I’m an amateur. I have basic knowledge of red and white and that’s about the extent of it. But i’ve done research and any person that wants to get into Wine or wants to learn about it should do just that. Understand grapes, understand their purpose, their use, and the differences, understand that some grapes grow in some regions of the world while others only grow exclusively on some continents.

But do not be intimidated by names, brands, categories, or marketing

wine is wine

its meant to be drunk

enjoyed

and experienced

this is truly the only way to understand wine at its full meaning

you could do all the research in the world

and become one of the most important connoisseur of wine
but if you haven’t tasted a bottle
then you’d be a hack

and that’s the beauty of wine

with beer you know what your getting
its a constant
a safe point of comfort and consistency
but wine is always a mystery and almost a mystic art form, when it comes to se

lecting a proper bottle of wine, be it for a meal, for fun, or for a gift.
but i’ll be damned if, when you get it right, that feeling of success you get, isn’t one of the best feelings in the world.

But at the end of it all Wine is just wine
so stop whining about it

and just drink
responsibly

-H.A.

[Via http://hugoalexanderclothing.wordpress.com]

February is National Cherry Month!

Cherry blossoms in the Nation's Capitol.

Here’s a place for you to post all the latest and greatest you have experienced relating to CHERRIES! Where have you eaten or purchased  the best cherry pie, cherry preserves, cherry wine,  and so on.  With your help, we’ll pick the BEST CHERRY RECIPES, and share them here by the end of the month.

Fresh bing cherries.

Visit these sites  for all kinds of cherry cherry info on February’s Fruit of the Month!

www.choosecherries.com

www.calcherry.com

www.nwcherries.com

www.cherryrepublic.com

[Via http://queenofcuisine.wordpress.com]