Urban Uco Torrontes

There is a wine that I really like - Crios by Susana Balbo Torrontes (a gorgeous flowery, citrusy white) - that I don't see very often. So I decided to try a different Argentinian Torrontes that I came across at World Market last weekend: Urban Uco. (Okay, I also bought it because of the cool label.)

It doesn't seem quite as floral as I recall the Crios but it is similar. It's also well priced - I can't remember what I paid but I looked it up online and found prices around $10. Wine Advocate gave it a score of 89 and said this:

“O. Fournier’s 2008 Urban Uco Torrontes is a remarkable value. It offers up a fragrant perfume of honey, spring flowers, pit fruits, and a hint of tropical aromas in the background. Expansive on the palate, the wine is crisp, ripe, dry, and impeccably balanced. Drink it over the next 12-18 months.” –Jay Miller

The quote under the picture says "We know who we are, but not what we can become." -W. Shakespeare xoxo

Carrottes Etuvees Au Beurre

Doesn't that sound fancy?! Much better than "carrots braised in butter". Which actually even sounds better than my usual "boil some already-peeled baby carrots in hot water and maybe add a little butter".

Right before Christmas I watched Julie and Julia and thought it was such a fun movie. If you follow my blog, you know we were in Paris this past summer and I love French food (for the most part), dining out, and even post the occasional recipe. I'm not a very good cook but I'm trying. So anyway, my parents thought it would be fun to get me the two volume set of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking along with a beautiful Le Creuset French oven - in Flame to match my tea kettle.

The first recipe I've made from the books is the fancy-pants carrots named above. They were so easy but so special because I just felt like I gave it a little more thought & effort than I usually would give a vegetable side dish - and served them up in the lovely LeC. I made them for the second time last night because my 4 yr old son requested them again. (That makes a mom feel good!)

If you want to try them out, here's what you do (adapted from p.477 of Julia's Vol. 1 book):

1. peel and cut up about 1 1/2 lbs of carrots

2. boil them in 1 1/2 cups of water, along with 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter, 1 Tbsp granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper for about 30 min or until the carrots are tender - top with a little chopped parsley if you want, and serve

not part of the recipe, just taking a little break

You want to cook the carrots until the liquid has just evaporated and the carrots are beginning to saute in the butter. In these pics there is a little bit too much liquid still. This was the first time I made them. Last night, I got it all cooked out and they were perfection! I served them alongside a turkey & roasted red pepper meatloaf which I've made several times - another recipe post coming soon!

xoxo

Thanksgiving Day Wine Line-Up

So all of these wines had little pictures of turkeys in front of them on the shelf indicating that they were good matches for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (wasn't sure what people would feel like so I bought a selection).  Bogle & Kris I've tried, but I thought I'd share these four local grocery's recommendations!  We of course always have some Martinelli's sparkling cider on hand too.  These were all reasonably priced - marked-down to $9.99 - $10.99.

Cono Sur Pinot Noir (Chile), Bogle Zinfandel (California), Barnard Griffin Rose (Washington State), Kris Pinot Grigio (Italy)

Things are crazy busy around the Sweet Tea household as I'm sure they are with you all too - so sporadic posting over the next few days.  I do hope to share a couple of my favorite appetizer recipes (which are good any time of year but I am making them Thursday) from my favorite Junior League cookbook, so stay tuned!

Cheers!

xoxo

Cute Wine Bottle Label = I'll Try It!

For anyone else with this philosophy (I know you're out there!) I wanted to share this cutie-cute bottle of  Middle Sister "Drama Queen" California Pinot Grigio that I picked up at Target today (about $12).

Usually on the back label, there is a brief description and/or food recommendations, which would guide me in my description... but on this one there is just a paragraph about giant sunglasses, fashion shows, and fundraisers.  Works for me.  And they do donate a dime a bottle to women's charities.

For more info, you can go to www.middlesisterwines.com.  (Super cute site!)

La Vieille Ferme

So I stopped in over at Sea Glasses' Winey Wednesday (how cute is that) and it reminded me of a wine recommendation that I never posted.

I am not a wine expert by any means... I pick up a wine magazine maybe once every year or two and stop in a local wine bar maybe 3-4 times a year, if that.  I buy wine at the grocery store or Target or World Market and I tend to go with what looks reasonably good at a reasonably good price.  We like what we like and that's enough for us!  

That said, I usually do all the wine shopping (and food shopping, and clothing shopping, and shoe shopping - you get the picture) but one evening I sent Hubby out and he came back with a fabulous (we thought!) bottle on sale for $8.99.  

His method:  stand around in the wine section and try to find someone who looks like they know what they are doing and get what they get.  He felt he had great luck as he heard someone speaking French and loitered around looking nonchalant while they chose their bottle.  Once they did, he zipped over, grabbed the same, and checked out.  Here it is:

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rouge 2006 - just a nice fruity, medium bodied table wine at a nice price.  And I like the pictures of the chickens.