This week’s “favorites” are dedicated to my week in Cahors, France. Cahors, France Cahors, located in southwest France, hails claim to the birthplace of Malbec (the grape Argentina gets all the credit for). I was there for “Cahors Malbec Days”, a four day symposium and trade event focusing on all things Malbec. While there I…
Food
Friday Favorites – more simple summer wines and Cahors prep
A roundup of my favorite things from the week in the categories of wine, food, travel, and lifestyle. FOOD I’m still coming off a high watching hubs help cater his first event with the new smoker. 320 pounds of pork butt were slow cooked to perfection by hubby and Matt Johnston of Boda’s Kitchen celebrating…
BBQ Corner (part 7) — Introducing the Yoder Chisholm, and our first catering gig
In lieu of a BBQ lesson this week we have an important announcement to make. By contributing writer Sean “The Hubby” There is a fine line between obsession and passion. At least, that’s what I think. I’ll admit that my passion for quality barbecue and obsession with the right tools and ingredients are what guide…
Smoked Strawberry Shortcake with Smoked Bacon Biscuits
We may have gone a bit over the top with this recipe for Smoked Strawberry Shortcake with Smoked Bacon Biscuits… and for very good reasons… Strawberry season is officially upon us, and opening day at my favorite organic U-pick farm was this past weekend. We couldn’t pass the opportunity to be among the first to…
Different Styles of BBQ Sauces
A rundown of the major styles of BBQ and regional sauces and what they are good for. I love being asked what my style of BBQ is, for a couple reasons. I find it an opportunity to gauge how much that person really understands styles, and why it matters (or doesn’t). To be candid, if…
Brisket Tacos — a great use for leftover smoked brisket
Brisket Tacos are an excellent use for any leftover brisket, smoked brisket or not. This easy taco recipe will be one you will come back for over and over and…. We find ourselves with another overload of smoked brisket leftovers. It happens. Though we have dozens of great uses for leftover smoked brisket (see below),…
Easy Blender Salsa — My Mama’s Basic Homemade Salsa Recipe
This Easy Blender Salsa is probably the best salsa you’ll ever make. It’s incredibly delicious (and addictive) and perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners or parties! The best part is it comes together in less than 5 minutes! My mom’s cooking has inspired several posts here on the blog; including her Green Chili Turkey…
Mini-Vacation Spotlight — Sedona, Arizona
Things to do for a great mini-vacation to Sedona, Arizona. For Mother’s Day two years ago my husband asked what I’d most like. I told him I wanted Sedona. I wanted to go somewhere warm, quiet, beautiful, serene, and most of all peaceful. I had just come off of my first year of having twins,…
How to make a Grilled and Glazed Chicken
How to make Grilled and Glazed Chicken. I must admit a few years ago I was so uninspired when grilling chicken (but my wife requested it several times a week!). Frankly, I just felt that the flavor was bland and half the time it was either too charred or not cooked enough, meaning it would…
The Carlton Inn Bed and Breakfast (Carlton, Oregon)
The Carlton Inn Bed and Breakfast, in Carlton, Oregon, is a fantastic place to stay when in Oregon’s wine country. Following our wedding, my husband and I spent a quiet week near Lake Placid in upstate NY, at a bed and breakfast called the Porcupine Inn. We immediately fell smitten by the B&B bug. Upon…
Friday Favorites – Touring Oregon Wine Country
A weekly roundup of my favorite things this week in the categories of wine, food, travel, and lifestyle. Since returning to Oregon I’ve tried to immerse myself in Pacific Northwest wines, specifically on understanding the intricacies of each wine-growing region. This week I had the opportunity to spend some time focusing on two different regions…
Salmon and Pinot Noir, a Great Wine Pairing
Find out why Salmon and Pinot Noir are such a great wine pairing, plus recipes for salmon cooked on the smoker. Living in the Pacific Northwest we’re very lucky to be surrounded by great options for the freshest fish. When in Seattle we like to take the kids to, Pike Place Market. If you go,…
Direct vs. Indirect Grilling or Two Zone Grilling
Understand the basics of direct indirect grilling. Also known as two zone grilling to achieve a perfect crust and finished temperature every time. Have you ever thrown a burger on, or tried to get that chicken to come out tasty, tender and done? Only to be thwarted by the flame? I recall the first time…
Friday Favorites — Farmer’s Market Fun
A weekly roundup of my favorite things this week in the categories of wine, food, travel, and lifestyle. Since I took last week off this encompasses two weeks of favorites. LIFESTYLE Portland Farmer’s Market The Portland Farmer’s Market is open for the season! It has been open for two weeks now and we’ve hit it…
A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Cheese and Wine Pairing
A much better alternative to dying your food green on this festive day. I met a chef recently who said pairing food and wine is really quite simple. “If you have good food and good wine people will be happy. There’s really not much more to it.” While he has a point, I would argue…
Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Bacon and Chardonnay Wine Pairing
When it comes to food and wine pairing most people start with the food, then look for wines to pair with whatever they intended to eat. But in my house we’re often in the opposite predicament – trying to come up with a dish to pair with a specific wine we want to open. In…
February Favorites — a wine country getaway & stress relieving bubbles
A roundup of my favorite things in the categories of wine, food, travel, and lifestyle. Since this month has flown by I decided to highlight the month of February instead of just this past week. TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE Napa/Sonoma girls weekend – a much-needed getaway When the opportunity arises for your best friend to join…
Friday Favorites – Valentine’s Day Edition
A weekly roundup of my favorite things in the categories of wine, food, travel, and lifestyle. Once upon a time I was a cynic about Valentine’s Day. I had my years where I boycotted the holiday, and also those where I preached that you should appreciate your loved ones every day, not just one day…
Uses for leftover smoked beef brisket – Smoked Beef Brisket Nachos (recipe and wine pairing)
Award-Winning Smoked Beef Brisket Nachos is the perfect cure for cabin fever. It’s also the perfect way to use up leftover brisket! *Update: As of April 2015, this recipe became the grand prize winning recipe in the Traeger Grills Meat Madness Competition. How cool is that?! If you haven’t heard, Portland experienced a bit of…
9 Super Bowl Recipes
T-minus six days ‘till the big day. The Super Bowl. I’m not gonna lie, I only watch one football game a year – the Super Bowl (though I do fantasize about the idea of buying a traveling smoker just to take up tailgating). To me, the Super Bowl is just one grand snack-foodie holiday, and…
Friday Favorites — Touring Portland with Friends
A weekly roundup of my favorite things in the categories of wine, food, travel, and lifestyle. Two of my dearest friends, Allison and Lynn, were visiting last weekend from CA, one of whom I’ve been BFF’s since we were fifteen years old, singing and dancing our way through high school together. We had a lot…
What to Drink, Eat, Do, and See in Santorini, Greece
Right about this time of year I start itching for a vacation. It is cold and wet where I am, so I dream of someplace warm… no, make that hot… with plenty of sunshine, good food, and great wine — A place like Santorini. Though it may be a few years before I get back…
Smoked Buffalo Chicken Pizza & Wine Pairing
Smoked Buffalo Chicken Pizza is the perfect answer for when you’re wanting Buffalo wings, but also pizza! Also a great use for leftover chicken. Shred it, mix it with Franks RedHot hot sauce, and add to your pizza. I didn’t know Buffalo wings could be elevated to such a level… until this weekend. I thought…
Discussing Holiday Food and Wine Pairing with The Hudson Valley Wine Goddess
Holiday parties are in full swing, and if you should find yourself in a rut trying to figure out which wines to drink you’re not alone. It can be an intimidating topic for many. My advice is don’t think too deeply about it. Pairing wine with holiday foods is no different than any style of…
