What to do with just 48 hours in Austin, Texas. Last month I had a whirlwind of a trip to Austin, TX, to be a part of the 300th opening of TownePlace Suites hotels on behalf of The Daily Meal. I wrote a story for them on the hotel and their partnership with Weber Grills,…
Lifestyle
12 Rosés to Kick off your Summer
Rosé seems to be at an all time high right now in popularity. It’s everywhere! And, as an avid year-round rosé freak lover, I couldn’t be more excited. Today we have a review of a new book on the subject, and 12 rosé recommendations to jump start your summer sipping. Just this spring three new…
Sparkling Wines to Welcome the New Year
A very bubbly list of some of the best wines to drink to welcome in the New Year. These Sparkling Wines are fantastic for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, or really any occasion for that matter! Bubbly is probably our favorite thing to drink around here, and (almost) every Friday you can catch my…
Oregon Sparkling Wines for the Holidays on KGW Portland Today
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And by that I obviously mean it’s the season for bubbly! Wohoo! And speaking of bubbly, I got to talk about my absolute favorite wine topic on KGW Portland Today this week!!! Champagne and sparkling wine are certainly available year-round, and I drink bubbly weekly (usually on Fridays,…
Why now is the time for Wine Bloggers to join Food Blogger Pro
(This post is an updated version of a similar post I wrote around this time last year) A few years ago I decided I wanted to take blogging and writing more seriously. I wanted to move from it just being a “hobby” to something I could potentially get paid for. I really enjoyed writing about…
Pairing Wine with Halloween candy on KGW Portland Today
So this happened. I went on KGW and talked about pairing wine with Halloween candy!!! Now I know what some of you might be thinking. You did WHAT?! This is somewhat of a faux pas subject for many a wine writer. And there’s a good reason for that. Halloween candy and wine aren’t really a…
Feast Portland is Coming Soon!!!
One of the annual culinary highlights of many a Portland foodie is coming next week. Feast Portland: September 15-18, 2016 What is Feast? Now, in case you’re not a Portland foodie, or have just been hiding under a rock (like I was the last few years), it is, from what I hear and read, one…
Summer 2016 in Photos…
… And some words. And also some emotional mom confessions. First, the fun stuff! Smoked Steak Skewers, served at an Ember and Vine event earlier this summer. The steak was smoked, then we cut it into chunks, skewered them, and finished them off on the grill for char! So good. Small bites paired with Bells Up…
Show me the heat!
Refreshing summer white wines It’s usually around this time of the year when you see articles about things to help you “beat the heat,” whether it’s drinks, cocktails, activities, you name it. We started the summer out on a hot note. In May and even early June we saw some high numbers here in Portland…
Announcement (Wine Blog Awards) and Deep Gratitude
Happy Friday! Yesterday, as I was just finishing up touring an incredible organization based in the Willamette Valley, ¡Salud!, (an organization I’ve been wanting to write about for a very very long time) I found out some exciting news. My blog was nominated for the Wine Blog Awards, in two categories – Best Original Photography…
17 Genius Uses for a Teeny Tiny Miniature Cast Iron Skillet
Ever wonder what you could do with a miniature 3.5-inch cast iron skillet? Here are 17 Genius uses for that teeny tiny miniature cast iron pan! This past Christmas my mom gave me one. A super teeny tiny miniature cast iron skillet. It is small. Really small. Like 3.5-inches wide small. It’s just like this…
Cooking with Kids on AM Northwest
One of the most precious moments of my life. Getting to cook with my kiddo on live TV! I got to bring my son to cook with me on AM Northwest. When we were presented with the idea of a segment on cooking with my kids, it fell on a date that Sean couldn’t join…
Traveling Wine Country with Twins – Article in Wine Enthusiast
I have some exciting news to share.I’ve been published in Wine Enthusiast Magazine! My piece, which can be found in the “Last Drop” section of the print magazine, is about a topic I’m all too familiar with — Traveling to wine country with my 5-year old twin boys. Now, without giving too much away (stop…
8 Rosé Wines to Kick off Spring
‘Tis the season for rosé! Now let’s be honest, I love love love me some rosé year-round. I drink it while cuddled by the fire, alongside my Thanksgiving dinner, eating grilled steak, and even while shoveling the snow off my driveway. Just kidding, I live in Portland. It snows barely once a year here (but…
Love
There are many who harp on Valentine’s Day for being a “Hallmark” holiday. I listened to several people on OPB this morning going on and on about how much they hate this “commercialized” day. I get it. The same could be said about any holiday really. But what if, just for once, we ignore the Hallmark stuff and…
Escape the cold with Santorini wines
I’m craving somewhere warm. Somewhere sunny. Somewhere where the blues are as blue as can be and the whites are as white as can be. I know I know, I’m in Portland, it’s not like it’s “that” cold here. It could be worse. I could be braving the blizzard headed towards the east coast right…
Friday Favorites — Arizona Edition
A weekly roundup of the “best of” the week in wine, food, and travel. The boys and I traveled to AZ this week to visit family. Sean and I took a couple of nights to ourselves (wohoo!) while the boys tortured spent some QT with the fam. FAVORITE FASHION – The Man-Robe If you’ve ever tried…
Cookin’ up My Mama’s Green Chili Turkey on AM Northwest
Today I’m thankful for this –> Going on AM Northwest to do a cooking segment! I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to share a recipe incredibly near and dear to my heart with the folks at AM Northwest. My Mama’s Green Chili Turkey. This is a recipe that has been in my family for…
Thanksgiving on the Grill or Smoker!
All the tips and tricks you need for cooking the perfect Thanksgiving dinner on your grill or smoker! We’ve been cooking Thanksgiving dinner outdoors on our grill and smoker for almost a decade now and wouldn’t do it any other way. Hopefully these tips will help you have a smooth Thanksgiving when cooking outdoors on…
Lentil Soup Recipe with Smoked Sausage
This hearty Lentil Soup made with Smoked Sausage, Bacon, Red Wine, and Vegetables has deep smokey and savory flavors, is comforting, and completely soul-soothing. It’s the perfect soup for a cold and rainy afternoon. A Tried & True Soup Recipe To Feed A Crowd This soup is a winter staple with our catering company, Ember…
What Wine Bloggers Can Learn From Food Blogger Pro…
What wine bloggers can learn from food bloggers, and an interview with Bjork Ostrom, co-founder of Food Blogger Pro. A few years ago I decided I wanted to take blogging and writing more seriously. I wanted to move from it just being a “hobby” to something I could potentially get paid for. I really enjoyed…
Food Blog University (Cancun, Mexico) — work + family time = win win
Last week I returned from a weeklong trip to Cancun. When friends asked me if the trip was for work or vacation, my answer was yes, and yes. I was there for the inaugural Food Blog University held in Cancun, Mexico. A conference that is in its first year can go a couple of ways. It…
How To Use A Charcoal Chimney
Find out how to safely and quickly light up a charcoal grill without lighter fluid. We get this question a lot. It seems simple, but many people fear the charcoal grill because of tasks like lighting it. This step by step approach to using a charcoal chimney starter makes lighting a charcoal grill foolproof. We…
Smoked Brisket Pizza
Brisket Pizza takes leftover brisket and gives it a fresh makeover! This is another fantastic use for leftover Beef Brisket. My husband’s weakness is pizza. Usually he prefers plain ol’ pepperoni pizza (which I find quite boring). But lately, with his never-ending obsession with trying to perfect his brisket (this is a real problem, people),…
