Another great day at the office. Look at this personalized top of the line laser etching University of Florida Alumni bottle we just made. You just can’t find that quality anywhere else…only $5 a label!!

Another great day at the office.

Look at this personalized top of the line laser etching University of Florida Alumni bottle we just made. You just can’t find that quality anywhere else…only $5 a label!!

Ingredients About 1 cup milk or heavy cream 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup light corn syrup (recommended: Karo) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups crumbled brownies or chocolate cookie sandwiches (about 5 large brownies or 10 cookies) 2 large bananas, peeled and sliced Vanilla ice cream, for serving Splash brandy, optional 1 1/2 cups lightly sweetened whipped cream, optional Crushed roasted peanuts, for garnish 6 maraschino cherries, for garnish Directions In a small saucepan, combine the milk and melted chocolate chips over low heat until heated through, smooth and creamy. In another small saucepan, combine the peanut butter and corn syrup and heat over low heat until heated through, smooth, and creamy. Add the butter and vanilla and stir to combine. Remove from the heat. (Alternatively, combine peanut butter and corn syrup in a microwaveable bowl and microwave, stirring periodically, until smooth, creamy and hot.) Divide the crumbled brownies evenly between 6 sundae glasses or ice cream coupes and sprinkle the sliced bananas over the brownies. Then spoon about 1/3 cup of the peanut butter sauce over the bananas and spoon about 1/3 cup of the chocolate sauce on top of the peanut butter sauce. Top with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream into each glass. Top with a splash of brandy, if using, and a dollop of whipped cream, if using. Sprinkle the top of each with some of the crushed peanuts. Top each sundae with a maraschino cherry and serve immediately. Yum

Ingredients

  • About 1 cup milk or heavy cream
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup light corn syrup (recommended: Karo)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups crumbled brownies or chocolate cookie sandwiches (about 5 large brownies or 10 cookies)
  • 2 large bananas, peeled and sliced
  • Vanilla ice cream, for serving
  • Splash brandy, optional
  • 1 1/2 cups lightly sweetened whipped cream, optional
  • Crushed roasted peanuts, for garnish
  • 6 maraschino cherries, for garnish

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the milk and melted chocolate chips over low heat until heated through, smooth and creamy.

In another small saucepan, combine the peanut butter and corn syrup and heat over low heat until heated through, smooth, and creamy. Add the butter and vanilla and stir to combine. Remove from the heat. (Alternatively, combine peanut butter and corn syrup in a microwaveable bowl and microwave, stirring periodically, until smooth, creamy and hot.)

Divide the crumbled brownies evenly between 6 sundae glasses or ice cream coupes and sprinkle the sliced bananas over the brownies. Then spoon about 1/3 cup of the peanut butter sauce over the bananas and spoon about 1/3 cup of the chocolate sauce on top of the peanut butter sauce. Top with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream into each glass. Top with a splash of brandy, if using, and a dollop of whipped cream, if using. Sprinkle the top of each with some of the crushed peanuts. Top each sundae with a maraschino cherry and serve immediately.

Yum

Back from vacation

I haven’t posted anything in a while since I’ve been on vacation. But I’m back so you guys can follow my every word.

Wine Etiquette

Always call the restaurant in advance to verify that corkage is allowed. Ask what the fee is to avoid any surprises. Very few restaurants charge over $20 as a corkage fee. Some restaurants will waive this fee if an additional bottle is purchased from the wine list, but do not assume that this is the case.

Cool

Cool

Wine Label Contest

Create the best wine label and wine a $200 case of wine!

Someone actually got a tattoo of this thing. http://bit.ly/4SeYhM I think I like the shirt better

Someone actually got a tattoo of this thing.

http://bit.ly/4SeYhM

I think I like the shirt better

Adventures in cooking: Spinach and feta biscuits and cheddar corn chowder (which didn’t photograph well) Spinach and feta biscuit ingredients: — 2 cups all purpose flour— 1 tsp salt— Fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)— 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder— 1/4 cup butter— 1/2 cup buttermilk— 1/4 cup canola oil— 1 egg— About one small package of feta cheese, crumbled— About half a bag of spinach, chopped— 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced— 1/4 cup fresh basil, minced very fine Directions: 1. In a large sauté pan, sauté chopped spinach and garlic until softened. Add feta and basil at very end and remove from heat.2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl.3. Mash in the butter with a fork.4. Combine the buttermilk, oil and egg in a separate bowl. Whisk together until completely combined.5. Combine the milk/egg mix with the flour. Gently, stir in the spinach mixture and add pepper.6. Spoon into greased muffin tin (makes about one dozen).7. Bake at 375°F for 22-25 minutes.

Adventures in cooking: Spinach and feta biscuits and cheddar corn chowder (which didn’t photograph well)

Spinach and feta biscuit ingredients:

— 2 cups all purpose flour
— 1 tsp salt
— Fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)
— 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
— 1/4 cup butter
— 1/2 cup buttermilk
— 1/4 cup canola oil
— 1 egg
— About one small package of feta cheese, crumbled
— About half a bag of spinach, chopped
— 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
— 1/4 cup fresh basil, minced very fine

Directions:

1. In a large sauté pan, sauté chopped spinach and garlic until softened. Add feta and basil at very end and remove from heat.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl.
3. Mash in the butter with a fork.
4. Combine the buttermilk, oil and egg in a separate bowl. Whisk together until completely combined.
5. Combine the milk/egg mix with the flour. Gently, stir in the spinach mixture and add pepper.
6. Spoon into greased muffin tin (makes about one dozen).
7. Bake at 375°F for 22-25 minutes.

Thanksgiving cocktail-Warm Apple Pie A slice of apple pie fresh from the oven is a quintessential fall treat. Prefer your dessert in liquid form? This Warm Apple Pie, made with apple cider, baking spices and an orange-flavored Italian liqueur called Tuaca, is the perfect after-dinner drink. Single Serve Ingredients: 6 oz. apple cider (heated) 2 oz. Tuaca liqueur Whipped cream Pinch cinnamon and nutmeg 1 cinnamon stick Preparation: In a glass coffee mug or heat-resistant goblet, combine your heated cider and Tuaca. Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Add cinnamon stick.

Thanksgiving cocktail-Warm Apple Pie

A slice of apple pie fresh from the oven is a quintessential fall treat. Prefer your dessert in liquid form? This Warm Apple Pie, made with apple cider, baking spices and an orange-flavored Italian liqueur called Tuaca, is the perfect after-dinner drink.

Single Serve

Ingredients:

6 oz. apple cider (heated)
2 oz. Tuaca liqueur
Whipped cream
Pinch cinnamon and nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick

Preparation:

In a glass coffee mug or heat-resistant goblet, combine your heated cider and Tuaca. Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Add cinnamon stick.

THE HOLY GRAIL OF THANKSGIVING With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, there is no better time to start planning your Thanksgiving dinner menu and selecting wines to complement the feast. Historically, the week before Thanksgiving is a great time to buy wine as many wine merchants run specials on preferred wines.The big question - which wine or wines to go with the variety of tastes, textures and aromas that uniquely present themselves on Thanksgiving Day? The choice is entirely up to you, but we here at wines.com completely recommend the following seven wines!Staete Landt 2005 Pinot Noir from New Zealand will tell you there is a certain magic in a proper Pinot that is just not in other red wines. This is a full-bodied wine with an elegant tannin structure and a lingering finish. Staete Landt Pinot expresses magic; it can retail for around $25; here it’s markedly less at $19.89. For us this wine is pretty close to the Holy Grail, a great affordable Pinot. Pinot Noir’s subtle earthy undertones and often mushroom inspired flavors surround the fruit features of the wine and tend to show well with the traditional flavors of turkey and stuffing. Or how about Jean-Luc Colombo Chateaun-du-Pape Les Bartavelles 2005? This red wine is forward, ripe and easy, with lots of grape, plum and cherry fruit backed by notes of sweet toast and spice. It has nice juicy acidity frames the finish, while a hint of grilled herb checks in at the very end. We are currently offering this wine at $24.89 and free shipping! You can’t miss this wine from down under! Longwood McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 is immensely rich with surface layers of vanilla, toasted coconut and caramel blend more readily with its blackberry core. It is regularly priced at $29 dollars a bottle but here at wines.com it is only $17.89 and has no shipping fee. The prevalent peppery notes of Shiraz will partner well with the herb-infused stuffing and both the white and dark turkey meat. Another great Thanksgiving red wine is Chateau Dassault St. Emilion Grand Cru 2003 from Bordeaux, France. It has complex aromas of blackberry, smoke and meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with soft and silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. This wine is regularly priced at $55/bottle but is only $27 on wines.com. Currently on sale, with 6 packs and cases being brought to you with Free Shipping, until the end of November.Not interested in red wine? Try some of our favorite white wines! Silvarado Chardonnay Carneros Vineburg 2005 offers light floral, perfumed aromas, with delicate vanilla, green apple, citrus and spice. Wines.com is currently offering this white, zesty wine at a special sale price at $19.89 with free shipping. Also, Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley 2007 is appealing for its gorgeous apricot, pear and floral flavors, gliding smoothly over a silky frame and lingering effortlessly. It is pale gold in colour with green highlights, with a nose displaying aromas of apricot nectar, lifted honeysuckle and orange oil perfume. This wine is regularly priced at $20 a bottle but is only $13.89 at wines.com. Our final recommendation for your holiday festivities is our Kunstler Hochheimer Kirchenstuck Riesling 2006. This white wine displays passion fruit, lemon and white pepper notes. It is regularly priced at $45.99 a bottle but online at wines.com is only priced at $24.89! Riesling’s innate flavors of apple, apricot, honey and its clarifying acidity give it a significant pairing edge with the likes of sweet potatoes, turkey meat and spice-laden or herb-filled stuffing. These wines are traditional favorites for Thanksgiving. Try one or try several. Just remember to relax and enjoy the holidays!

THE HOLY GRAIL OF THANKSGIVING

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, there is no better time to start planning your Thanksgiving dinner menu and selecting wines to complement the feast. Historically, the week before Thanksgiving is a great time to buy wine as many wine merchants run specials on preferred wines.

The big question - which wine or wines to go with the variety of tastes, textures and aromas that uniquely present themselves on Thanksgiving Day? The choice is entirely up to you, but we here at wines.com completely recommend the following seven wines!

Staete Landt 2005 Pinot Noir from New Zealand will tell you there is a certain magic in a proper Pinot that is just not in other red wines. This is a full-bodied wine with an elegant tannin structure and a lingering finish. Staete Landt Pinot expresses magic; it can retail for around $25; here it’s markedly less at $19.89. For us this wine is pretty close to the Holy Grail, a great affordable Pinot. Pinot Noir’s subtle earthy undertones and often mushroom inspired flavors surround the fruit features of the wine and tend to show well with the traditional flavors of turkey and stuffing.

Or how about Jean-Luc Colombo Chateaun-du-Pape Les Bartavelles 2005? This red wine is forward, ripe and easy, with lots of grape, plum and cherry fruit backed by notes of sweet toast and spice. It has nice juicy acidity frames the finish, while a hint of grilled herb checks in at the very end. We are currently offering this wine at $24.89 and free shipping!

You can’t miss this wine from down under! Longwood McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 is immensely rich with surface layers of vanilla, toasted coconut and caramel blend more readily with its blackberry core. It is regularly priced at $29 dollars a bottle but here at wines.com it is only $17.89 and has no shipping fee. The prevalent peppery notes of Shiraz will partner well with the herb-infused stuffing and both the white and dark turkey meat.

Another great Thanksgiving red wine is Chateau Dassault St. Emilion Grand Cru 2003 from Bordeaux, France. It has complex aromas of blackberry, smoke and meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with soft and silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. This wine is regularly priced at $55/bottle but is only $27 on wines.com. Currently on sale, with 6 packs and cases being brought to you with Free Shipping, until the end of November.

Not interested in red wine? Try some of our favorite white wines! Silvarado Chardonnay Carneros Vineburg 2005 offers light floral, perfumed aromas, with delicate vanilla, green apple, citrus and spice. Wines.com is currently offering this white, zesty wine at a special sale price at $19.89 with free shipping.

Also, Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley 2007 is appealing for its gorgeous apricot, pear and floral flavors, gliding smoothly over a silky frame and lingering effortlessly. It is pale gold in colour with green highlights, with a nose displaying aromas of apricot nectar, lifted honeysuckle and orange oil perfume. This wine is regularly priced at $20 a bottle but is only $13.89 at wines.com.

Our final recommendation for your holiday festivities is our Kunstler Hochheimer Kirchenstuck Riesling 2006. This white wine displays passion fruit, lemon and white pepper notes. It is regularly priced at $45.99 a bottle but online at wines.com is only priced at $24.89! Riesling’s innate flavors of apple, apricot, honey and its clarifying acidity give it a significant pairing edge with the likes of sweet potatoes, turkey meat and spice-laden or herb-filled stuffing.

These wines are traditional favorites for Thanksgiving. Try one or try several. Just remember to relax and enjoy the holidays!