Thursday, January 22, 2015

Wine and Food Tasting - January 23rd & 24th


Friday, January 23rd (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  


Food
  • Cheese
  • Roasted Pineapple and Habanero Cheese Ball with Pretzel Crisps
  • Red Bell Pepper Ancho Chili Jam over Cream Cheese with Pretzel Crisps

Wines
  • J Lohr Chardonnay
  • Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc
  • Clos du Bois Rouge
  • J Lohr Cabernet

 Saturday, January 24th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)


Food
  • PreMoo Cheese Spread
  • Roasted Pineapple and Habanero Cheese Ball with Everything Pretzel Crisps
  • Red Bell Pepper Ancho Chili Jam over Cream Cheese with Everything Pretzel Crisps

Wines
  • Cambria Chardonnay
  • Starmont Sauvignon Blanc
  • Folie a Deux Zinfandel
  • Folie a Deux Cabernet
  • Mont Gras Antu Syrah


Stock Up Saturday Sale wine is Ruby Sky.  Sale Price - $7.00.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Recipes: Over Cream Cheese


Steve let me know that I hadn't updated recipes as promised last week.  So here goes ...

The following were over cream cheese.  Simple and tasty for Super Bowl parties.  

Dillapeno (SOLD OUT - as always)  I saved the juice and made myself a Dirty Dillapeno when I got home.







Robert Rothschild Raspberry Salsa







Robert Rothschild Roasted Pineapple Habanero Dip







Wickles Hoagie & Sub Sandwich Relish (Spicy but delicious - a customer favorite)










Sable & Rosenfeld Mediterranean Olive Bruschetta (SOLD OUT - as always)





I also sampled Stonewall Kitchen Tomato Herb Bruschetta with Kitchen Table Bakers Aged Parmesan Crisps.  This was a great pairing.  The Parmesan Crisps are so thick, crunchy and flavorful.


I have given  my list of food for sampling to Judson (Grocery Manager) for the next two weekends.  No hours so I'm going simple but delicious.  Not sure if it will be a two table tasting or not.  Hmmmm..... Decisions.  Decisions.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Wine and Food Tasting - January 16th & 17th


Friday, January 16th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  


Food
  • Cheese

Wines
  • Cupcake Chardonnay
  • Louis Jadot Macon-Villages
  • Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages
  • Cupcake Red Velvet

 Saturday, January 17th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)
(Malin will be filling in for me today. I'll be back next weekend.) 


Food
  • Cheese

Wines
  • Freixenet Brut 
  • Save Me San Francisco Chardonnay
  • Save Me San Francisco Pinot Noir
  • Save Me San Francisco Cabernet


Stock Up Saturday Sale wine is Firebrix.  Sale Price - $7.00.
TFM Midlothian did NOT get their shipment of Firebrix.  Doubtful it will be delivered today.  If this is the wine you want, call Midlo to see if it was delivered.  If not, you'll have to go to TFM Parham or Carytown for it. Tom is going to try and substitute another wine.  NO rainchecks - 1.  Against ABC laws and 2. Not a wine we normally keep in stock.


Monday, January 12, 2015

VOTE for Dillapeno (Smither Family Kitchen)

You all know how much I champion a product when I LOVE it.  Dillapeno from Smither Family Kitchen happens to be one.  Please take the time to vote for them (below).  THANKS!


FRIENDS AND FANS...
Our New Years resolution is to come up with a new product!

Please take 30 seconds of your time to click the link below and simply click "Vote for this entry" for Smither Family Kitchen.
100 votes makes us eligible to receive:
- $1,000 to Sam's Club (all of which will be used for raw materials to test new ideas in our kitchen)
- 1 free trip to a regional Championship Celebration and Symposium
- 1 year of mentoring and coaching from SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business"


Thank you,
 - Smither Family Kitchen




 Dillapeño  2015 Scovie Awards 
1st Place Unique Salsa
1st Place Hot & Spicy Relish

-   -   -   -   -

"I never met a nacho I didn't like." - John Smither

Recipes (over cream cheese) and this weekend's tasting


I have not had TFM hours in a while.  How much I enjoyed sampling on Sunday!  Not just having my regular customer-friends joining me, but also meeting so many new customers.

Penelope, Sandra, Pat and I'm in the back.

I'm with Bruce (my Blog Photographer).

Food sampling this weekend was a success.  I have to update the "over cream cheese" recipes and the Recipe Index.  I will update later in the week.  Sorry.  If you need a recipe before then, please let me know.  XOXO!!!




Monday, December 15, 2014

Recipes: Cherry Berry Brie - Apple Jalapeno Brie - Broccoli Bacon Slaw - Wild Hibiscus Creamy Lemon Cakes - Hibiscus 1114 Cocktail - Hibiscus Sunrise


This was a crazy busy weekend at the store.  Below are the recipes that I had with my wine tasting. I am  also sharing a couple Wild Hibiscus recipes.  Enjoy! 

At the holidays, aside from customers wanting easy recipes, they seem to want Brie.  Here are two flavorful, easy Brie recipes.  You can either serve at room temperature, warm, in puff pastry, or in a boule (preparation is in my post for Baked Brie Variations).



Cherry Berry Brie
1 round Brie, or wedge
1 jar Stonewall Kitchen 
     Cherry Berry Jam
1/3 c. sliced almonds
1 pkg. TFM French Rounds, 
     or crackers

Place Brie on a serving plate.  Top with desired amount of jam.  Garnish with almonds.  Serve.

Customers enjoyed.  Sold all but a couple jars of Cherry Berry Jam.



Apple Jalapeno Brie
1 round Brie, or wedge
1 jar Stonewall Kitchen 
     Apple Jalapeno Jelly
1/3 c. smoked almonds, coarsely chopped
1 pkg. TFM French Rounds, 
     or crackers

Place Brie on a serving plate.  Top with desired amount of jam.  Garnish with almonds.  Serve.

Between the two Brie, this was the hands down favorite.  I must admit I was shocked.  I prepared this as an alternative to a sweeter topped Brie, but had  no idea this spicy Brie would be the runaway hit that it was.  SOLD OUT of Stonewall Kitchen Apple Jalapeno Jelly.

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Broccoli Bacon Slaw
¾ c. Earth & Vine Honey Pear Vinaigrette
3 Tbl. mayonnaise
2½ Tbl. sour cream
1 pkg. Broccoli Slaw
¼ - 1/3 c. dried cranberries or cranstachio blend
8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts, chopped
2 to 3 Tbl. diced Shallots
4 to 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Pepper to taste

In small bowl whisk together E&V Honey Pear Vinaigrette, mayonnaise and yogurt.  In a large bowl add remaining ingredients and toss with dressing mixture, pepper to taste.  Serves 4.

Quick, easy, tasty side dish.  Nice blend of flavors and crunch.

**********


Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup.  A great product that keeps flying off the shelf.  These next recipes I am sharing.  I have not prepared them and sampled at the store.

First is a recipe that has been running through my mind.  It's one that I hope to prepare this Saturday for sampling. 

Wild Hibiscus Creamy Lemon Cakes
1 jar Stonewall Kitchen Lemon Curd
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 jar Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup
1 pound cake, sliced (8)

Place lemon curd and cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl.  Mix until thoroughly incorporated.  Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.  When ready to serve, place pound cake on individual serving plates.  Top with lemon curd mixture.  Drizzle with Hibiscus syrup and garnish with a Hibiscus flower.  OR, cut the flower into petals and garnish with a scattering of petals.


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If there's one wine I enjoy sampling out, especially at the holidays, it's Riondo Prosecco.  I tell all my customers I enjoy (and NO I don't share) a bottle every Thanksgiving and Christmas morning while I am in the kitchen cooking.  Riondo is a great price point for mixing, so I experiment with "a little of this, and a little of that".  Here are two cocktails I prepared for myself this Thanksgiving.


Hibiscus 1114 Cocktail
½ oz. Roses lime juice
½ oz. Hibiscus syrup
1 oz. gin
Prosecco, or sparkling wine

Combine juice, syrup and gin in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake.  Strain into a champagne flute.  Top with Prosecco.  Serve.

Yields: 1 serving


Hibiscus Sunrise
6 Tbl. orange juice
3 Tbl. Hibiscus syrup
2 Tbl. Grand Mariner, Triple Sec, or Cointreau
2 Tbl. brandy
1 bottle Prosecco, or sparkling wine


In a pitcher, combine juice, syrup, Grand Mariner, and brandy.  Chill.  When ready to serve, stir in Prosecco.  Serves 6.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Wine and Food Tasting - December 5th & 6th

I'm taking the weekend off.  I'll be back the following weekend.

Friday, December 5th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)
(Sam will be filling in for me.)

Wines
  • Cavit Pinot Grigio
  • Mouton Cadet Bordeaux



 Saturday, December 6th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)
(Linda will be filling in for me.)


Wines
  • (Will post when I know what is being poured.)