We tend to drink a lot of red wine in this house. In fact, one evening we were having some dish that would go well with a white and out of all of the bottles of wine we have in this house, not one was white, except for the one bottle of sparkling wine we … More Red Wine Brownies With Chocolate Ganache

Every year around Halloween, I plan on making Barmbrack and every year I get busy and it doesn’t happen. Well not this year. This year I made sure to get it done and hopefully it becomes a tradition in this house. Barmbrack is an Irish sweet bread that’s filled with dried fruit. It’s often dense … More Barmbrack (Traditional Irish Halloween Bread)

I have another amazing hot chocolate recipe to share with you all, because we all know how much I love hot chocolate. This time this one has a bit of red wine in it since red wine and chocolate go hand in hand so well. I’ve had this a few times and I always enjoy … More Red Wine Hot Chocolate

It’s around this time of the year when I start making sugar cookies. My son’s like to cut out shapes with our different cookie cutters and decorate them for the different holidays. Lately my youngest son, Connell, has been asking me if we can decorate cookies, so this evening I finally set aside some time … More My Favorite Sugar Cookies

My attempt at making the perfect steak, mushroom, and Gruyere pie continued this evening. I’ve tweaked the recipe a little here and there and finally I think I’ve nailed it. The crust is nice and flaky and the steak is soft and tender. Bill couldn’t help but agree with me on it’s supreme tastiness. I … More Steak Mushroom and Gruyere Pie Adventure Part II

The one thing I love about cooler weather is the opportunity to eat warmer comfort foods like soup. Soup always seems to warm the soul. Plus, it’s usually something fairly simple to make, making it a great dinner option. The other day I decided to make a pot of this Zuppa Toscana in the crock … More Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana

Europe has been making wine for centuries. In fact wine making goes all the way back to the Roman period and the Romans spread their wine making to just about every land they conquered. Though, the wine industry was almost lost in the 1800’s. Thanks to a little aphid-like bug called the phylloxeras. (Image from … More European Grapes and Their Old American Roots

Lately I’ve really been getting into seasonal drinks. It’s always this time of the year when I really start craving something more festive. I think most people do. As that one Christmas song (gasp, I said it and Halloween isn’t even here yet) goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” and it is. … More Pumpkin Pie Martini

A few weeks ago, I came across a picture of a steak, mushroom, and Gruyere pie that you could buy through Goldbelly and have shipped directly to you. It looked so amazing. I just had to figure out how I could make my own. There had to be a recipe out there for this pie. … More Steak Mushroom and Gruyere Pie Adventure Part I

Last night I sat through a presentation on wines of Le Marche, Italy by Petra Belliti, Italian Wine Ambassador and a Vinitaly International and NASA Italian Wine Specialist. We discussed the grape varietals that are grown in the region and how different soil (or terroir) affects the development of the same grapes. The region of … More Wines of Le Marche Italy