The great Alanis Morrisette once said: “I’m a bitch. I’m a lover. I’m a child. I’m a mother. I’m a sinner. I’m a saint. I should not feel ashamed.“
Nor should this wine.
Label: Bitch Grenache 2008
Price: $7.98
Color: pinkish red
Smells Like: Welch’s Strawberry Jam, Bubblicious bubble gum, every Bath&BodyWorks scent rolled into one.
Tasting Notes: strawberry, almost tastes homemade by a southern granny. Paula Dean would approve. The label says “Cruel Intentions” but the wine tastes like “Rainbow Bright”.
Best song to pair it with: Strawberry Wine by Deanna Carter
There is a noteworthy wine country in the state of NM, and we can thank the Church for its mission of making wine almost 400 years ago. Apparently, part of Don Juan de Onate’s crew included Franciscan monks who needed wine for mass. After 30 years of obeying Spanish law that prohibited wine production in the New World, the first vines were planted in NM in 1629.
Black Mesa Winery
Black Mesa winery is about a 45 minute drive north of Santa Fe. On the way to Taos,it only makes sense to stop by the salmon-colored adobe tasting room. The hanging chiles told me that I was in New Mexico. The Coyote (blend of Cab, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel) said, “You could be in Napa Valley.” Did I walk away with a bottle or two? Well! It just so happens that the beau is a wine club member. We tasted for free. He bought a case- so I guess you can say that we walked away with a number of wines. Besides the Coyote, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Velarde Syrah were hits. The winery is known for the Black Beauty (a dessert wine that is chocolatey goodness), so we picked up a bottle and a half of that. Finishing the case- a bottle each of the Black Mesa rose and Zinfandel Reserve.
Two miles up is Vivac, where the tasting room also serves as a pseudo art gallery housing local jewelry makers, painters, and chocolate makers. The woman conducting our wine tasting was born in NM, raised in TX, then moved back. (I always enjoy talking to those people. They obviously love what they do.) Two young guys are responsible for Vivac. The deal is: Free tasting with a purchase…easy with a bottle of Sangiovese. I enjoyed the ‘04 Cab, but since we had just picked up 3 bottles of the other Cabernet, it was a chance to try something different.
My kind of souvenirs!
Most of the wine country is actually in and around Albuquerque (south of us, while we were heading north). The two wineries represented well and add to the reasons to return.
My friend Jean invited me to join her for a wine tasting. She’s a member of the local Wine Club… SO MUCH FUN! We got to try 6 wines (5 reds) for free! I love red wines… and they continued to get better and better. Crackers, cheese, fruit… This was truly fun! Needless to say, I might have purchased a couple of bottles and might be joining said local wine club very soon.
I have several friends who are involved in the Global Engagement Summit (GES) here at Northwestern. (Click here to learn more.) The group’s aim is to train a new generation of “thought leaders” who can band together to create global change. They also fundraise for important causes; in fact, by February 7th, they had raised $12,000 for Haiti.
While what I just described is the brains of GES, OpenShutter is the heart. It is an extension of GES, that works to represent the organization through art. My friend Nazihah asked me to submit some photos from my South Africa vacation last spring. I had trouble whittling down my submissions to just five, but here are the ones I picked. I hope you like them.
A view of a lake at Pilanesberg National Park, a private safari park that you can drive through in your own car. It is located west of South Africa's capital, Pretoria
A look from below at the roof of the structure where South Africa's Freedom Charter is housed. The Charter was created by the African National Congress in 1955 and informed the country's current constitution. It is located at the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg.
This is a view of the vineyards and mountains in Stellenbosch, a town east of Cape Town. The area is not only beautiful, it is also well-known for winemaking.
Off the coast of Cape Town is Robben Island, where many, including Nelson Mandela, were imprisoned for years during Apartheid. When you walk out of the prison compound and look up, you see this menacing watchtower. I was amazed by the contrast of the imposing tower against the expanse of sky, and I can't imagine how oppressive it must have been for the prisoners.
These African Penguins came out of the water at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town and convened in the sand. They are the only penguin species that breeds in Africa and were formerly known as Jackass Penguins due to the distinctive braying sounds they make.
So here’s my South Africa trip in a nutshell. I left plenty out, but these are my top five favorite memories. I’d love to hear which ones you liked best!
Apart from Northwestern Reisling, American wines, especially red, are our least favorite. But, Falling Feather seems to have changed that. Aside from the fact that it is beautifully packaged, this Californian product is low on histamine and tannins, which means you are less likely to develop a headache. Lovely package, don’t you think?
Tonight, I met up with some girlfriends and an alumni group I belong to at 131 Main in Dilworth. When the Husband went a few weeks ago without me, I was so jealous as we had been talking about going for at least a year. When the alumni group planned tonight’s dinner, I was super excited to get there myself – especially after the Husband’s positive review.
After the Husband felt a bit out of place last time in his Redskins jersey and cargo shorts, I was happy it was a work night so I was already in business casual attire However, at least in the middle of the week, while it is a nicer restaurant, I think he would have been fine dressed that way!
I arrived shortly after a handful of women in the group and joined them at a long table the staff had put together for us. I perused the wine menu a bit to determine what I’d like to have. The waitress advised that Tuesday is half-price bottle of wine night (for bottles under $200) but not enough of us were drinking wine. I decided to go with the Sean Minor “4 Bears” Chardonnay. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t great.
It was quite dark in the restaurant which made picture taking a bit difficult. I attempted to take a photo of the water pitchers they kept on the table for us. The candle came out a bit clearer than the rest
There was no bread and no one ordered appetizers so I was quite excited when our food came out. I checked out the menu ahead of time online and was pretty sure of what I would get. Once at the restaurant, I confirmed that idea with what I selected. I had the Beef Cavatappi with vegetables and tequila lime cream sauce. It had onions and peppers and possibly small mushrooms (hard to see in the darkness!). Wow! This was SO very good. I loved it
My friend next me highly recommended the Crab Cake Salad so I got a picture to show with you. I think I may get it if I get a chance to go back.
Others had the cheeseburger (which she loved), the roasted chicken, and shrimp and grits (at least those were the ones in close proximity to me on my end of the table). No one had anything negative to say.
Overall, 131 Main lived up to my expectations. The food was a bit expensive ($15-$20 for many entrees), but I enjoyed the good quality. I would agree with the Husband and recommend 131 Main for a nice date night or group outing out.
Looking at the bar, this might be a good happy hour place as well.
So, the question is can you judge a bottle by its label? If you are a novice at selecting wine, can you make a good decision about what to buy? I think by educating yourself on a few things, you can reduce your chances of purchasing a wine you absolutely don’t like. Here are a few things that help me decide on a wine.
1. Stick with what you like which means stay with a genre of wine you really enjoy. This will make it easier to select a wine and less room for error.
2. Region is important. If not knowing anything about what parts of the world produce the best types of wine then this may help. If you’ve purchased a wine in the past from a particular region most likely a different wine from the same region will be of a similar distinction. Also, follow the lead of the wine store you’re in. If it doesn’t look like they stock a lot of that type of wine from one region steer clear.
3. Check out the vibe of the label. Is it something that interests you? Catches your attention. Wineries spend a lot of money on marketing so take a risk and go for it.
4. A different wine for a different occasion. The stakes are a lot higher when the bottle of wine is upward of $50-$100 so in this case stick with a wine you already like but try a more expensive vintage.
5. Tune in to other people’s selections at the store. Recommendations are good way to go. Don’t hesitate to ask other customers about what’s in their basket.
6. Most wine stores, even in Utah, display point awards with tasting notes from various publishers which is always helpful when deciding between wines.
So next time you’re in the wine store, no need to panic that you didn’t bring your wine spectator with you, just use your best instincts and by the process of elimination you can better choose a wine you will enjoy. Of course, I’m just a novice myself so if you have any other wine selection do’s and don’ts, please share.
Two Hills Pinot Noir shortly before the nets went on
The nets are on now, and we are expecting a good harvest at Two Hills Vineyard for 2010. After the total loss of last year the prospects are not too bad.
Estimates are:
- Sauvignon Blanc: about 8 tonnes of fruit, and already sold
- Pinot Noir: about 5 tonnes of fruit and still looking for a home
The Merlot grapes look good too, but we are not making any wine this year. This will make the bird in the vicinity very happy, what a feast. That’s the price we have to pay for the grape glut. It’s sad but cannot be helped at this point in time.
Our new tractor will come into action for the vintage. This will make things easier, I hope.
Let us hope no unexpected disaster occurs before the grapes are in safely.
The plan for 2011 is to mothball the vineyard for a couple of years and see if the market recovers.
I consider my wine odyssey something that I am the captain of. I am controlling this ship, I am at the Helm (cheers Dean), however, last night something went wrong, very wrong. My control, my consent, yes, even my self-respect were all dashed violently yet with ease, upon the dangerous yet sensuous rocks of the Gran Coronas Caberbet Sauvignon 2005
I had a wonderful (long and painful, hence wonderful) run around 0900 yesterday in the Sunday sun and after some business in Shinjuku, I returned home about 1500. I did some reading and began cooking. Sunday is generally pasta and I made a very good pork red wine sauce and had some nice fresh bread from Anderson’s at Isetan. The sauce was slow cooking and I decided to have a glass of wine. I had this bottle of Gran Coronas and I decided to give it a try. This was the last decision that I actually made concerning this evil demon wine. All subsequent decisions were made by “her”.
I un-corked it and decanted a small amount into one of the crystal wine glasses I have and let the air work on it for a few moments, I swirled it, then casually, not paying much attention I brought it up to my nose and inhaled. This is when the Sirens call first caught me, and caught me well it did.
The aroma is soft and pliable yet oddly intense. The smells of leather, smoke, chocolate and currant flooded my nose and just this alone was intoxicating. Then, for the first time, I heard her soft whisper….
Estas Sola? Yes…I’m alone this evening.I whispered back.
I smelled again and then slowly brought the edge of the glass to my lips…
Quieres bailar?
I then took my first taste. So silky and smooth with such dense, well structured tannins, not an attack on your palate, but a very clear and successful seduction.
During the rest of the evening she continued to beckon me, and we fell into a dialogue that I could no longer…fight.
GC: los ojos más bonitos del mundo. ME: You say that to everyone…I know.
Tienes novia? Please..just stop
Te Deseo…dame un beso. Gran Coronas…please…
Sienteme Yes…
Vamos a la habitacion ahora mismo OK but…please be gentle with me….
Tocame, bésame, Sienteme Yes, Yes…anything for you.
Mirame, puedes desnudarte… Yes! Gran Coronas….Estoy desesperadamente enamorado de ti!
Needless to say…it was an intense evening. I will be purchasing a couple of these bottles to hold on to as the peak time for consumption seems to be between 2011 and 2014.
Untill then….
Additional Warning: DO NOT consume this wine while listening to Santa Esmeralda…under any circumstances, if you value your decency
Another lesser known AOC of France, Minervois is steadily on the rise for fine wine production. Perched in the hills of Southern France’s Languedoc, Minervois,Once dominated by the less desired Carignan grape, has over the years adopted the use of the Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes in their Red Blend. These ” improving varieties” are now required in the blend, by AOC regulations. In the process of improving quality of the region’s wine production, many Hectares of older, less popular grape vines in the AOC Minervois have been replaced with the more desirable Syrah Varietal.
The history, variety, and culture of the Languedoc, its winemakers and wine producers, make it one of the most varied and interesting wine regions in France. With the arrival of the Roman empire, the area opened up to widespread exterior influences which launched its wine production. The grape vines of the Minervois developed initially in the plains and were later planted in the higher grounds of the Minervois by monks who undertook the development of the Minervois. Today Minervois is the most famous wine-growing area of the Languedoc-Roussillon.
Chateau de Paraza Minervois Cuvee Speciale 2007
Situated in the heart of the Languedoc region, Chateau de Paraza is comprised of over 130 hectares of land, with over 65 made up of vines. Its history is intimately linked to the history of France, and most particularly that of the Languedoc region, with its very rich past and historical remains dating back to the Roman occupation. In 1682, Louis the XIV, on his journey to officially open the Canal of the Two Seas, stayed at the Chateau of Paraza. From the castle terraces, created by Canal Engineer Paul Riquet as a thank you to the owners for providing him with the accommodation, one can look out onto the canal as it descends towards the plain. As in ancient times, the soil at Paraza still produces an excellent grape. The grape varieties grown, particularly well adapted to this soil and regularly improved, produce rich and well balanced wines with a huge reputation. The marriage of the more traditional Carignan variety with Cinsault, Mourvedre and Grenache brings their wonderful character to the wines to which the new variety, Syrah, adds its rich aromas. The Chateau de Paraza Minervois Cuvee Speciale-2007 is a prime example and is definitely one of those wines you would want to buy by the case and keep around for the next couple of years to enjoy over and over again.
WA Review: “I have never visited Chateau de Paraza (a prominent landmark in the eponymous, tiny, canal-side village at the eastern extreme of its appellation) and it had been several years since I tasted one of their wines, but their 2007 Minervois Cuvee Speciale demonstrates that this well-known estate can still turn out a head-turning value. Very ripe blackberry fruit sweetly caresses the palate, with cinnamon, cardamom, juniper, black pepper, and cherry pit bitterness adding interest. For all of its richness (in itself amazing for the price) this finishes with lip-smacking juiciness and an invigorating impression akin to chomping down on the seeds of the blackberries. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years.”-David Schildknecht Wine Advocate 90 Points
Outside your window it is probably grey and frankly, bloody miserable. Snow is all well and good, but here in Plymouth we don’t get much in the way of snow, rain is what we specialise in. It’s grim.
I know many of you have had snow or sleet, but I’m willing to bet the newness has worn off and you’re a bit tired of the slush that seems able to penetrate even the most waterproof of shoes and trousers. So what I want to do today is give you a small moment of escapism. In the harsh depths of the harshest winter since the time of the dinosaurs, or something.
Close your eyes and imagine that the sun is high in a clear sky, beaming down enough heat to envelope you in a warm blanket of air – not too hot, just Goldilocks right. You’re sitting in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt on a raised terrace, overlooking a valley with gentle sloping hillsides running down to the bottom, where a small stream gurgles beneath lush foliage. On those slopes are acres of vines. In your hand is a glass of effervescent sparkling wine, which you sip occasionally as you relax, enjoying the vista and the gentle heat of the afternoon.
Sound like a fairy tale interpretation of a holiday in the South of France? Nah, this is Cornwall.
Given the last “summer” it does involve a little bit of poetic licence but here at Foodies South West we are glass half-full types of people, trying to spread a little love. So humour us will you, we’re doing you a favour.
Divine
The place I’m describing is theCamel Valley Vineyard. Just north west of Bodmin in Cornwall, at Nantstallon, it is one of my favourite businesses. It was set up by Bob Lindo 20 years or so ago, when a crash ended his career as an RAF fighter pilot. He invested his pension money in buying a plot of land and the vineyard was born. International gold medals now adorn the walls, the number of acres cultivated seems to keep growing, as do the offers from French vintners to buy them out. The full biog is here.
It was not so long ago that English wine was an international joke, but this stuff is very very good. The vineyard is best known for its Brut (Cornwall Brut, for the name champagne is only allowed to be used to refer to the French region’s produce), but it also makes great whites and decent reds (the landscape is less suited to red that whites and sparkling apparently, but it isn’t terrible).
As well as having a shop on the site, you can also, as described above, take a glass upon the terrace and enjoy the ambience. You can also take a few moments to take a tour of the winery and do a tasting session.
I should add a disclaimer now that you should not drink and drive, be responsible. That is all.
What is also great about the wine is that like Cornish Sea Salt it falls into the “affordable luxury” category. The wine is around £10 per bottle – the nice bottle for the weekend market rather than the “man, I’ve had a shocking day at the office” market. The best value is the Brut – £20 a bottle, incredible for a quality bottle of fizz.
So as the mizzle keeps falling, and it seems like it will never again get warm, picture yourself on the side of a Cornish Valley, sipping wine with a loved one in the gentle warmth of the Cornish summer. And relax.
Six months ago a wealthy businessman approached me at the Americano and wanted to take me to dinner. Two months prior to that two wealthy businessmen approached me and a girlfriend, again at the Americano, and did take us to dinner at Boulevard. They ordered fancy French and California wine, that predated my birthdate, and Foie gras. Anyhow, the most recent gentleman in question had a dual purpose, fancy dinner and wine and a get rich scheme that involved blogging and syndicated content. At one business meeting that he showed up to with chocolates in hand, he asked myself and another colleague what our short term and long term career goals were. At the time I answered something to the effect of making a salary that could continue to support my affinity for traveling and expensive luxury sports like skiing. She answered, “I just want to be able to work from anywhere.” Damn, that was a good answer.
And so, I’ve coined the new phrase, “Give me a beach, a Blackberry, and a beverage and I can work from anywhere.”
Working Our Way Down the Trail
I’ve got all three in New Zealand. The beaches, Lake Ferry, Castle Point, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough sounds have all been lovely. My Blackberry isn’t a world phone, but I’ve got access to the Thomson Vineyards database, electronic contracts, the 2009 Preliminary Grape Crush Report, gmail (the essentials); and plenty of wine.
Side note: I’ve been posting the “New Zealand Wine of the Day” on Twitter @ThomsonVnyrds. When the day calls for a cocktail on the deck rather than wine, I’ve been posting that too! Some notable experiences have been Ata Rangi in Martinborough and TeAwa in the Gimblett Gravels Grape Growing District out of Hawkes bay.
We’re headed to Marlborough February 22-24 just before we get back to the USA on February 26; where I will indeed have a beach 20 blocks from my flat in San Francisco, my Blackberry will be fully charged up, and I’ll have added quite a few Kiwi bottles to my basement collection. But that leaves me with one essential component lacking: work.
Thomson Vineyards has approximately 60T of Chardonnay, 10-15T of Pinot Noir and 5T of Merlot for sale, ripe for picking in just six short months. If you’re interested in putting your order in early, having a say in sustainable farming practices, or signing on the dotted line email me. I’ll be on the beach with a beverage…
I’ve been thinking of topics for new posts since my last entry in September, but the time has gotten away from me. My first semester back in school was a tough one. In fact, for almost 4 months, I don’t think I did anything but attend school, go to my part-time job and read and write papers. Needless to say, it was mentally exhausting, but it all paid off! I learned a lot and almost got a 4.0. I just received a letter from the Dean in the mail yesterday congratulating me on making the Dean’s Honor Roll. I’m not trying to brag, I’m just truly proud of myself. All of that hard work, time and effort really was gratifying.
So, I’m into week four of my second semester back already. This semester is completely different from my last. Not just schedule-wise (they are all early evening classes), but also content-wise. Last semester I enjoyed half and half: half English (literature and linguistics) and half Education (psychology and policy). This semester, it’s all Education with one English (Feminist Literary Theory). It’s overwhelming to say the least, but I’m learning so many practical and creative strategies that I will most definitely take with me into my first classroom someday (very soon).
So, when I woke up this morning (sick and tired), I decided I had to post an entry. I knew it wouldn’t be a good one, but sometimes I just have to take the leap to do something to get back in it. So, I apologize for the boring-ness of my topic today. I did have the idea to post one of the last pictures from my camera for inspiration to continue. I have so many things that I could retroactively blog about that happened from August 2009 to today. A trip to Alaska, a trip to an alpaca farm, the holidays, and many photo shoots with the dogs. Hopefully, I will get to share some of those pictures with you someday.
So, here is the last picture I took. It’s a bottle of wine that Andrew and I received as a wedding gift from our friends, Chris and Jenny. We decided to open it up on Christmas Eve for dinner. The white lights you’re seeing in the background are from our tree. It was a lovely bottle of wine, the perfect accompaniment to a delicious Christmas dinner.
A bottle of wine from our wedding
Alright, back to my reading, On Lies, Secrets, And Silence by Adrienne Rich. I hope to write more very soon.
My PC has been down, so I haven’t posted an update.
I started my batch of wine on Saturday morning. The instructions say that primary fermentation should take 5-7 days. I just checked it, and the must is at 68deg F (1 degree above ambient) and is showing a specific gravity of 1.034 (down from 1.074 when I started). The instructions say that it should drop to 1.010 before proceeding. There’s no foam but it’s fizzing pretty good.
On Friday I joined friends for an Opening Ceremonies dinner and a long evening in front of the tube, my emotions pin-balling between awe, elation and sadness - like the other estimated 20 million Canadians doing the same thing. I brought B.C. wine to this celebration, as did other guests – quite spontaneously. It wasn’t co-ordinated; it just felt right. With a terrific fruit-based curry dinner I poured Mission Hill 2007 Pinot Blanc and it was excellent. After dinner in front of the TV with various cheeses and snacks, reds were the order of the evening, and I was most impressed by the approachability of the Inniskillin Okanagan 2007 Malbec. Mission Hill 2006 SLC Syrah didn’t slide as easily as sipper, so earmark that one for a rich beef or lamb dinner. Other suggestions? Sumac Ridge 2007 Tribute is a sparkler made to commemorate the Games, and would a fine way to celebrate gold medals. And the Ganton and Prospect 2007 Pinot Noir is an ideal, well priced light red accompanied to more casual tube food – wings, pizza, you name it. Go to www.winealign.com/wino/DavidLawrason/bc-olympic-wines to find these wines at your local LCBO.
Man what a blow out… I mean, man, what a blow out! If you didn’t take part in this “Count the Corks Contest“, you simply missed a truly “small-town American” celebration. Seriously, putting the pecuniary aside, it was a wonderful collection of folks. (Pictures to follow immediatamente!) And if you haven’t checked out the merchant/contributors, you really should. Here they are again:
Sea cruise on Schooner Tyrone – $500 value
George’s Place Fish Market and Food Court – $50 gift certificate
E.R. Lilley/820 Main Street Gallery – $80 framed painting
True Value Hardware – $25 gift certificate
Cape Cod Lavender Farm candle – $18 value
Hot Stove Saloon – $50 gift certificate
George’s Pizza – $25 gift certificate
Harwich Junior Theatre – gift certificate for two to the Broadway Musical…”25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Pampered Kitty – $8 Kitty Kicker
Gardens by the Sea – $175 in landscaping consulting value
Dr. Gravity’s Kite Shop – two garden spinners $69
Harwich Spirits Shoppe – $300 in stuff
7 South Antiques – $150 in two antique pieces
Cape Cod Bear Factory – $30 gift certificate
Cranberry Jewelers – Several pieces worth $100
Harwich Port Getty – $150 in select repair work
Cape Sea Grille – $25 gift certificate
Port O’ Call Gift Shop – $25 gift certificate
Malley Designs – $25 gift certificate
The Port Restaurant/Embers Pizza – $25 gift certificate
Mayflower Brewing Co. – $200 in gifts including a twelve-person tour of their brewery in Plymouth, beer glasses given away with six-packs, and very nice key rings/bottle openers
Alterations Unlimited – $50 gift certificate
Right now, we’re plodding through the winners (the total cork count was 774), so we’ll be officially announcing the lucky pups pronto. (Da Gizz has a list, but us cats are meticulous! We have to cross our T’s and dot our I’s. If you want the Gizz Report on the winners, just call 508.430.000 and give Bruce “The Word”! Otherwise, he’ll either be calling or emailing you.)
Anywho, it’s been an awesome day… Yours truly got to talk with Shashi, Kerry, Glen, Jimbo, Biff, Chris, Frank, Jack, and the kindly folks from Mayflower Brewing… (And that’s just a tiny sample of the crowd that attended this blast.)
So there you have it – a small town gathering with leftovers to boot.
For these two cats at least, it’s been a fantastic day… See you by the racks!
P.S. The turnout was really heartwarming, and the leftovers are great! So come on board and bring your dory!!!
Wine Glossaries
* Nat Decants: A thorough glossary from Natalie MacLean, noted wine writer, speaker, and judge.
* eRobertParker.com: “The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Fine Wines”
* GLOSSARY of Wine-Tasting Terminology (Version 1.4 – Jan. 1995): A thorough collection of definitions from Anthony Hawkins.
Beer Glossaries
* ratebeer: Now that’s a straightforward name!
* beer-pages: Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan say that “it’s all about beer”.
* alphaDictionary.com: A fine collection of Beer dictionaries.
Looking for another reason to travel to York County other than hanging out with Undead Dan and visiting Comic Store West? Trying to figure out a way to convince your wife, girlfriend, or significant other to travel out to York for the weekend? Here we go.
Year round wine trail “UnCork York.” Saturdays and Sundays 1100 to 1700 (11 AM to 5 PM) offers Pennsylvania’s “ultimate wine tasting experience” with exclusive access to tank and barrel tastings. The award-winning wineries of UnCork York Wine Trail invite you into their cellars (without using lock picking tools) to preview their seasonal bests before they are bottled. Along the way you might enjoy a yummy treat or two. Tickets are $20 each and good for the whole event. This cost includes a souvenir wine glass.
For more information, go to www.UnCorkYork.com/Tanks or call 1.888.858.YORK.
Overnight, getaway packages, and online tickets are available.
The Gourmand Awards – the Oscars of food and wine publishing – gave French Vineyards the bronze medal last night in Paris. The book took 3rd place in the Best in the World wine tourism books. My thanks go to Edouard Cointreau and his panel of judges, and my congratulations to the winner Paul Strang for is excellent book on Southwest France and to Elmary Swart and Izac Smith in second place with The Essential Guide to South African Wines.
I picked up the book, Home Winemaking Step-by-Step by Jon Iverson at a winery back in ‘08 while on vacation. I eager read it, suffered sticker shock, and the book has since been quietly occupying space on my book shelf. Well over the holidays the topic of wine making came up and a couple relatives said that they make wine, and it’s not really that difficult. The idea has been rolling around in the back of my mind ever since. I couple weeks back, I saw an on PBS Create for a complete wine kit for $65. That pushed me over the edge. I knew that for $65, the kit couldn’t be worth having, but I’d decided to give wine making a go.
A friend, who’s embarking on his own wine making journey, told me about a home brewing store in a nearby town that also does wine making. Based on their website, I was skeptical (a blueberry-pinot noir concentrate…BLASPHEMY!). I went down on a Saturday afternoon and quickly changed my mind though. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful, although one of the guys had trouble giving me directions when I called. I looked around and went home to mull it over.
The next day I’d made my decision and was going back Monday after work. Sunday night, the weather man was calling for 6-10″ of snow and I wasn’t sure I was going to make the trip. Fortunately, the weather man was mistaken and the snowfall did not result in any accumulation. I picked up one of their wine starter kits. The kit was really just a collection of off the shelf items for a package price. With my first purchase, I got a 20% discount on a boxed wine concentrate kit, so I picked up a Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir.
I have started re-reading Home Winemaking Step-by-Step and picked up a couple of books from the library. I hope to start the process this weekend.
Nearly finished our first Intermediate Certificate course and have scheduled the Advanced Certificate for the 12th March.
Monday 15 March 2010
until Monday 21 June 2010
Duration & Times: 12 Monday Evenings 7pm to 9.30pm No of sessions: 12 |
The Advanced certificate is suitable for anyone wishing to gain in-depth knowledge of wines and spirits and builds upon the knowledge gained at Intermediate level. You will acquire a thorough understanding of the factors influencing the style, quality and price of wines from key wine producing regions of the world. You will also develop analytical tasting skills as tasting will be part of the examinations. If you are an employer wishing to train your staff this course will equip them with knowledge and understanding of a wide range of products. This course is suitable for someone in a supervisory level position in wine sales and service.
Wait! Don’t press “play” just yet! Before you watch my “Official” Introduction, I want to share several things about my adventure in bringing this video to life. First, it’s one thing to paint in your own little world in your safe, comfy studio. It’s another to do it in front of the camera, eventually for family, friends, heck, maybe the whole world to see! Second, I didn’t realize how much I swing my hands all over the place. Third, I roll my eyes a lot, and finally, it’s REALLY hard not to say “UM.”
With that being said, welcome to “Let’s Drink some Wine and Paint!”
(ok you can press the “play” button now!)
I’m not quite sure what it is about the snow that makes you want to drink, but it really does. When I was a kid, it was hot chocolate with marshmallows to warm you up from a day of sledding down giant hills. Now, it’s hot chocolate spiked with liquor, or a hearty glass of red wine, or a stout beer, or, all of the above and no sledding excuse needed. I realized this on Saturday when we got pounded here in Philly with over two feet of snow. Although I travel often and many times on the weekend, I wasn’t lucky enough to be away to miss this giant blizzard.
After an attempt to hit the gym at 3:50pm, which was open believe it or not, but had decided to close early at 4pm, an executive decision was made. Forget working out, let’s just get the fireplace going and break out the vino, and cheese!
Come 7pm, Eric and I decided to pull some non-home-bound friends together and get some good ethnic eats at Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown. Now I don’t remember ever craving Vietnamese food on snow days before, but Saturday it just sounded good, and hey Vietnam was open unlike many other places, and it is in relative walking distance (well kind of) from us. After a filling bite of their best sharing dish- the bbq platter and a few suffering bastard cocktails, round two was complete.
On to round three; Jones- but what a big disappointment! I was hoping for one of their spiked hot chocolates to warm me up after the walk over there, but they turned us away saying they were closing at 9:30. 9:30pm on a Saturday night? And the place was busy! Not sure Starr would’ve been happy about that either!
Okay so round four, a re-tool to Varga bar which was packed and open! Well they don’t make a great Irish coffee (where’s the whipped cream?), but the Left Hand “Milk Stout” draft was pretty good.
On to round five and up the street to Tria WSW. Snow specials- yeah! Got to love a place that has drink specials on a Saturday night just because it’s snowing: $5 St. Joseph Syrah, and $5 Dogfish Head World Wide Stout. I wanted a glass of the St. Joseph- it’s a killer region in the Northern Rhone of France well-known for Syrah, but they were out of it and it was replaced by a Napa valley Syrah that tasted like feet. But the Dogfish Head was a world-class knockout! At 18% alcohol, this baby drank like a port, and had a crazy addictive nose and flavors of chocolate, coffee, and warm spices in a creamy texture. It was so good we stayed for another.
Heading up Spruce Street a little further, we landed at Valanni for our sixth and final (so we thought) round. So I have to admit at this point I was drinking water, but my drinking companions were still going- and sticking with beer at least. Not sure what kind, I’m really not much of a beer drinker, although that Dogfish Head at Tria was amazing.
The real deal
On the way home we stopped for one more, a real Irish coffee for (you guessed it) round seven, at the Irish Pub of course. A perfectly warm, boozy ending to a cold snowy night. Not something I do often, but it sure was fun hopping arouncdto all of the open neighborhood Philly bars. And do you know the best part? We didn’t even feel the cold on our shuffle through the snowy walk home….hmmmm, I wonder why? ; )
For Chen’s birthday, Nick cooked up a delicious surf & turf dinner. I think one of the most incredible things about cooking is that some of the more “fancy” dinners are the simpler ones to make — take Steak and Lobster tail, for example: A fancy dinner in my opinion, but not super complicated. This was a feast for six. Here’s what we had:
Brussel sprouts with leeks and bacon (left burner) and Roasted potatoes with jalapeno (right burner), which was extremely spicy.
Brussel Sprouts and Spicy Potatoes
Wine for celebration: Argyle Sparkling White from Dundee Oregon, Mac Murray Ranch Pinot Noir from Sonoma CA, Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon from CA, Pra Staforte Classico (Italian White), and Gaja Ca’Marcanda Promis (Italian Red). Of course, the wines did not fail us.
Prepping three New York Strip steaks, and three Lobster tails
Look at this beauty:
Steaks seared 6 minutes on each side at medium high heat, then into oven at 350 for about 10 minutes; pulled out and wrapped in aluminum foil for about 10 minutes while lobster (with shell) goes into oven at high broil, for about ten minutes. Let cool, then pull out meat from shell. Oh, this whole time you should be clarifying your butter.
We definitely made these cookies in December. You’re probably thing to yourself, ‘Self, it’s February. Are they really just now putting these cookies up on their blog?’ Well, we can’t deny just how delayed this post may be. Honestly, there’s no excuse for it. We’re sure that many of you understand how your cooking/writing ration can occasionally be very uneven. Between the two of us cooking on our own and cooking together, it gets a bit crazy, and we have to play catch up. Maybe you’ll remember that we did share the molasses pepper cookies that were on the same table with these bad boys. Well now, we’re showing you a couple more cookies that we shared with our friends. Although we actually made them several weeks ago, they could easily be made and eaten year-round. Our original cookie exchange involved a table full of favorites and quick and easy varieties. Here, you see one of each kind. We love making our own spreads, so the linzers were a no-brainer. With a mix of strawberry and raspberry fillings, they were totally worth the effort. As for the Oreos…well, come on. You can’t get much easier than melting chocolate and dipping a cookie into it. You could tweak those to fit any taste. Use a dark chocolate and top with toffee or try milk chocolate sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt. Like we said, these were cookies made for the holidays, but you could eat them anytime you want.
Strawberry and Raspberry Wine Linzer Cookies (adapted from Joy of Baking) – Approximately 2 dozen cookies Cookies 1 1/4 cups almonds and pistachios, toasted and ground 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 2/3 cup sugar, divided 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 large egg yolks Zest of 1 lemon Powdered sugar
Strawberry Wine Jam 1 pint strawberries, chopped 1 1/2 cups red wine 1/2-3/4 cup sugar
Raspberry Wine Jam 1 pint raspberries, whole 1 1/2 cups red wine 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup honey
1. Make the jams. Drop strawberries, wine and 1/2 cup sugar in a wide sauce pan. Allow to cook down and thicken, approximately 15-20 minutes. Mash strawberries occasionally as you stir. Dip your finger in and taste as you stir, adding a bit more sugar if it’s not sweet enough.
2. Carefully pour strawberry mixture into a food processor or blender. Zap until smooth. Set a small bowl down and pour liquid mixture through a sieve to eliminate any potential seeds. Mixture may be thick, so use a spoon or a flat utensil to scrape underside of sieve. Allow to cool and place in fridge until ready to use. For raspberry jam, follow directions similarly as above in a separate pan and allow to cool.
3. For cookies, toast the nuts on a baking sheet for about 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant. Once the nuts have cooled, place in a food processor and process with 1/4 cup of the sugar from the recipe until finely ground. Set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
5. In the bowl of your electric mixer, cream the butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, egg yolks, and zest. Add the ground nuts, then the flour mixture beating just until incorporated.
6. Divide the dough in half and shape into two logs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm.
7. When ready to bake, roll out one log of dough to 1/4″ thick. Use a 3″ cookie cutter to cut shapes out of the dough. Use a smaller cookie cutter approximately 1″ in size to cut out the ‘window’ for half of the cookie shapes.
8. Remove the remaining dough from the refrigerator, roll and cut out the rest of the cookies. Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until browned. Cool on a wire rack.
9. To assemble, layer a bit of jam on the flat side of a solid cookie and top with a ‘windowed’ cookie. Dust with powdered sugar.
Peppermint White Chocolate Oreo Cookies – 2 1/2 dozen 1 package Oreo Cookies 12 ounces white chocolate 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional) 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract 1/2 cup peppermint candy or candy cane pieces
1. Melt white chocolate (and butter, if using) over a bain-marie. Stir in extract. Transfer to a cup with a pour spout.
2. Arrange Oreos on wax or parchment paper on a flat baking sheet or pan.
3. Gently pour chocolate mixture over each cookie, covering it completely.
4. Sprinkle tops with candy pieces. Let refrigerate for at least 90 minutes before serving.
It was positively summer-like this weekend and the allure of blueberries on sale at the store was too much to pass up. I was inspired to bake a slump when I saw this recipe in the Saveur 100 issue.
this slump’s no slouch!
I love how the moist, buttery crumb pairs perfectly with the fresh, plump blueberries. It’s topped with a streusel that caramelizes in the oven for a nice texture contrast. We’ve been devouring huge pieces for dessert, but I think it’s safe to say this would be lovely for breakfast or brunch with a cup of coffee.
golden. fluffy. good.
Blueberry Slump [serves 8]
Adapted from this recipe in Saveur, Issue 126. Next time I might swap almond extract for the vanilla, and add a dash of cinnamon to the streusel topping!
2 1⁄4 c flour
1 1⁄4 c sugar
2 T unsalted butter, cut into 1⁄2″ cubes, chilled, plus 8 T melted
1⁄2 t baking powder
1⁄2 t kosher salt
1⁄2 c dry white wine
1 t vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 lb fresh or frozen thawed blueberries
To make the crumb topping, combine 1⁄4 c flour, 1⁄4 c sugar and 2 T chilled and cubed butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until mixture takes on texture of coarse bread crumbs, about 10 seconds. [Alternatively, you could use a pastry cutter.] Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 350° F. Coat a large glass lasagna/roasting pan [mine is 11 1/2" x 9 1/2"] with butter [or cooking spray] and dust lightly with flour. Shake out any excess flour and set aside.
In a medium bowl, sift together remaining flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a measuring cup, whisk together melted butter and wine; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together remaining sugar, vanilla, and eggs until pale and thick, about 2 minutes. Add wine mixture to eggs and whisk until smooth. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and top with berries in a single layer. Sprinkle reserved crumb topping evenly over berries. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 1 hour. Transfer to a rack and let cool for 20 minutes.
Sam brought this wine back from Virginia last summer. She visited the Rappahannock Winery on a trip to DC, and, as she put it, it was the one that turned her palate off the least, so she knew I would like it.
She was right. I love it. It’s mostly a Cabernet Franc grape, with a bit of Malbec. It’s a beautifully balanced drier wine, without making your mouth pucker up and pray for a glass of water.
I first had it at my family’s house on Cape Cod, on a cool summer Labor Day weekend evening. No food with it, just a nice round glass of it.
Since then, I’ve ordered three bottles and gone through two. It’s not available where I live, so I’ve been rationing it, but I plan on ordering a case of it in the near future.
Yesterday I was back on the Hydroxycut at the normal levels of taking three capsules twice a day.. I started the day with some yoghurt and walnuts, followed by a cup of green tea, healthy and according to my plans. I have really missed the help the Hydroxycut gives me in the mornings so Im quite pleased to be back on the stuff!
Otherwise I had a nice day, not too long hours at the office, got a light dinner with sushi and white wine thrown in, although followed by a lovely Haagen Dasz vanilla ice cream though, so I guess it was not all angel like. But felt very good to be back on Hydroxycut!
Recommended wine for today’s entry: I’ll suggest a glass of Chalone Vineyard pinot noir, which promises “a soft, velvety texture and lush berry aromas” on the label. Goodcheapwineguide.com rated it a “serve to guests!”
Has an airline ever lost your luggage?
I don’t mean like when it misses a connection and then comes in on a middle-of-the-night flight and a strange man rings your doorbell at 2 a.m., temporarily stopping your heart and sending the dogs surging into near-fatal frenzies.
I mean like when it just disappears for three days, arriving just in time to be re-checked — at an additional cost of like $50 — for the return trip. Excellent.
Well, at least that way you don’t have to wash the clothes when you get home. Except you do, because you can’t help but wonder if some burly, hairy man (who spends his days in the monotony of loading and unloading a million black rolling suitcases on and off those little carts) unleashes at night by wearing your Victoria’s Secret nightgown and heels and prancing around his apartment. If that hasn’t occurred to you, it should have. Wash them.
The first time my luggage was lost for an extended period of time was on my honeymoon. Of course, it was handy that we flew from Louisville to Atlanta to Miami to San Juan to St. Maarten. Not only was it exhausting, but how in the hell did we even THINK our luggage might make it?
I can tell you where it was. It was in Miami. I know that because I had a huge blue naugahyde suitcase that I’d gotten for college graduation. HUGE. And it had a nice dappled effect, giving it more of the natural look of a real blue cow.
So I was watching them load the little conveyor belt and big blue was nowhere to be seen.
Me: Hey, they didn’t put my suitcase on the plane.
Brand-new husband who had a lot to learn: Don’t be neurotic. It’s on here.
Well, when it was 2 in the morning and about 20 of us were sitting on the curb at the St. Maarten airport while a really snotty French man (the only person working) took our luggage reports one by one … I didn’t seem all that neurotic anymore.
That was the first time he realized that I am always right and he has NEVER questioned me since.
Luckily I had my birth control pills in my purse. Because I sold them to other honeymooners who weren’t quite as smart as I was, at a cost per pill that would make a hospital comptroller proud.
Equally fortuitously, my husband had advised me to stick a swimsuit in my carry-on bag. So we were fine from 10 in the morning until about 5 in the afternoon.
Then we’d put our dirty clothes back on and go to decreasingly fine restaurants as the week progressed. By day three we were attracting goats along the road and eating at outdoor restaurants, seated on the edge of the patio on the breeze’s exit side.
I might add that it was like 100 degrees outside, so if the clothes weren’t gross enough from overuse, there was a little issue of having no deodorant either. Or hair products, curling iron or makeup. Or a razor. Eeks.
There were, of course, drug stores in St. Maarten, but since the airlines told us every single morning that our suitcase would be in our hotel room by the time we came in from the beach every day…
What they didn’t know was that the guy in Miami was still having fun wearing the stuff I got at my lingerie shower.
Finally, on day four, a surly man brought the suitcases.
Anyway, live and learn. Always put a swimsuit in your carry-on.
So the next time they lost my luggage, my friend Jody and I were going to visit my mom in South Florida. We changed planes in an icy Atlanta and landed in the bright sunshine of Ft. Myers. We could feel the warmth even as we walked through the jetway.
Ahh…we said, devising our plan like Ferris Bueller and his friend Cameron. Let’s get to Monkey’s (that would be my mother, don’t ask) and have her make one of her special Bloody Marys while we put on our swimsuits, then we’ll go down to the beach and fend off advances from the young and bronzed cabana boys, only getting off our butts to take a dip in the refreshing aqua water.
The plan was set.
Except here’s what happened. We didn’t get our luggage. We hadn’t packed a swimsuit in our carry-ons. We got to Monkey’s and she made us REALLY strong special Bloody Marys while we put on her swimsuits (which were very cute for a grandma, but a little sturdy and too … um… well endowed for us).
OK, we figured. We’re on vacation. We’re adaptable. I mean, we’re still away from the kids and the cold weather. Beach towel? check. Designer shades? check. Vodka buzz? check check. We carefully shoved our chaises into just the perfect angle to maximize the sun damage to our faces. Ahh.
Well, the cabana boys noticed us alright. In fact, it felt like a different guy came to ask for our drink orders about every 10 minutes. Huh, we whispered triumphantly. We still got it. Even in Monkey’s sensible swimwear.
It was about an hour later, while I was taking the refreshing dip in the aqua water, that I realized I had apparently bumped my chair into one of the well-padded cups on Monkey’s swimsuit. Because there was hardly any me filling the padding, I now looked down and saw Mount Vesuvius on the left and some sort of a caved-in sno-cone cup on the right.
OK, in this case — but only this case — my husband was always right.
I will most certainly have a swimsuit in my carry-on for next week’s girls’ trip.
You Look So Good In Love lyrics | George Strait – You Look So Good …
George Strait is one of the legends when it comes to country music, A lot of people have been searching for one of George Straits songs, which is entitled You.
That Old R&B Tag Team of Love and Lust – New York Times – World News
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You Look So Good In Love | You Look So Good In Love lyrics …
Right or Wrong is the third studio album by George Strait is a Grammy Award-winning American country music singer. You Look So Good in Love Is The Song Of Right or Wrong Album. You Look So Good In Love lyrics : Oh, how you sparkle …
Real-Time Search Streams Breaking News Blog Archive George …
Buzzy Bloggers (blog)George Strait You Look So Good In Love lyricsBuzzy Bloggers (blog)I will update you guys with the You Look So Good In Love lyrics, we have to ask permission first, the link for the George Strait You Look So Good …
You look so good in love lyrics
Ed orgeron know your number montana hotel haiti katie stevens american idol.
I’m looking for a song that states that I will care about a girl without seeming like I love her, any ideas?
The only part of the lyrics i know goes like because you love you love you love n its a female singer
Theres a song im looking for …?
Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they’re haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye
Even with our fists held high
It never would’ve worked out right
We were never meant for do or die
I didn’t want us to burn out
I didn’t come here to hurt you, now I can’t stop
I want you to know that it doesn’t matter
Where we take this road someone’s gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn’t have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I’m already gone
Looking at you makes it harder
But I know that you’ll find another
That doesn’t always make you want to cry
Started with a perfect kiss then we could feel the poison set in
Perfect couldn’t keep this love alive
You know that I love you so, I love you enough to let you go
I want you to know that it doesn’t matter
Where we take this road someone’s gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn’t have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I’m already gone
I’m already gone, already gone
You can’t make it feel right when you know that it’s wrong
I’m already gone, already gone
There’s no moving on so I’m already gone
Already gone, already gone, already gone
Already gone, already gone, already gone, yeah
Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories they’re haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye
I want you to know that it doesn’t matter
Where we take this road someone’s gotta go
And I want you to know you couldn’t have loved me better
But I want you to move on so I’m already gone
I’m already gone, already gone
You can’t make it feel right when you know that it’s wrong
I’m already gone, already gone
There’s no moving on so I’m already gone
Translate these song lyrics to spanish no machines please?
I’ll join the crowd by doing “Yesterday.”
Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away now it looks as though they’re here to stay oh I believe in yesterday suddenly I’m not half the man I used to be there’s a shadow hanging over me oh yesterday came suddenly why’d she have to go I don’t know she wouldn’t say I said something wrong now I long for yesterday yesterday love was an easy game to play now I need a place to hide away oh I believe in yesterday why’d she have to go I don’t know she wouldn’t say I said something wrong now I long for yesterday yesterday was such an easy game to place to hide away oh I believe in yesterday [humming "oh I believe in yesterday"]
Can you, Beatle fans, say the entire lyrics of a Beatle song without looking them up?
Okay, this is driving me absolutely insane.
I see the lyrics everrryywhere, but can never find the name of the song :|
I’m not going to look at you and think of everything that happened. I’m going to look at you and think of everything that could.
And the truth is…we’re all just kids wanting to know what love really is.
I gave you my heart and that’s all I can give you. If that’s not enough, I’m not enough.
Honey, we’re meant for eachother. I’m a girl looking for love and you’re a boy looking for a heart to break. Oh, it must be love.
Did you feel a change? I mean, how many moments in your life can you point to and say, “That’s when it all changed.”
When you call us bitches, we look at eachother and laugh, because honey, we knew that wayy before you did.
I was blind and foolish, but I was just a girl. So kiss me with your lies and promise me the world.
Friends aren’t supposed to get jealous when you meet a new guy…they’re supposed to ask if he has a brother.
Yeah, it hurts like crazy; seeing him look at her like that.
Isn’t it awkward seeing him in the hallway, but looking the other way and pretending you didn’t see him at all?
See baby, this is our problem: I care too much and you, well you could care less.
Because you’re the kind of guy who’d laugh at me when I fall, help me up, and then whisper, “It’s okay baby. I still love you.”
Here’s to the moments where we didn’t think about right and wrong, where we just lived, crossed our fingers, and hoped for the best.
He told her she was beautiful and like cheap whiskey…she bought it all.
Tomorrow will come too soon and yesterday will slip away too fast, that’s why we have to live to the fullest. So that when the days slip away, the memories will last forever.
I know if I keep my distance, you’ll see what you’re missing.
Let’s take just one more ride. You and me, we can laugh, sing, and joke, just like old times. We can pretend like nothing went wrong and no hearts were ever broken.
Tonight she’s going to scream your name from the highest rooftop, because for the first time in her life, she’s not afraid to fall in love.
Take a picture with me, just so I can see how cute we could be together.
She shall sit up another night without sleeping, cause he’s still online and she doesn’t want to miss the chance of him talking to her again, like old times.
She’s an artist, a painter, actually see that “Smile” on her face? Well, it’s her most famous piece.
So what if I’m a bitch? You’re a whore, and personally…I’d rather be known for what I do, not who I do.
She closes her eyes, as her makeup runs…they got the best of her.
I’m blasting my music so I won’t hear my thoughts, but it’s stupid, because the lyrics just remind me of what I’m trying to forget. How did you manage to get all these people to sing about you?
Sure there’s obstacles in the way, broken hearts, and bitter best friends, car problems, and bad hair days, but everyday she smiles and moves on, because nothing in the world is gonna stop her.
I pull up my buddy list every two minutes just to make sure that you’re still on, even though I’m too afraid to IM you, I sit there in that chair hoping that you’ll IM me and realize what you’ve been missing.
Yeah, they talk aout her, she smiles like she’s so tough. She says, “Hey, can you talk any louder? I don’t think my heart is broken enough.”
Looking in the mirror, fixing her hair, music so loud, and she just doesn’t care.
Hey Kid, yeah you..See that girl? She’s basically my best friend, and she loves you more than the world. You are her world. I just thought I should tell you.
She knew she had to be cautious when speaking to him again, for she had her heart on the line. And with simply one wrong move, she could surely find herself falling for that boy all over again.
Sometimes I still wonder how you are, what you’re doing. Sometimes I miss the way we’d laugh and the way we used to be…even though it was so long ago.
She’s moving on and I feel sorry for you, because she thought you were the most amazing boy ever. If she could have any guy in the world, she would have picked you above all the others. She thought you were different…she was wrong. You’re just another boy to her now.
She traced, “It’s over.” On his back, then she heard him say, “No it’s not.”
They both fell in love with each other, but neither were brave enough to admit the truth, simply because neither one of them was willing on losing thier friendship.
“But dreams, they’re overrated.” Says the girl who gave up yesterday.
Keep your head up; your colors are so beautiful. When they say you should just give up, raise the volume on your radio.
There’s no point in trying to talk to you anymore. I’ve tried to have a conversation with you, but all that comes out is the empty feeling in my stomach and that makes me realize that you will never feel the same way about me, that I feel about
Anyone know the name of this song?
Http://www. mtv. com/videos/teen-mom-ep1-looking-for-love/1627635/playlist. jhtml
Its towards the last section, with Ryan leaving and saying goodbye to Maci and Bently. the lyrics are like “to miss me, if I went away” thats the only part I can make out. and I cant find anything when i search it. :/
What’s the name of this song on teen mom?
The Death of My Childhood
I was seven years old when I met him. It seems young now, but I remember it as a perfectly mature age. He was all of ten and the object of every little girls desire. He was the best-loved of the town-boys. I recall many girls fighting like mad cats for his affections. Ive never been a lover of competitions and stayed far away from their battling frenzies.
He was always a loud, obnoxious child which did not particularly endear him to me. I hated any noise invading my personal space. One day, I excused myself from the town church service and hurried outside to fetch my baby sisters bottle from the car. En route, I took the opportunity of being alone to belt out my favorite lyrics. Closing the door, I jumped in surprise. He was leaning against the vehicle in as much confidence as a now eleven-year-old could muster. His arms were crossed and his face marked with a sly grin. Blood rushed to my cheeks. His look said it all: Aha, Ive finally seen a crack in your shell.
From that moment, changes in our daily interactions appeared. He followed me around town just to open every door for me. He stole my diary and returned it to me with a note that he had enjoyed my poetry. He sat close to me and wouldnt let any of the other boys near. Still, I was shy and wasnt going to exert myself until I heard him say the words I love you.
When I was thirteen, I was swinging idly on the park bench, trailing one bare foot on the ground and the other knee tucked up close to the alarming developments occurring in my chest. Heavily absorbed in a nineteenth century novel, I hadnt realized that he was standing over me, calling my name. Frustrated, he knocked the book out of my hand and kept my hand in his grip.
Why wont you ever listen to me? he protested.
I looked into his deep brown eyes. Instantly, I felt my soul seared by their vulnerable expression. He leaned forward quickly and planted a swift kiss on my chapped lips. It knocked the breath right out of me. We both waited hesitantly, started by the happening. Ducking his head abashedly, he dashed away.
We rarely spoke again, and we certainly didnt exchange love yous. I wonder what would have happened if we did. I focused on school work and preparing for college and developing my own little amateur business. He soon dashed off to explore the world, hiking through several obscure countries.
Im sixteen now as I sit here in the town church. In the pew ahead of me, his following of lovers are sobbing violently. His coffin lies near the pulpit, shrouded in boquets, shut tightlythey said the car accident left his body terribly mangled. His parents comfort each other. I sit in the back with my family in the un-relatives section.
Tears escape from my eyes, and I struggle to contain them. Why should I mourn for him? Wouldnt others despise me for weeping? They thought I only barely knew him.
An ache clutched at my heart. There is something I feel for him that can never be forgotten. I dont know if you would call it love. Ive never loved someone before. Did he still love me?
We form a line to express our condolences to his family. I pause for a moment. If this had been some cheesy movie, she would have handed me a three-page note discovered agmongst his belongings detailing how his sincerest affections for me magnified since that kiss. But his mother stares at me blankly. I give her the customary hug and pass by the coffin, running my palm along the oak edge. For just a minute, I imagined it to be a prominent cheekbone, mentally adding tanned leathery skin and the beginnings of a light brown beard.
I do not know if he loved me still or I, him. All I know is that he was the dearest part of my childhood. An abundance of cherished memories.
I bow my head in respect for the dead, the death of him and the death of my childhood. I raise my head, tears dried. This is my coming-of-age story.
Can you let me know what you think of my short story? (It’s a fiction based on some stories I read.)?
When i was younger I always heard a song i think the name is
“A Mother’s Love”
Some of the Lyrics are
Shes the first one to rise up in the morning.
And the last one to close her eyes at night.
Shes content to be home with her family……
A mother’s love is faithful always trusting.
A mother’s love can stand the test of time.
Im looking 4 a certain mothers day song. Can you help?
I have read many questions and answers on yahoo answers. Some about morality, spirituality, etc….Then I came I across these lyrics…
I went to see my sister.
She was staying with a friend
Who had turned into a preacher
To save the world from sin.
He said, “first deny your body,
And then learn to submit.
Pray to be made worthy,
And tithe your ten percent.”
I said, “is this all there is,
Just the letter of the law?”
Something’s wrong.
I went to see my brother
On the 32nd floor
Of a building down on wall street;
You could hear the future’s roar.
He said, “here we make decisions,
And we trade commodities;
If you tell me where there’s famine,
I can make you guarantees.”
I said, “is this all there is,
Power to the strong?”
Something’s wrong.
Something’s wrong in heaven tonight.
You can almost hear them cry.
Angels to the left and the right,
Saying, “what about the love?
What about the love?
What about the love?”
I went to see my neighbor.
He’d been taken to a home
For the weak and the discarded
Who have no place to go.
He said, “here i lack for nothing;
I am fed and i am clothed.
But at times i miss the freedom
I used to know.”
I said, “is this all there is,
When your usefulness is gone?”
Something’s wrong.
Something’s wrong in heaven tonight. (something’s wrong.)
You can almost hear them cry. (cry.)
Angels to the left and the right,
Saying, “what about the love?
What about the love?
What about the love?”
(yeah, yeah, yeah….)
(yeah.)
(yeah.)
I looked into the mirror, (yeah.)
Proud as i could be, (yeah.)
And i saw my pointing finger (yeah.)
Pointing back at me,
Saying, “who named you accuser? (yeah.)
Who gave you the scales?” (yeah.)
I hung my head in sorrow; (yeah.)
I could almost feel the nails.
I said, “this is how it is
To be crucified and judged
Without love.”
Something’s wrong in heaven tonight. (something’s wrong.)
You can almost hear them cry. (cry.)
Angels to the left and the right,
Saying, “what about the love?
What about the love?
What about the love of god?”
Something’s wrong in heaven tonight. (something’s wrong.)
You can almost hear them cry. (cry.)
Angels to the left and the right,
Saying, “what about the love?”
What about the love?
What about the love of god?”
Something’s wrong in heaven tonight. (something’s wrong.)
You can almost hear them cry. (cry.)
Angels to the left and the right,
Saying, “what about the love?
What about the love?
What about the love…?”
What About The Love by Amy Grant
What is the problem today? What do we need to do about it? Is it one persons problem or do we all play a part?
I mean really some song makes no sense i think she don’t even know what she is singing about ? here are some lyrics from bad romance The touch of your hand I want you leather studded kiss in the scene ???? now from paparazzi Shadow is burnt yellow dance and we turn
My lashes are dry, purple teardrops I cry
It don’t have a price, loving you is cherry pie
Cause you know that baby, I
I mean look its like she said to her self what rhymes with cry o cherry pie ..lol is it just me ?
Is it just me or dose lady gaga songs make no sense ?
Hey, you guys have probably seen a storm of Illuminati questions over the weeks, but I want to settle this once and for all for myself and my friends at school. I’ve heard that a whole slew of artists have joined the celebrity Satan-worshipping circle called the Illuminati, which I understand has not existed for over 200 years. I’ve heard about Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Lady GaGa, Eminem, T. I., and even the outrageous like Taylor Swift, Bono, and Madonna. Don’t worry: I know Bono is Catholic (right?), Taylor is too sweet, and Madonna is a Kaballist. Just pointing that out anyway.
Now, I’ve seen Jay-Z’s H. O.V. A. sign, but I just want to make sure I know what it means. Also, he’s a bigot and calls himself Hova and even had some Lucifer lyrics when playing some song backwards. I have also heard this about Obama’s “Yes We Can” campaign song. I’ve heard this about Lil Wayne’s new video with some girl with demon wings, I believe. You may have also heard about Tupac’s appearance at a New Orlean’s party and that he’ll be back in 2014. I’ve heard that Lady GaGa’s “Bad Romance” song and video has Satanic meanings, including the Baphomet-looking thing on the wall. I’ve heard that the whole 2009 MTV VMAs show was a Satan worshipping saga, with Taylor and Lady GaGa coming out in white to show their devotion, and changing into red dresses to show that Satan has come. Also, GaGa’s creepy performance (which I though was cool). I’ve heard that Tupac, Notorious B. I.G., and Michael Jackson were all killed by the Illuminati. Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams” and “Crazy in Love” videos have Satanic meanings, and many, MANY other things.
Mind you, I don’t believe in a great deal of this. I just want to know a tiny bit more about the Freemasons, Skull & Bones Fraternity thing, and the Illuminati. Also, what is GaGa’s religion? I have the “Angels and Demons” DVD and plan to watch it soon. I just want to know if the Illuminati’s apparent “rebirth” is real or not. I’m really sick of hearing about it. Thanks a lot for your help!!!!
Here are some of the garbage sites you may have heard about:
Http://vigilantcitizen. com/?p=2737
Http://vigilantcitizen. com/?p=1676
Learning how to taste wines is a straightforward adventure that will deepen your appreciation for both wines and winemakers. Look, smell, taste – starting with your basic senses and expanding from there you will learn how to taste wines like the pros in no time! Keep in mind that you can smell thousands of unique scents, but your taste perception is limited to salty, sweet, sour and bitter. It is the combination of smell and taste that allows you to discern flavor.
Look: Check out the Color and Clarity.
Pour a glass of wine into a suitable wine glass. Then take a good look at the wine. Tilt the glass away from you and check out the “color” of the wine from the rim edges to the middle of the glass. What color is it? Look beyond red, white or blush. If it’s a red wine is the color maroon, purple, ruby, garnet, red, brick or even brownish? If it’s a white wine is it clear, pale yellow, straw-like, light green, golden, amber or brown in appearance?
Still looking? Move on to the wine’s opacity. Is the wine watery or dark, translucent or opaque, dull or brilliant, cloudy or clear? Can you see sediment? Tilt your glass a bit, give it a little swirl – look again, is there sediment, bits of cork or any other floaters? An older red wine will be more translucent than younger red wines.
Smell
Our sense of smell is critical in properly analyzing a glass of wine. To get a good impression of your wine’s aroma gently swirl your glass (this helps vaporize some of the wine’s alcohol and release more of its natural aromas) and then take a quick whiff to gain a first impression.
Still Smelling. Now stick your nose down into the glass and take a deep inhale through your nose. What are your second impressions? Do you smell oak, berry, flowers, vanilla or citrus? A wine’s aroma is an excellent indicator of its quality and unique characteristics. Gently swirl the wine and let the aromas mix and mingle, and sniff again.
Taste
Finally, take a taste. Start with a small sip and let it roll around your tongue. There are three stages of taste: the Attack phase, the Evolution phase and the Finish.
The Attack Phase, is the initial impression that the wine makes on your palate. The Attack is comprised of four pieces of the wine puzzle: alcohol content, tannin levels, acidity and residual sugar. These four puzzle pieces display initial sensations on the palate. Ideally these components will be well-balanced one piece will not be more prominent than the others. These four pieces do not display a specific flavor per se, they meld together to offer impressions in intensity and complexity, soft or firm, light or heavy, crisp or creamy, sweet or dry, but not necessarily true flavors like fruit or spice.
The Evolution Phase is next, also called the mid-palate or middle range phase, this is the wine’s actual taste on the palate. In this phase you are looking to discern the flavor profile of the wine. If it’s a red wine you may start noting fruit – berry, plum, prune or fig; perhaps some spice – pepper, clove, cinnamon, or maybe a woody flavor like oak, cedar, or a detectable smokiness. If you are in the Evolution Phase of a white wine you may taste apple, pear, tropical or citrus fruits, or the taste may be more floral in nature or consist of honey, butter, herbs or a bit of earthiness.
The Finish is appropriately labeled as the final phase. The wine’s finish is how long the flavor impression lasts after it is swallowed. This is where the wine culminates, where the aftertaste comes into play. Did it last several seconds? Was it light-bodied (like water) or full-bodied (like the consistency of milk)? Can you taste the remnant of the wine on the back of your mouth and throat? Do you want another sip or was the wine too bitter at the end? What was your last flavor impression – fruit, butter, oak? Does the taste persist or is it short-lived?
After you have taken the time to taste your wine, you might record some of your impressions. Did you like the wine overall? Was it sweet, sour or bitter? How was the wine’s acidity? Was it well balanced? Does it taste better with cheese, bread or a heavy meal? Will you buy it again? If so, jot the wine’s name, producer and vintage year down for future reference.
Why do I need to let my wine “Breathe”?
The whole concept of letting wine breathe, or aerate, is simply maximizing your wine’s exposure to the surrounding air. By allowing wine to mix and mingle with air, the wine will typically warm up and the wine’s aromas will open up, the flavor profile will soften and mellow out a bit and the overall flavor characteristics should improve.
Which Wines Need to Breathe?
Typically red wines are the ones to benefit most from breathing before serving. However, there are select whites that will also improve with a little air exposure. In general, most wines will improve with as little as 15-20 minutes of air time. However, if the wine is young with high tannin levels, it will need more time to aerate before enjoying. For example, a young cabernet Sauvignon will likely require around an hour for proper aeration and flavor softening to take place. Not that you cannot drink it as soon as it is uncorked, but to put its best foot forward give it more time to breathe. Mature wines are another story all together. These wines will benefit most from decanting and then will only have a small window of aeration opportunity before the flavor profiles begin to deteriorate.
Some erroneously believe that merely uncorking a bottle of wine and allowing it to sit for a bit is all it takes to aerate. This method is futile, as there is simply not enough room (read: surface area) at the top of the bottle to permit adequate amounts of air to make contact with the wine. So what’s a Wine Lover to do? You have two options: Decanter or Wine Glass.
Decanter – use a decanter with a wide opening at the top to pour your bottle of wine into. The increased surface area is the key to allowing more air to make contact with your wine. Keep this in mind while setting up proper “breathing” techniques for your favorite wine.
The Wine Glass – Pour your wine into wine glasses and let it aerate. This is certainly the low-maintenance method and typically works quite well. Just be sure to keep the glass away from the kitchen commotion, while it breathes in peace. A good tip for pouring wine into glasses make sure that you pour into the center of the glass with a good 6-10 inches of “fall” from bottle to glass to allow for further aeration during the actual pour.
In general, the Aeration Rule of Thumb: the more tannins a wine has the more time it will need to aerate. Lighter-bodied red wines that have lower tannin levels, will need little if any time to breathe.
How do I know if my wine is “corked”?
Fresh picked blueberries, juicy peach, toasted vanilla bean, or mold, which one does not belong? The first three flavors are great descriptors for wine; unfortunately, the last one is a pretty accurate descriptor for a corked bottle of wine. Nuances of mildew, no matter how slight, are an indication of TCA, a bleach-loving mold that infects corks and bottling facilities. As revolting as a corked bottle can taste, TCA starts out as a loss of fruitiness with no ill flavor. So that highly recommended, highly disappointing bottle may still be a great wine, just not the one you opened.
Even though it tastes like it could kill you, you can drink the wine. A faint cardboard flavor can be tolerated when the wine is still tasty enough to drink. When you encounter a bottle that is too far gone don’t dump the wine down the drain. Pour it back into the bottle, put the cork back in, and return it to the store where you purchased it. Retailers get credit for bad bottles of wine. Some experts estimate that one bottle in twelve is tainted with TCA. Just because one bottle has it, doesn’t mean that another bottle from the same case does too. TCA mold takes effect by coming in contact with the wine in the bottle. Mold on the top of the cork is usually not an indication that the bottle is corked.
Aaron Zimmerman
[Mr Zimmerman owns and operates Liquors Galore, 1418 Avenue J (between 12th and 13th Streets); Brooklyn, NY 11230-3702; Telephone: 718.338.4166. The above post is part of a multi-part series we’ll be posting once a week on these pages]
Apart from Northwestern Reisling, American wines, especially red, are our least favorite. But, Falling Feather seems to have changed that. Aside from the fact that it is beautifully packaged, this Californian product is low on histamine and tannins, which means you are less likely to develop a headache. Lovely package, don’t you think?
However, at least in the middle of the week, while it is a nicer restaurant, I think he would have been fine dressed that way!
Blueberry Slump [serves 8]
