when the boys are away, the girls will play!

tonight my sister, some friends, and i are enjoying a girls' night in.  craig's on his way to montreal as we speak for a friend's bachelor party, so girl-time is a must!  what's on the itinerary?  pizza, wine, fire in the fireplace, chick flick (maybe) and obviously lots of laughs and good conversation.  and maybe some just dance on wii...  sounds pretty prefect, right?

what we're drinking...

night harvest - sauvignon blanc
tapeña - dry rosé
rex goliath - free range red

i've had night harvest and rex goliath before, but the tapeña is a new one. cross-your-fingers it's a "goodie" - i love finding new vintages : )

what we're eating...

pizza!  usually we make-our-own, but tonight, to keep it super simple, we're opting for take-out.  i'm thinking a 1/2 broccoli garlic, 1/2 ricotta roasted red pepper pie.

broccoli pizza  - picture credit {here}

what's satisfying our sweet tooth....

cake balls.  it's such an awful name, but they really are delicious.  little tiny cake/frosting/chocolate-dipped bits of heaven.  (recipe to come next week.)

yes, that's right...i made those : )

hope you have some fun weekend plans, too!

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happy hour: what to drink with thanksgiving leftovers

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  i love how cozy my parents' house feels with fires in both fireplaces, the smell of turkey and other thanksgiving goodies wafting from the kitchen and family and friends all around.

and, if your family is anything like mine, we are sure to make plenty of extra so that we can enjoy thanksgiving leftovers all weekend long.

below you'll find my wine suggestions to pair with your bird & stuffing today...or tomorrow : )

whether you like red or white, you're in luck - both go great with thanksgiving food.  if you generally lean toward reds, try rex goliath free range red.  this friendly, approachable red isn't too heavy and drinks nicely with a hearty meal.  (bonus: this wine's a steal - only $7 per bottle!)

if you prefer white, try ménage à  trois white.  as you may have guessed, it's a blend of 3 grapes (hence "trois").  it's crisp without being sharp and has a full-bodied flavor, which again, works well with your thanksgiving spread.  (you'll find it for $12 per bottle.)

and remember the 20 minute rule for serving wines.  keep whites in the fridge and remove 20 minutes prior to drinking to let the temperature settle a bit.  for reds, keep them room temp and put in the fridge for 20 min prior to serving to drop the temperature ever so slightly.  simple and effective.

cheers!  here's to enjoying your leftovers every bit as much as you did the meal.

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happy hour: three's a crowd?

i have been all about multi-grape wines lately.  though i love my go-to sauvignon blanc, i'm totally digging the supple, hearty reds and surprising whites that emerge when winemakers mix & mash different varietals.

drink me.

my favorite combo-wine maker is ménage à trois.  i know, i know, good name, right?  they have red, white and rosé 3-grape wines, and they are all good.  all their wines are a mixture of (you guessed it) three different grapes and consequently all have a uniquely pleasing quality that delights many different palates.  and at approximately $10/bottle, you really can't go wrong...

also, these mixtures are a great place to start if you're unsure of a certain type of grape.  look for a combo wine that includes that varietal and ease your way in.

sooo goood.

so, in my humble opinion, three is definitely not a crowd.  three is just getting the party started ; )

so, mavens, drink any good wines lately?  cheers!

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summertime sangria {guest post}

Hey guys! I am guest blogging for Cailen while she is on vacation – hope she is having a great time! I bet you wish we were away too, huh?! Until that happens, I wanted to share two sangria recipes with you. My fiancé and I concocted the red version this Spring and it has been our go-to drink these past few months! In fact, I gave it to my Mom to make for my bridal shower in early June! The measurements are for a huge punch bowl, but if making in a wine decanter, cut in half.

LJ & JT Red Sangria

·         One jug of Carlos Rossi “Sangria” (Not the greatest wine, but the sangria version is a great base for this recipe! We get the big jug for around $12 – a steal!)

·         Frozen or fresh fruit (any variety works: limes, lemons, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, apples, oranges, raspberries, etc!)

·         Can of Sprite

·         Splash of Tequila – now my Mom didn’t add this for the shower – didn’t want any sloshed shower guests – but this adds a kick. Try if not driving anywhere for the next few hours!

Mix ahead of drinking time and then enjoy. That’s it! So easy. So simple. So refreshing!

sangria

At the Split Rock Wine Festival on Father’s Day weekend, Chaddsford Winery passed out summertime wine cooler recipes.

This double-sided sheet is a definite keeper for me! My best friend made the recipe the following weekend at her house-warming party and I can attest to its awesomeness -- my Mom and I had 2-3 drinks each!

Niagara Limosa

·         One bottle of Niagra wine

·         1-12 ounce can frozen lemonade or limeade

·         ½ cup sugar

·         3 cups club soda

·         Chopped strawberries and limes

Combine wine, lemonade, and sugar in punchbowl. Slowly stir in club soda. Garnish with fruit and serve chilled. A very light and summery drink! Goes down toooo easily!

So, try either of these recipes, depending on your preference of red or white OR create your own! Have fun mixing different wines with different fruits. Summer is the perfect time to sit on your porch with a home-made glass of sangria! Cheers!

lovin' liz's sangria?  check out her blog {here} and check out her bridal blog {here}..