Uncorked #6: Robert Mondavi Pinot Grigio

Welcome to Uncorked! Where I feature a wine that I've tried and let you know my thoughts on it. There is a little disclaimer: I am by far no wine expert --I am just going to tell my thoughts on a wine. Some wine snobs out there might turn their nose up at my opinion and that's fine with me! Wine is meant to be savored and enjoyed! I might throw out some wine terms here and there and if I do, I will make sure that I give you the definition and try to explain them to the best of my abilities. My goal is to share some tasty wine picks with the world and hopefully encourage some of you out there to try a new wine. No bottle shall be discriminated against, price is no matter (with in reason), and this is just going to be all about exploring the world of wine.

This week's wine is:

Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2009 Pinot Grigio

Description: Through tireless wine making innovation, an uncompromising eye for quality and unshakable faith in California's vineyards, Robert Mondavi was a pioneer in producing wines that rival the world's finest. Our Pinot Grigio captures bright citrus, pear and tropical fruit flavors that culminate in a crisp refreshing finish.

Price: $7.99 per bottle
Region: Woodbridge, CA

I've said it before and I am sure you can tell with all the uncorked so far, I am a red girl. However, it can get boring reviewing red wines all the time so I decided to actively seek out a white one for this week. With the onset of spring, I thought a Pinot Grigio would be a good start to kick off the season. Pinot Grigios are an Italian white wine that usually is a nice mid-palate* balance with a short, clean finish. This pale golden wine opens up with a fruity, yet floral bouquet*. Immediately I could taste pear in the wine, but not an overpowering amount. The wine is on the dryer side, but has a fresh and crisp taste.

Would I buy it again? Like I said before, I always have considered myself a red girl, but this white wine might make me change my ways...or at least make me break out of my red shell. I was pleasantly surprised to find a white wine that I am looking forward to drinking again. Because it's an Italian wine, I served it with Spicy Tomato Cream Penne Pasta and some garlic bread. The wine went great with the meal and we ended up finishing the bottle. In fact, my husband even commented on how he wished we had some more...so yes, I will be buying this one again.

Fun Wine Fact: Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have determined that Pinot Grigio has a remarkably similar DNA profile to Pinot Noir (a red wine) and that the colour difference is derived from a genetic mutation that occurred centuries ago.

*Mid-palate- When you take a sip of good wine there is often a sequence of flavor and texture impressions, of which the mid-palate is the impression registered as you hold the wine in your mouth for a moment but before you swallow.
*Bouquet- As a wine's aroma becomes more developed from bottle aging, the aroma is transformed into a bouquet that is hopefully more than just the smell of the grape.

~Beth

Tex-Mex Calzones

In my quest to keep dinner somewhat exciting, while still watching calories, I have been trying many different dishes. We really enjoyed this dish and it will probably be a regular from now on. I was thinking if you have older kids, it might be a fun thing for them to make their own calzone.

8 ounces of ground turkey

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup fat-free fire-roasted salsa verde

1 (11-ounce) can refrigerated thin-crust pizza dough

3/4 cup (3 ounces) preshredded Mexican blend cheese

Cooking spray

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring to crumble.
3. Add onion and next 5 ingredients (through garlic) to pan; cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring mixture occasionally. Remove turkey mixture from heat; stir in salsa.
4. Unroll dough; divide into 4 equal portions. Flatten each portion into a 6 x 4–inch rectangle.
5. Working with one rectangle at a time, spoon about 1/2 cup turkey mixture on one side of dough. Top with 3 tablespoons cheese; fold dough over turkey mixture, and press edges together with a fork to seal.
6. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining dough and turkey mixture.
7. Bake at 425° for 12 minutes or until browned. Serve with sour cream.

Serves 4 @ 423 calories

~Beth

Sophistication Sundays - Coral Craze

My sophistication muse, Audrey Hepburn

Photo Source

Sophistication Sundays will revolve around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else "pretty" that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I'm just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.

As I mentioned in my previous "SS" post, one of my favorite things about Spring is the return of COLORS. It's natural to gravitate towards a palette of black, gray, silver and well, more black during the winter months. When Spring finally shows its face again in March, the colors are a breath of fresh air. Honestly, you have no idea ecstatic I am every Spring when I receive the In Style Color Issue.

In Style Magazine

Isn't it complete happiness?!

All this color talk brings me to the topic of the day: Coral. Coral has always been one of my favorite colors to wear; I really gravitate towards this happy medium between pink and orange. It works well with my skin and hair color (red) and encapsulates the bright & cheery side of Spring.

Coral

Imagine my delight when I saw it splashed all over the Spring 2011 runways and the lips of models in numerous ad campaigns. Suffice to say there is a coral craze taking over and this lovely shade has infiltrated makeup, clothes and accessories alike.

BCBG Max Azria Spring 2011

BCBG's beautiful and asymmetrical interpretation of a coral dress

Banana Republic

Banana Republic keeps it simple and breezy with

cargos and a subdued necklace

Top Shop

Love the zipper detail on this Top Shop shell

If you're itching to try the continuing crochet trend you could try it in this

Coral dress from Top Shop. I can see it with a beige or white body cami underneath and a brown, braided belt knotted around the waist.

If you're anxious about jumping on the coral train in the form of clothing

why not try it in a lip color or nail polish?

Covergirl's Natureluxe Gloss Balm in Coral

OPI Collins Ave from the South Beach collection

Or if you're feeling a bit more adventurous (but not ready for coral clothes) there are always accessories.

What girl doesn't love accessories? :)

Coral Earrings

Coral Bracelet

Coral Purse

So what do you think of coral? Do you stay away from this pink/orange shade? Would you try it in a clothing item or beauty product? Maybe you don't like coral. What color trends are you excited about?

Have a great week. xoxo.

~Christi

Spicy Tomato Cream Penne Pasta

I was watching Eat, Pray, Love this afternoon and it really inspired me! Not in the way that you would think...really I thought the movie wasn't that great (sorry to you fans out there) but it inspired me to cook some pasta! All the food it in looked so yummy! I am still trying to watch what I am eating, so I created a somewhat healthier pasta dish. 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes
2 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons dried Italian seasoning
3/4 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
10 ounces of whole wheat penne pasta
Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Fill large pot with water and bring to boil. Add penne pasta and cook according to package directions.
2. In a saucepan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until onions are translucent.
3. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt and pepper. (Note: Depending on the acidity of the tomatoes you might need to add more sugar.)
4. Bring tomato mixture to a boil and continue to boil 5 minutes or until most of the liquid evaporates.
5. Remove from heat; stir in cream and butter.
6. Reduce heat and simmer 5 more minutes.
7. Serve over penne pasta with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

The Skinny: Serves 4 @ 475 calories

Uncorked #5: Big Green Box Cabernet

Welcome to Uncorked! Where I feature a wine that I've tried and let you know my thoughts on it. There is a little disclaimer: I am by far no wine expert --I am just going to tell my thoughts on a wine. Some wine snobs out there might turn their nose up at my opinion and that's fine with me! Wine is meant to be savored and enjoyed!

I might throw out some wine terms here and there and if I do, I will make sure that I give you the definition and try to explain them to the best of my abilities. My goal is to share some tasty wine picks with the world and hopefully encourage some of you out there to try a new wine. No bottle shall be discriminated against, price is no matter (with in reason), and this is just going to be all about exploring the world of wine.

This week's wine is:

Pepperwood Grove Big Green Box Cabernet Sauvignon

Description: Inviting red fruit aroma, with black currants, Italian espresso, and bittersweet chocolate flavors

Price: around $21 per box
Region: Chile

I know what you are thinking...box wine?!?!..this is Uncorked! Well, I don't know if you have tried boxed wine lately but there are so many different kinds out there that can really give their bottled counterparts a run for their money...quite literally! This particular box is my "go to" wine that I love to keep around the house. Don't let the box fool you, this is a great wine that does some great things. The company boasts how the box is "green" because it's made from 100% recycled product, uses less energy because glass bottle production isn't required, its light-weight and compact so less transpiration cost, and the packaging is printed on paper from a sustainable forest. That stuff is all nice, but really how does the wine taste?? Well, it's a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah grapes, so it's not a true Cabernet Sauvignon*. The wine is medium bodied and well-balanced*. It opens with the flavor of oak, raspberries, and cherries and finishes dry with a little lingering flavor.

Would I buy it again? Um, yes! This is my go to wine daily wine. I am actually drinking this wine as I write this post! For those of you out there who turn your nose up at box wine, I really suggest trying this one. Just pour it out of the box and put it in a decanter and I swear no one will know otherwise. It's a great drinking wine and the perfect accompaniment for a piece of dark chocolate, a nice books, and a relaxing way to end your evening.

*Cabernet Sauvignon- Originally this type of wine was derived from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet grapes.
*Well-balanced- Wines whose components - acid, alcohol, tannin and residual sugar - relate in a balanced way, so none overwhelm the others.

~Beth

Food On A Budget Part 2: Casseroles

Image from Nourished Kitchen

A couple of years ago my husband lost his job...just like a lot of other people out there when the stock market went crazy and our economy tanked. I still had my two businesses (in-home salon and daycare) but I knew we had to make changes to our budget. So the first thing I did was slash what we were buying for meals. I am very healthy when it comes to food...but I had to find a cheaper way! I have started a post periodically, sharing my ideas to cut the food budget, save some money, and still feed my family with some healthy and tasty meals. I would love to hear any food budget saving ideas that readers might have so please feel free to share!

This week's money-saving tip is how to make a basic casserole!
As you know casseroles are an inexpensive way to feed a family. So, what makes up a casserole or “hot dish” as we say in Minnesota?
The basic casserole or hot dish consists of a starch, meat, veggie and a soup mix.

• The starch includes things like rice, potatoes, or noodles.
• The meats are anything on sale because meat is a big portion of your food cost. Don’t forget about canned tuna, salmon or chicken they are still cheaper on the budget than swinging by a fast food joint!
• I find that I use a lot of frozen veggies that are on sale or root vegetables like onions and carrots. Or really anything I have stocked in the fridge that needs to be used up before the next shopping trip or are about to go bad.
• Now for the soup mix…I usually use something in a can that I can stock up when it’s on sale. Thick or cream based soups like cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, and tomato are great starters.

One of the easiest, cheapest, and tastiest casseroles I make is Shepherd's Pie. This casserole originally called "cottage pie" and became quite the hit in Ireland around 1791, (thanks wikipedia) when the potato was being introduced as an edible and afforadable crop for the poor. The term "cottage" was coined because most rural/low income workers lived in cottages during the time. In early cook books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, veggies, and always a mashed potato crust on top.

Shepherds Pie
Source
This easy shepherd's pie variation is made with green beans and tomato soup.

1 pound ground beef
1 chopped onion
1 can tomato soup
1 can green beans, drained (can substitued frozen) and/or any other leftover veggies
2-3 cups of left over mashed potatoes (or you could simply make the box kind)
9 slices of American cheese (or shredded cheddar cheese)

1. Brown ground beef and onion in frying pan.
2. Mix in tomoto soup and green beans.
3. Place all in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
4. Spread mashed potatoes on top.
5. Top with slices of American cheese (or shredded cheddar)
6. Bake at 350 degrees until center is warmed and cheese is melted.

~Luci

Sophistication Sundays - Sally Hansen "Blue-Away" Nail Polish

My sophistication muse, Audrey Hepburn

Photo Source

Sophistication Sundays will revolve around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else "pretty" that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I'm just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.

Today is OFFICIALLY the first day of Spring and I couldn't be more excited! Yes we have long, cold South Dakota winters but I think it makes us appreciate the other wonderful seasons even more. Aside from the improvement in weather, Spring also means other things that make me happy. To name a few examples: cute sandals, bright colors, trench coats, and a transition in handbags. Spring fashion = oh happy day. :)

Photo Source

To celebrate the commencement of Spring I only thought it was fitting to try out a bright new nail polish shade. If you haven't figured it out by now I adore nail polish. I went through a phase in 4th grade where I was obsessed with nail polish (particularly the glitter kind) that I think was nurtured by my dear Aunt Dee. At least I remember getting a little bottle of gold glitter nail polish from her anyway :) Then I went through a dry spell until Sophomore year of college. All of the sudden my nail polish phase was back in full force. So fast forward to a week ago when I was perusing through Target's makeup area and happened upon a beautiful baby blue bottle of nail polish.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish had a new display out for Spring and I was instantly drawn to "Blue-Away." I saw it and knew it must be mine! :) Note: This is not to be confused with Sally Hansen's "Blue Me Away" which is a bright turquoise shade.

Photo Credit: Glitters N Shimmers

The lovely lady blogger from Glitters N Shimmers took the fantastic photo above and debuted it on her blog here. It sounds like she is from a smaller town in Utah and plans to talk about how she uses fashion and makeup to express herself - sounds a little similar to my situation and like my kind of girl! ;) Welcome to the blogging community, Glitters N Shimmers!

As you can see from her nails and the bottle, it is a beautiful dreamy blue color. The pictures I tried to take of the color just wouldn't do it justice! (BIG sad face). Unfortunately all of my photos came out looking kind of turquoise. That being said, in some lights this color looks a little Tiffany blue on my fingers (which, who doesn't mind that?!!) but I definitely wanted the light blue shade to remind me of a perfect blue-sky Spring day. Final verdict? I am loving the pop of color this brings to my fingers and look forward to the shade catching my eye throughout the upcoming week :) And I can only imagine how much more I will like the shade when combined with a tan later this summer. That being said, the only downside to me is the brush. Perhaps I am spoiled with OPI brushes, who knows. The brush used for the insta-dri brand just seems to grab too much lacquer or not enough; I have to be abnormally careful about how I am painting each nail due to this feature.


Have you tried a new color of beauty product lately that you adore? One of the neon bright lip colors or a new (to you) shade of eyeshadow? I'd love to hear about your makeup trials or thoughts below!

~Christi