SQUEE*hic*EEEE!!!

This evening I am hosting a wine party, featuring Spanish wines.

You’ll notice I did not call it a wine tasting party.

Anyway, there will be wine, women and song. And by “song”, I mean the music channel will be on. Trust me when I say, no one wants to hear me sing when I am tipsy. Ok, maybe they do so they can record the fiasco and post it on YouTube™. It wouldn’t be the first time. And because I am hostess, I get to use my wonderful gift, courtesy of my sister, Reno Queen:

My newest addition to my Lolita™ collection!!

And the best news? I will not be in need of a designated driver 😉

Have a great Saturday!!

Because Five Fests Are Not Enough

Yes, my friends! It’s FEST TIME AGAIN!!

First we had the Wein & Sangerfest, then the Gruene Music and Wine Fest, then it was Oktoberfest, and now comes WURSTFEST!!!

You’ll notice this fest is technically number four. Well, there are two more planned at the end of the year, including the Weihnachtsmarkt. And I haven’t included the fests that are celebrated on the north side of the area. Hopefully they will have some souvenir glassware available. I would hate to be a *cough* bad example to the kids.

They should just call it “Liverfest”. It would save them a ton of money on advertising 😉

Scent of a Woman

I confess, I love perfume. I do. Aside from the historical viewpoint, I love the romance of it. I love the bottles, and the labels, and the names, and the stories attached to their journey from nature to bottle. I own quite a few bottles, too. Perfume doesn’t have to be expensive to be nice and appreciated. I remember waaaaaaaaaaaaay back in high school, a friend gave me a tiny bottle of Babe™ eau de toilette for Christmas, and I loved it. And who can forget Love’s Baby Soft™?? I still have some of that. Not that it’s appreciated around here:

Hubby: What are you wearing??

Me: Uh, pajamas…

Hubby: No, I mean what perfume??

Me: Oh! “Love’s Baby Soft”, why? Don’t you like it?

Hubby: Any chance you can shower again, and throw away the bottle?

Me: Hater…

Not all perfumes are divine scents, though. My mom gifted me a bottle of some high-priced designer stuff that reeked like a dead skunk that had baked in the sun for days. It was so bad, I threw it out, and I never throw out perfume. That’s just wrong. But that was just awful. And I don’t care what people say about “personal chemistry”. You wear what smells nice to you. My sister prefers floral scents, and I prefer orientals and woodsy scents. Basically, that means she never borrows any of mine, and vice versa. Not that she would. My signature scent is Shalimar™, and that just reminds her of our grandmother.

Remember: the gift of scent is a personal one, so make sure YOU can live with it, as well. It is no secret what Hubby likes, from the myriad Shalimar™ and Samsara™ bottles I own 😉

In Vino Logica

Today I am finally going to a local winery for a tasting tour. I have been wanting to go for about…. Hm…. I want to say six months or so. Why? Because apparently I can only buy a certain wine at that particular winery and I need it like burning.

Let me attempt to explain the logic here. I like sangria. My father’s cousin used to make the best sangria ever, but she passed away before I was old enough to ask for the recipe. Don’t judge me. Anyway, I have tried sangria everywhere it was offered, hoping to find one that was close enough to her recipe, usually to no avail. Once while in Berlin we saw an offering at a biergarten. That alone should have tipped us off, but we went ahead and tried it. It looked like someone had *ahem* upchucked their fruit salad, and tasted just as vile. After that, I tried the bottled sangrias, but usually they are not sweet enough, and the citric acid tends to conflict with the alcohol somewhat.

Bunch of liars…

Fast forward to May 2012. The ladies of our local wine club make plans to go to the Wein and Sangerfest just north of here, and ZOMG!!! I find the best cheap sangria recipe EVAH!!

Texas Style Sangria

• 1 6oz can of frozen orange juice concentrate, plus one can of water
• 1 6oz can of frozen limeade concentrate, plus one can of water
• 1 liter of grapefruit soda
• 1 bottle Dry Comal Creek Foot Pressed Red Wine™

Blend limeade and orange juice concentrates with water. Add the wine, stirring well, then add the grapefruit soda, and stir well again. Freeze until slushy, or serve over ice if you are impatient, like me. Garnish with orange slices, or pass on the fruit if your impatient, like me. Those of you that are sharp-eyed will recognize where I originally posted this recipe.

Anyway, see that last item?? THAT wine is ONLY sold at the winery. Why?? Why can’t they offer it locally in all other stores that carry their brand?? It is a nice table wine, and a less expensive alternative to their Black White Spanish, which is also awesome, by the way. My point is, if you want people to buy your wine and entice them with an awesome cheap recipe, you should make said wine available to the masses. But no…. Now I have to make the sacrifice of an afternoon, and go to a tasting room just so that I can purchase a bottle or five of wine.

It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make 😉

Lush-ious

There was a good reason as to why I didn’t write a post yesterday. A very good reason.

This was my first trip to attend, and it was awesome! The Gruene Music and Wine Fest is considered a stepping stone for performers, and attracts people from all over the USA. Several well-known country music stars got the start at the Fest, including Garth Brooks. Gruene Hall is still a popular venue as well as a tourist attraction. But I wasn’t there for the music, as good as it sounded coming from the Hall. Nope, I had missed out on Clint Black, so I set my eyes on the prize.

WHOOP!! Your very own tasting glass. For a fee of $20 (which in retrospect, is pretty steep) you get a cheap tasting glass and five tickets for five tastings. Now, there were dozens of wineries featured. DOZENS!!!! Five tickets were just not going to cut it, right? Luckily for the gals, Hubby had volunteered to be our designated driver in exchange for videotaping our drunken conversations, and he divvied up his tickets between the rest of us. And by a strange quirk of fate, we got extra tickets, so we didn’t have to buy any more! I ♥ Fate. Anyway, we managed to sample some wines from several small wineries, finding some to be hidden gems in the rough, so to speak. Others….not so much. I do have to give a shout out to the best winery name we saw: Three Dudes Winery. I ask you: how can you go wrong with that?? And yes, their wine was very good. All in all, a great time was had by all, and I’m sure I will be making a return trip next year.

Next up on the fest roster: WURSTFEST!!

Because you can’t go wrong with German food and beer 😉

Food Blogging: Day Three, I Think

I told Laura that for “NATIONAL IRRITATE A FOOD PIC HATER FOOD PIC POSTING WEEK”, known as NIAFPHFPPW, for short, I would have the BEST Sunday breakfast evah!!!

I bet you it will cure a hangover, too.

And this phoned in post concludes my food contributions for NIAFPHFPPW. I can tell you I got some awesome recipes from the bloggers to try in the next few weeks…. Ok, maybe the next few months. If you haven’t been to Bad Bad Juju yet, go….NOW!!

Have a great Friday!! 😀

Food Blogging: Day One

Technically, I suppose it’s Day Two, but yesterday was a rambling post with the addition of the food blogging, so I shall declare today as Day One and go from there. In case some of you missed it, I am participating in Yabu‘s “NATIONAL IRRITATE A FOOD PIC HATER FOOD PIC POSTING WEEK”, henceforth known as NIAFPHFPPW, for short. Click on his name and you’ll see the multitudinous postings of delish entries.

Today I shall feature what is probably my most requested dessert. Not only is it popular, but very, and I mean VERY, easy to make. It is also a good alternative to using raw eggs.

Chocolate Mousse

• 1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
• ½ large jar Nutella Spread.
• 1 tbsp. Grand Marnier (optional)

In a medium bowl, whip the cream on a high setting until stiff peaks form. Add the Nutella and the liqueur if desired, and whip again until thoroughly mixed. Using a spatula, make sure to smooth out, and then spoon into custard cups. Makes about six servings.

Enjoy!! 🙂

*UPDATE*

I erroneously typed “small” instead of “large” for the Nutella jar. Correction done!!

Ooooh, Pretty AND Smashing

Today is one of those days. I have yet to finish any one single chore, and still have to take Little One to her Prep Day at her school. So what did I do with my lunchtime? I scoured the internet for some wicked mixology.

Hey, the washer and dryer only go so fast, ok??

Behold the Witches Brew!!!

Pretty, isn’t it? And perfect for Halloween. But we all know we do NOT need an excuse for pretty cocktails.

• 1 oz. Bacardi Dragonberry Rum
• 1 oz.  Blue Curaçao
• 1 oz. Crème de Banana
• Juice of one Lime
• Black Sugar

Pour ingredients except sugar in shaker with ice, shaking well. Pour into a martini glass rimmed with the black sugar. I don’t care for flavored rum, but may try it with just Crystal or Añejo. I’ve partaken of dragonberry before. Let’s just say, I was not impressed.

Anyway, time to go fold clothes and finish telling Little One she looks better than fine for her school pictures. If any of you are brave enough to try this, let me know. I can’t imagine what the combination of blue and black will do for the tongue! 😀

Doing Nothing

Yep, that’s all I’m doing today.

Don’t worry. I shall regale you with my visit to the local tourist trap later.

But for now, the wine is calling 😉

Temptations, and Why Chocolate Always Wins

Apart from the Voodoo List™ and the Things To Do Before I Die List™, I should also have the Things With Which I Should Not Be Trusted List™.

You didn’t really expect me to end that last one in a preposition, did you??

Anyway, as I was cleaning up the kitchen area, I noticed that the King Sized Kit Kat® Bar From Hades was still on the windowsill, where Hubby left it. I got that for him weeks ago. And it’s still there. Looking at me. Tempting me with its delicious, wafery goodness covered in tantalizing chocolate. I hear the siren song and feel the need to partake. But it’s Hubby’s bar.

And then it hit me. What if this is a test of willpower???

Aside patience, willpower is my forte. I have plenty of it. I can beat this. Oh yes, I can. And I will.

Right after I go to the grocery store and get my own. You didn’t think I would eat his chocolate bar, did you? I have scruples 😉