Recent Posts

Chorizo Challenge and Updated Paella Recipe

May 21, 2013September 1, 2016 charcuterie, chorizo, Mains, paella, rice

The entire reason I started dry curing sausage with a Spanish Chorizo recipe was simple. I love paella. I plan on making and eating lots of paella. And while I have a brand of Spanigh Chorizo I like, I wanted to make this dish even more my own, and use... Read More

Grenache/Garnacha Spain Tasting Wine

2010 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Veraton

May 20, 2013September 9, 2016

With Spanish chorizo on my mind, I was in the mood for a Spanish wine. Tonight's garnacha (aka grenache) hit the spot. Lovely purple color, medium bodied with red licorice, vanilla, plum/cherry fruit, cloves and baking spices. This is a very tasty wine that could probably use time to... Read More

✷ How To

Dry Cured Spanish Chorizo

May 18, 2013July 26, 2016 charcuterie, pork, sausage

I really started this post two weeks ago. That's when I did the actual "sausage making" for the chorizo that was finally tasted tonight. After the confidence I gained by making pancetta, I figured it was time to get to dry-cured sausages, and since Spanish Chorizo was one of my... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Red Blends/Other Tasting USA Wine Zinfandel

2009 Bogle Vineyards Phantom

May 18, 2013September 9, 2016

Wine Review: 2009 Bogle Vineyards Phantom Sometimes, a wine so thoroughly surprises me, that I can't help but laugh at myself. I was introduced to Bogle Phantom at a friend's house. I was skeptical at first, zinfandel, petite sirah and mouvedre, blended and labelled with a whimsical name, it seemed... Read More

How To Mains

Homemade Stromboli

May 18, 2013September 1, 2016 Italian, Mains, pizza

My dear hubby and I had a pizza night this week which left me with extra pizza dough (see the recipe here) as well as sauce, meat and cheese. What to do with those leftovers? Make stromboli! Stromboli is so easy to make, you'll wonder why you don't make it all... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Tasting USA Wine

2009 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

May 13, 2013September 9, 2016

Wine Review: 2009 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Walk into any wine store and you'll find a glut of California Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends. From less than $10 to hundreds of dollars a bottle, there is a lot of Cabernet being made in sunny California. The quality is... Read More

✷ Pasta Recipe

Orecchiette with Pancetta, Pine Nuts and Broccolini

May 8, 2013September 1, 2016 Italian, Mains, pasta

I've been dying to use my homemade pancetta, so I figured what could be better than a simple pasta dish using pancetta as a main ingredient? Boozy Epicure's Orecchiette with Pancetta, Pine Nuts and Broccolini This recipe has origins in hundreds you can find in cookbooks or online. Orecchiette... Read More

Italy Sangiovese Tasting Wine

2007 Il Piaggione Chianti Classico Riserva

May 7, 2013September 9, 2016

I am ashamed to say that when I first started getting into wines, I looked down on Chianti. Like Merlot, Sangiovese was a grape that I didn't think was worth my time if I wanted to be a "serious" wine drinker. While Merlot still hasn't quite caught on with me... Read More

How To

Homemade Pancetta – Dry Cured Success

May 4, 2013February 13, 2017 charcuterie

Once I got comfortable with making fresh sausages at home, I wanted to up my charcuterie game. My first thought was to go right for dry cured sausages, but I figured it would be better to start simple. I wanted something that would be ready in weeks, not months, that wasn't... Read More

Mains Recipe

Swordfish with Buttery Mashed Potatoes and Baby Carrots

April 29, 2013September 1, 2016 fish, Mains

It's getting warmer in Orlando, summer is almost here, and it's time for white wine and lighter proteins. Yet Sunday supper still has to have a bit of richness, it is the weekend after all, so tonight we opened a nice bottle of white Burgundy and enjoyed pan seared swordfish... Read More