Thursday Happy Hour: Cocktail Recipes, Drinks, Music, and Good Times

Bonterra Chardonnay 2007

Betty Homemaker Strikes Again

Inspired after trying to pronounce the ingredients on my store-bought loaf of 100% whole-wheat "bread," I transformed into my alter-ego, Betty Homemaker, and set out to make the perfect loaf of homemade bread. 

So far, I've made more than six delicious loaves, and flour dusts nearly every crevice of my kitchen. I'm exhausted. It's much easier to buy a loaf of bread than bake your own. Thankfully, I had the perfect wine to go with healthy, home-baked (yet far-from-perfect) No-Knead Bread: A glass of buttery Chardonnay, of course.

Conquista Torrontés 2008 and Guacamole

Wine and Survival

If it weren't for the warmth of friends and neighbors—and friendly invitations to share a bottle of wine—I'd probably give in to my propensity to sleep the winter away. So when my next-door neighbors called with an impromptu offer for dinner at their place, I seized the opportunity.

Social connections are the key to survival in the Minnesota tundra. A glass of crisp Torrontés and some fresh, yummy guacamole doesn't hurt, either.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Let the Noshing Begin!

With the seemingly endless stream of holiday parties this time of year comes the equally endless array of chips, dips, crackers, and cheese spreads. (And, of course, the subsequent vow to hit the gym come January 1st.) But nevermind that for now—let's enjoy the snacking while we can.

And while we're at it, how about a fruity glass of Sauvignon Blanc with a homemade cheese spread?

Mulled Red Wine

Baking and Simmering

The weather outside is frightful. Dreadful, really. Right now it's about 4 degrees, and despite the beautiful blanket of snow on the ground, I'm especially grateful to be indoors. And baking. The two week countdown to Christmas is on, so it's time to pull out the cookie recipes of Christmases past and get to work measuring, mixing, and rolling.

First, though, I'll need to do a bit of simmering--mulled wine, that is.

Giving Thanks for Wine

Gobble Gobble

Turkey? Check. Cranberries? Check. Wine? Are you kidding?? Check. It wouldn't be a true Thanksgiving feast at my house without the bottles of wine flowing.

Undoubtedly, if your guests are anything like mine, they'll fall into one of two camps: red wine drinkers and white wine drinkers. Sure, more savvy wine connoisseurs will prefer the style of wine that pairs best with the meal--but I'd presume that the majority just drink what they like. A fantastic rule to go by, I say.

Better stock up on some bottles of red and white.

Beer Bread

A Match Made In Heaven

Give me a crusty, yeasty, warm, fresh slice of homemade bread, with a slab of butter on the side, and I’ve just about died and gone to heaven.

But alas, I’m not a bread baker. All that kneading and rising and baking and sweating ... sounds like a lot of work. That’s why the idea of beer bread was so appealing to me. My two loves married in under an hour ...