You Can Take the Girl Outta Indiana, But Not the Hoosier Outta the Girl

One of the MANY things @ScottNations and I mock @EnjoyJourney for is her voracious coupon clipping.

Save $1.00 off five Lean Cuisines? Score!

When we spend the weekend at the Messner/Caruso estate, Karen always dives for the “circular” section of the Chicago Tribune so that no one can ruffle the pristine pages of of her coupon friends, Smart Source and Sunday Saver. You’ll likely lose a limb if you get anywhere near them before she does!!

A Secret…Until Now.

But, my mocking is more than somewhat hypocritical.  Not only do I still “clip coupons”, as grandma would say, but for years I went online Dominick’s For You (may they rest in peace) once a week to load up deals on my Dominick’s Card.

I bought the Executive Costco membership because it provides lots of great benefits like money back and also, gleefully, coupons at check-out without the clipping.  Heaven!

Enjoying Executive membership since 2005.

And I regularly cruise the websites like http://www.coupons.com and http://www.shopathome.com, always hunting for the big game…save $2.00 or more.

Thrill of the Chase?

Why do I do it?  Do I really need to save $.25 on Progresso Panko Crispy Bread Crumbs?  I’ll leave the “shrinking” to Dr. Karen Caruso (maybe she can figure out her own self, too.  Ha!).

Scott argues that the time I spend isn’t worth the money saved, but I say why not save $.25 on an item I already have on the grocery list.  It’s 25 cents we can put toward that Caribbean vacation we’re taking in February (that can’t get here soon enough!).

Hey, if you find a coupon for Hendrick’s gin, please let me know.  🙂

Starting 2014. With Chardonnay.

New Year’s Day 2014 in sweet home Chicago.  It hasn’t quit snowing all day.  It’s cold and forecasted to get colder.  There’s nothing new on TV.  The holidays are behind us, including the elaborate meals packed with gazillions of calories and a few too many nights out on the town.

It’s not like we can use the outdoor kitchen!

So, what should we do while waiting for Sunday and the premiere of “Downton Abbey”, season four?  A simple dinner and a casual wine seem to be required at the end of what has been a lovely and relaxing day.

Would Lady Mary sack Mrs. Patmore for making a shrimp pasta?

I’m making a small salad, shrimp pasta with pesto made of basil from my own herb garden, and garlic bread.  I’m steaming the shrimp in Edna Valley Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay.

We stocked up on the Edna Valley Chardonnay in preparation for our holiday visitors.  Scott sashayed over to the neighborhood Binny’s and asked for a less-than-$20 bottle, and we got this solid Chardonnay for $15.

Here’s what their website says about the 2011 Chardonnay:  Our Edna Valley Vineyard 2011 Chardonnay displays an attractive bouquet of quince, pear, ripe apple, apricot and light pineapple, with underlying brown spice notes of cinnamon and clove. A fresh mouthfeel, hints of vanilla and a bright acidity combine to form a long, pleasing finish in this medium-bodied wine.

A great way to start the new year.

Or, in my words, a value “yum”!

Enjoy the Journey Wine Rating: More, Please

Today’s Selection: Love in the Afternoon…on Christmas Eve

The weeks before the holidays had kept me very busy with the usual holiday craze.  At the same time, I had embarked upon a cleanse diet in order to prepare for the inevitable indulging that would be forthcoming.

Miss Wendi and Scott were to be joining us for Christmas Even dinner. As I prepared for their arrival, I arranged myself a light lunch that would create the mood of the day. Without any planning, I created a perfect pairing.

Xmas Eve Lunch – Le Delice de Bourgogne

The pairing consisted up Trader Joe’s Le Delice de Bourgogne and Ancien Pinot Gris 2012 from the Sangiacomo Vineyard in Carneros. The cheese was selected because it looked delightful when I picked it up at my local TJoes. Le Delice de Bourgogne is a triple cream cow’s milk cheese from the Burgundy region of France. It is light in color, mildly stinky and possesses a texture than can only be described as seductive.

Ancien Pinot Gris 2012 Carneros Sangiacomo Vineyard

I was introduced to Ancien wines about 5 years ago from Vintner’s Collective in Napa. As a wine club member, I frequently receive wines from Ancien and have grown to love their small production Pinot Noir. This bottle of Pinot Gris arrived and went into the chiller. I selected it in an effort to try something new for the holiday.

The wine is bright on the palate with a lingering finish. I tasted crisp pear, Meyer lemon and some warm spices. The wine has a moderate level of acidity and a fair amount of structure so it paired well with the fattiness and mild earthiness of the cheese.  The cheese, the wine and a chewy baguette truly made for a memorable lunch.

The wine is not widely distributed but can be purchased online from Ancien Wines or Vintner’s Collective. I would encourage you to give it a try when you are planning your next wine and cheese event!

Enjoy the Journey Wine Rating: More, Please

A Bacchanal of Prosecco

Enjoy the Journey’s 2013 “Patio Wine” winner!

It’s become a tradition…a “patio wine” tasting in the Western suburbs with @EnjoyJourney, @DougMessner, @ScottNations and, yours truly, @WendionWine.

Yesterday, our merry band of wine lovers savored Prosecco as our patio wine pick for the 2013 season.

What’s Prosecco?

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine made from Glera grapes. It’s produced  in the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, and traditionally mainly in the areas near Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills north of Treviso.

Although it’s considered by aficionados to be a worthy alternative to the better known and more expensive French champagnes and California sparkling wines, Prosecco is still not widely considered by the mass market purchaser.  In fact, the good folks at Binny’s always look puzzled and slightly amused when we ask for a Prosecco by name.

The good, the really good, and the really not good

Rustica Nino Franco.  This Prosecco is a solid hot weather choice.  I don’t think it would pair well with dinner, but it’s a wonderful pairing with a fruit salad or cheese and fruit appetizers.  It’s not as sweet as some other Proseccos, but it IS light and refreshing.  At approximately $17, this one is a crowd pleaser. – First Base

Bisol Crede Valdobbiadene.  The BEST.  Straw colored, light, refreshing, not too sweet, with a slightly creamy finish.  Has a little bit of citrus intensity which makes it more complex and interesting than the Rustica Nino Franco.  Two bottles were not enough!  About $24 at Binny’s. – More, Please

Santa Margherita Valdobbiadene.  I wanted to like this Prosecco.  It gets good online reviews on amazon.com and wine.com.  But none of us were feeling the love.  It has slightly more taste and fizz than Perrier.  That’s really all I can say in review except that in a group that ALWAYS finishes the bottle, this one went down the sink. About $20. – Take A Pass