Spirits Traveler

I hope your holiday season is going as well as mine. I have been spending lots of time with family and friends. Get out the basket… We’ve all seen those standard fruit, cheese, and meat baskets passed around during the holidays and other occasions throughout the year. The cheese is simply “cheddar,” or something just as generic. I was happy to hear from Murray’s Cheese about their selections, which are anything but ordinary. They sent me  The MVP: Most Valuable Player . It includes: tasty Murray’s Gruyere, tangy Humboldt Fog, mild and delicious Grazier’s Edge, and hearty Point Reye’s Bay Blue cheeses, as well as an excellent Prosciutto San Daniele and a lean Creminelli Wild Boar Salami. The Pistachio Cranberry and Olive Oil Crackers were a perfect accompaniment, and the buttery Marcona Almonds are addicting.   One of the other things I love about Murray’s Cheese is that they let you  build your own basket  from all these interesting ingredients. Definitely give them a t

It’s that time a year when entertaining includes indulging in not only food, but wine. Check out these finds for your holiday table.                                                                                                                   Apple Pie in a Glass… Who says apple pie is just for dessert? Not Oliver Winery . They’ve released an Apple Pie wine this year which doesn’t take like fruit wine or cider, it takes like apple pie! They fresh press tart apples and mix it with all your pie seasoning favorites, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, so it’s not a super sweet wine and is refreshing before, during, and after holiday dinners. My kind of Pinot… Some mean Noir, but with me it’s usually Grigio. I found two to love this month and they’re both within everyone’s budget. Mommy’s Time Out Pinto Grigio is a delicious treat. It’s fruity and light, and under $15. Have a few bottles around for the holiday as your go-to white. In the same price range is Astor

Fall Finds at Captain Morgan… Captain Morgan has two specialty rums for the fall you can’t miss and they both come in collector bottles. The Cannon Blast is sweeter than the Captain Morgan Rum you are used to, with hints of maple and vanilla. It doesn’t need a lot of mixing. Just add in some soda – even plain seltzer – or juice to Cannon Blast . The company recommends cranberry juice for a Crannon Blast and I agree. Jack-O-Blast is the perfect pumpkin accompaniment to your fall bar. I’m ready to continue it through the winter, leaving egg nog behind and sprinkling a little cinnamon and nutmeg on the chilled cordial. (It’s also going to keep me warm at night in coffee or hot chocolate.) A New Perspective from Locations Wine… Winemaker Dave Phinney decided to prove that one winemaker could bring out three different wine regions by working a little different than most wineries. He decided to represent the actual location of the wine, rather than a specific grape or wine

I had lots of food and drinks to taste over the last month and it was time for a party. Delicious Meals with Popkoff’s… The email I received grabbed my attention with throwing a “Pierogi Party.” I love pierogis so I definitely wanted to try it out, but as soon as the freezer box came, I knew I had so much more. Popkoff’s makes a selection of Eastern European frozen items, all quick and easy to make. While the basic premise is a pierogi-style dumpling, they are so much more. I invited some friends over, melted some butter, made a marinara sauce, and had a lot of fun! No one went home hungry either. The Pelmeni are a cross between ravioli and tortellini. The ones I received were stuffed with chicken and beef. The beef were very tasty and filled with meat. The chicken weren’t quite as flavorful. Vareniki are almost identical to pierogis and Popkoff’s are delicious. The Potato Onion are my new favorite pierogis and the Farmer Cheese was excellent, sort of a swe

It’s hard to argue with me about what the best day of the year is. July 24 th is not only my birthday, it’s National Tequila Day! This year I received some appropriate presents in the mail and, of course, I had to give them a spin on this special day. Three bottles showed up on my door from Herradura Tequila , Reposado, Anejo, and Silver. In case you don’t know, these tequilas are classified by how long they were aged in wood casks. The Silver is not aged, the Reposado was aged 11 months and the Anejo was aged for two years. Aging tequila, as it does with wine, whiskey and other spirits, changes both the color and taste as it picks up a bit of the characteristics of the wood. In the case of Herradura, I preferred the Reposado. It didn’t have an overpowering oaky flavor, but did pick up the characteristics of vanilla and a bit of sweetness. The Herradura Silver was my next favorite – tequila in its purest form – while the Anejo was a bit more for whiskey lovers, who

I've received samples of lots of stuff for summer. Here are some I really liked and I'd like to pass along. Sam Adams Beers of Summer… I gathered some beer lovers to test out the Sam Adams Beers of Summer variety pack and they weren’t disappointed. The variety includes six very different brews, with something guaranteed to satisfy everyone in your group so it’s the perfect addition to your summer barbecues, picnics, and other events. Sam Adams Boston Lager This light beer is a bit sweeter than bitter, making it a light drinking summer choice. Sam Adams Summer Ale You’ll find lots of citrus, from lemon to orange, in this summer ale, which also has a bit of spice. Even better than last year’s version. Sam Adams Whitewater IPA Lots of wheat and hops in this complex beer, which combines fruit and spice. Might be a bit much to have more than one on a hot summer day. Sam Adams Got to Gose                                                                

Bathing suit season has started and we're all trying to eat a little lighter and healthier. Fortunately, I've had some deliveries to help me with that goal and I'd like to pass along my favorites.  The Ideal Breakfast… I gave up on frozen breakfast many years ago. I tend to eat a lot of vegetarian so omelets are a big part of my diet, but it’s one thing I would not attempt to make extra and freeze. Given these facts, I was quite leery when approached to try CedarLane Natural Foods Egg White Omelettes , but they won me over. I don’t know how they did it, but those omelets are as delicious as if they came straight from my pan – with 20 grams of protein and 300 calories or less. I was also surprised to find the Green Chile, Cheese & Ranchero was my favorite. It was not at all spicy, but full of flavor and real cheese, the Spinach and Mushroom and Garden Vegetable & Mozzarella were also fantastic. The Turkey Bacon is good choice for meat eaters. He

It’s the season for graduations, weddings, and summer parties. As much as I love a good cocktail, they are work. If you are hosting an event, here are some things you might want to pick up. All they’ll require is a little ice – if you want—and are filled with fruit. SUMMER RUMS… Cruzan Blueberry Lemonade Rum The possibilities on this flavorful rum are endless, but you can keep it simple with a little ice tea, lemonade, or water if you don’t want to work too hard. You’ll love this latest favor from Cruzan, Blueberry Lemonade Rum . Plantation Pineapple Rum Make a quick pina colada, or just enjoy it is as. Plantation Pineapple Rum is as juicy as the ripe fruit. MATHILDE LIQUEURS… It’s difficult to find liqueurs that are full of fruit and not just sugar. That’s why I love the collection from Mathilde . I sampled Peach, Framboise (Raspberry), and Pear.  I don’t think I could pick a favorite – they were all great. Best of all, none of them are heavy so yo

The variety of items for this months is quite wide! I think there’s something for everyone, so keep reading. Gluten Free… I had the opportunity to review a box full of gluten free food. I turned to my friend, Stacy, who can’t eat gluten, but before I turned everything over to her, I kept some Garden Lites Blueberry Muffins to myself.  I’m glad I did because they are delicious! They are made with zucchini, but you’d never know about this nutritious ingredient. I'm anxious to try some of their other flavors .  As for the other items, here’s Stacy’s full report on her favorite items: Garden Lites Blueberry Muffins -You can keep them in the freezer, individually wrapped, so you can take it to work and zap it for 30 seconds in the microwave. It is warm and moist. It has a pretty good consistency since it is vegetable based, like zucchini bread. The Garden Lites Veggie Blueberry Muffins are not dry and "crumbly" like so many gluten free items. I enjoyed the