I have lots of healthy and plant-based selections for this month, but I couldn’t not mention tequila. After all, July 24 th  is National Tequila Day – a.k.a. my birthday! A tastier gluten-free option... I love sweet potatoes so I was more than happy to receive some Let’s Do Organic Sweet Potato Flour made from the vegetables from my friends at Edward & Sons. This flour is full of flavor and fiber. It also holds moisture better than a lot of other flours. I was excited to put this together with chocolate. My  Loaded Sweet Potato Brownies  were a big hit. Tip: sweet potato flour can burn at lower temperatures than other flours, so avoid it (or mix it) in recipes that cook at high temperatures.  Then there’s Casava… I didn’t know much about casava before the flour bag came along. It’s made from the cassava root so it is gluten and grain-free.  It’s also high in Vitamin C.  Casava flour can easily substitute 1:1 for regular flour. I haven’t h...

Thanksgiving was late this year so it’s feeling like a tighter holiday season. I’ve been inundated with samples to try and finally seeing the end of the (tasty) tunnel. Wine for your dining… Seven Falls Cellars in Paterson, Washington sent me a case of some of their most popular wines. I have to say I liked them all, especially since they have a price point around $20. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a quality cabernet sauvignon at a $22.99 price. It’s starts with the familiar black cherry and ends in smoke and spice. Seven Falls Cellars Merlot (2014) is more flavorful for my taste, when you add in the black raspberry and currant, and a finish with a hint of cocoa. The 2015 Rapids Red is filled with red fruit, with just a little spice on the back. I could actually take this wine warmed with some cinnamon or nutmeg, or a full set of mulling spices, to drink in front of the fire. Although I prefer my chardonnay unoaked, the Seven Cellars 2016 is the red lov...

It’s been awhile, I know. I’ve been battling health problems the last few years so a major spine surgery has put me (literally) on my back for months. I’m able to sneak in a little tasting now and then. I thought it was about time I took a little time to tell my readers all about some of the great stuff I’ve found. All you need is cheese… That’s all you will find in Just the Cheese Crackers . Not only are these snacks tasty, but they are perfect for many who had given up on crackers. They are gluten-free and low in carbs since it’s all cheese and no wheat. They are available in bars and mini bites, in a range of flavors. Just the Cheese sent me an assortment of flavors so I was able to try them with some friends. They were unanimously loved, with the Wisconsin Cheddar and Grilled Cheese as favorites. You can pick some up on Amazon for a nutritious snack for the whole family. A box of shots… Here’s a unique idea for a monthly gathering or to give as a gift. ...

Halloween isn’t the only thing fun this month. I got to try some new products, that included a kitchen creation. Black Box Spirits… I’ve had mixed feelings about Black Box wines. I thought a few were good, but when my local bar replaced their pinot grigio with Black Box, I switched to another blend. I can’t say anything bad about the Black Box whiskey, vodka, and tequila. They were all fantastic, and so easy to put out at a party. I especially had my doubts about the whiskey (whiskey in a box?), but it had nice vanilla notes and blended well in the cocktails we made. Speaking of Wine… Just the Wine   is for people like me who are sensitive to sulfites, a compound used in food to prevent browning (think about all those bright vegetables on the salad bar). spiritstraveler-20 Sulfites are most known for being in red wine, though they are there to a lesser extent in white wines. It’s sulfites that are responsible for “red wine headaches” in people who are...

I’m known for the fact that I like variety. I eat and drink different things every day, at every meal. There’s only two things you can always count on: I’ll have some form of yogurt each day, and I’ll always celebrate National Tequila Day. The reason for the latter goes beyond my obvious love of spirits. July 24 th also happens to be my birthday. My latest tequila… Given these two facts colliding on one day, I usually receive quite a bit of tequila just before today. This year, three arrived, and they are all quite special. Casamigos Tequila is the brand created by George Clooney and Rande Gerber. The two celebrities were not looking for a money-making scheme. Instead, they were looking for a great tequila to drink while the friends vacationed in Mexico. They say some people have the power to turn everything they touch into gold and these two are proof. Their little project was recently sold for nearly a billion dollars to spirits giant Diageo. According...

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. Defin...

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...