Joie de Vivre Archives * Strong Coffee to Red Wine

Frequently Asked – Sulfites, Grocery Wine…

Frequently Asked – Sulfites, Grocery Wine…

Published May 7, 2019

Before we get to the “Frequently Asked” I wanted to share that my favorite wine book Wine Folly Magnum Edition, just won a James Beard Award in the “Best Beverage Book” category. It would make a great Mother’s Day gift for your wine curious mom. You Ask, and I Answer Frequently Asked Question: What are Sulfites in wine? Answer: Sulfur dioxide (or Sulfites) is a natural compound and is actually a by-product of fermentation. Thus all wine has sulfites to some degree. That said, sulfites are added to many conventionally produced wines and acts as a preservative. Wine labeled…

Avocado and A Reader Compliment

Published March 26, 2019

Spring is in full swing and life has gotten busy as ever. There is so much to blog about that my brain is swimming with stories, events, wine, and food. I have been I am working on a few posts that have soaked up several hours, and they are not close to ready. But it has been a while since you have heard from me, so I wanted to get something out today. So today, I have an avocado hack, a nice compliment from a reader. Oh, and I started doing private wine tasting parties. Details to follow on that…

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Stop Buying Salad Dressings

Published February 28, 2019

A Primer on Making Vinaigrettes I know, it’s about convenience. That’s why we buy pre-bottled salad dressing. Well that, and for some, creating something that tastes better than what you get in a bottle is a real challenge. I have both. I keep a champagne vinaigrette on hand for convenience. But I also make them all the time. At any given time I may have several jars of remnant vinaigrettes in the fridge. If you never make your salad dressing, I hope that I can change that for you with this post. But before I get too far, I am…

When Coffee Tastes Nasty

Published February 8, 2019

A couple of weeks ago, when I came downstairs for my morning coffee, there was a note that Gary left for me. All it said was, “The coffee tastes nasty!” It was a good thing that I was standing right by the sink because it immediately came back out of my mouth. So I ran to my computer and searched, “why does coffee taste bitter.” It was clear that everyone knew something to which I never really paid much attention, cleaning my drip coffee maker. Conventional wisdom said to use equal parts water and distilled vinegar, fill the reservoir and…

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Raclette * Fish & Chips * Italy

Published February 4, 2019

Wow, looking at the title of this post it definitely has a European vibe. Raclette from France/Switzerland, Fish & Chips from the UK, an Italian wine from a California winemaker, and finally dreams of living in Italy. I am not going to dilly dally, let’s get right to it. What one minute, did I say Raclette? Well, I sure did, so let’s start there with an incredible dinner. Goat.Sheep.Cow.North hosts Special Raclette Dinners Before my decision to give much less attention to Facebook, I saw a post from my friends at goat.sheep.cow.north about a Sunday afternoon Raclette Dinner. Now if you are unfamiliar with…

Life Lately with Favorite Things

Published January 17, 2019

January is always a mix of end of the year to-dos and new year ponderings. As such, my life lately has been a hotbed of busy. We have already done our taxes; thanks to the best tax guy in town, if not the world, Steven @ The Clem Collaborative. I have cleaned the studio and will do it again this weekend as it takes several passes to get it right. At some point in the next two weeks, I have got to tackle the piles of papers that I keep acquiring. No matter how hard I try to not make…

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Looking Back at 2018

Looking Back at 2018

Published January 8, 2019

Well, the family Christmas tree at my sister’s house came down yesterday which officially marks the end of the holidays for me. Holy cow, our celebrations were so much fun. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and many fantastic friends that put a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Looking back over the past year has reminded me of the highlights of a great year. Looking Back: 2018 Highlights Somm School at Edmund’s Oast Exchange Last Spring I went to Somm School at Edmund’s Oast Exchange. This entry level class was the perfect way…

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Appetizer Platters – Dress Them Up !

Published December 12, 2018

Appetizer Platter, Cheese Board, Antipasto, Cheese & Charcuterie Platter… there are many names, but they all mean the same thing. Meats and cheeses mingled with pickled veggies, fresh fruits and veggies, dried fruits, nuts, sauces, condiments and just about anything your heart desires. At this time of year, these appetizer platters are made for holiday parties all around the world. I love making these platters, but I also know it is easy to get it in a rut putting out the same items time after time. So on Sunday, my neighbor Natalie along with her kids and her parents came…

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Gifts for the Kitchen King or Queen

Published November 26, 2018

Great Gifts for Your Kitchen Royalty OK, I get it. It’s Cyber Monday already so why am I clogging your email inbox this late? Well, its because it is never too late to share with you these fantastic gift ideas for the chef in your home. On Wednesday, I sent you Great Gifts for the Lover of Wine. Today is Great Gifts for the Home Chef. Below you will find great reads, serving items, skillets, dutch ovens, and prep tools. So let’s get shopping. Extra Large Rustic Olive Wood Serving Board – 20 x 10 Inch XL sells for $59.00 (smaller sizes available) Make your cheese…

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Gifts for the Lover of Wine

Published November 21, 2018

The holiday buying season takes off in earnest this weekend, so I came up with some gifts that are perfect for the wine enthusiast and home chef. There is something at every price point, so let’s not dilly dally, let’s get shopping. Great Gifts for the Wine Enthusiast Nambe Curvo Wine Rack – $119.00 Resting on its Nambé Alloy base, the Curvo Wine Rack’s acacia wood form curves rhythmically to create spaces for four wine bottles. A beautiful and functional piece of art, it can be displayed from the side or the front for two distinct effects. The Curvo Wine Rack…

Category: Joie de Vivre