Tag

sparkling wine

Thirsty Thursday: Black Velvet

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This month’s Thirsty Thursday recipes are an homage to beer. Not just as a beverage in general, but also used as a mixer. Last time we talked about the Lemonade Shandy. This week, I thought we would get a little fancier with a Black Velvet.

 

Today kicks of the NCAA March Madness Tournament (which by the way my bracket has a tendency toward the Big 10 and Catholic Schools, oh well). While most people who I know will be glued to the television with pizza and a cold brew, I have a few friends that would much rather serve fancy hors d’oeuvre and cocktails for events such as this. Ok, ok, when I say some people I mean… me. I love sporting events, but sometimes it is also fun to class it up a bit.

 

So, to celebrate the first day of March Madness, I thought it might be fun to fancy things up a bit.

Nothing says fancy to me like a chilled bottle of bubbly. I am mixing it with a cold bottle of stout or Guiness. The mix of flavors seems strange, but the light and bubbly mix of sparkling wine with the heavy stout it an awesome combination. It is called a Black Velvet, and I guarantee you will love it!

 

Black Velvet (makes 2 cocktails)
1 bottle of Guinesss Stout chilled
1 Split of sparkling wine chilled

Divide the Guiness evenly between two glasses. Top the beer with the chilled sparkling wine. Enjoy immediately.

 

If you liked this cocktail you might also like some others with sparkling wine like this recipe for Champagne Punch.

Check out other ThirstyThursday recipes HERE!  And if you would like to read more about DIY, gardening, cooking, baking or all other things domestic, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write follow Home Everyday on Facebook here.

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Thirsty Thursday: Red Mimosas

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Earlier this week, I made a Red Berry Sauce that is so versatile, you can even use it for cocktails. This week’s Thirsty Thursday is doing just that. Using just two ingredients, these Red Mimosas are a perfect Valentine’s surprise for your honey.

 

You can also make these Red Mimosas with Sprite, Sierra Mist, or 7Up for a non-alchoholic version. Both versions are delicious, and oh so easy. These drinks would also be fun for the holidays or refreshing in the summertime when berries are plentiful.

Red Mimosas (makes 2)

4 tsp Red Berry Sauce (for recipe CLICK HERE)
8 oz chilled Sparkling Wine or chilled Lemon Lime Soda

 

In a champagne glass, spoon 2 tsp of berry sauce. Pour 4 oz sparkling wine or lemon lime soda over sauce and stir gently. Serve immediately.

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pssst To read about what Valentine’s Day was like for me as a kid CLICK HERE or check out my Valentine’s Day post for Chicago Parent HERE!

If you like this recipe, check out other ThirstyThursday recipes HERE!  And if you would like to read more about DIY, gardening, cooking, baking or all other things domestic, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write follow Home Everyday on Facebook here.

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Fancy Side Dish: Sparkling Wine Risotto

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Remember that part in Wayne’s World when Rob Lowe is explaining that Champagne is only from the Champagne region of France? That movie is funny and informative! Well, today recipe is called Sparkling Wine Risotto as I didn’t use real champagne but sparkling wine. I wouldn’t want to make Rob Lowe upset.

 

Thank you, Rob Lowe.

 

With the holidays fast approaching, it is time to start thinking menu. There are many recipes for champagne risotto. Two of my favorites are Rachael Ray’s recipe from her Big Orange Cook Book, and Giada DiLaurentis’s recipe with prosciutto. Both are fancy enough for a holiday dinner or fun for a weeknight dinner. Also, the fact that you have to stay nearby the stove is the perfect reason to pour a little bubbly for yourself relax a little.
In my version I add frozen peas at the end, but all risotto is made very similarly in order to get the creamy consistency. So here is my version of champagne sparkling wine risotto.
Sparkling Wine Risotto
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion diced
1 clove of garlic minced
1 cup white arborio rice
1 cup sparkling wine (save the rest for toasting at dinner)
32 oz low sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp fresh thyme
3/4 cup frozen peas
Salt and Pepper to taste
In a small sauce pan over medium low heat pour the chicken stock and leave it to simmer.
In a large deep skillet over medium heat add olive oil. When oil is hot add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soften about 3 minutes. Next, add garlic and arborio rice. Stir constantly until the rice starts to toast up a little bit. This should take about one minute.
Add sparkling wine to the mixture, stirring occasionally until evaporated.
Next, add one or two ladles of chicken stock, and stir the mixture occasionally until the stock has been absorbed. Then, add one or two more ladles of stock stirring occasionally. Keep doing this until you have used all the stock.
Turn off heat and stir in thyme, parmesan, peas, salt and pepper.
Serve immediately.
Keep reading this week and next for the Home Everyday Holiday MiniSeries for more ideas on holiday decor, holiday recipes, and last minute gift ideas.

For more about DIY, gardening, cooking, baking or all other things domestic, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Fancy Meets Practical: Party Favors

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Party Favors are something that I kind of have a love/hate relationship with.

The girly side of me loves all the ideas on Pinterest with beautiful gift bags filled with pretty little things.

But the practical side of me thinks that party favors are pretty pointless unless they are a.) food  or b.) something I need.

While I understand that a favor is something that says Thank You to your guests, I sometimes feel that isn’t the party, entertainment, appetizers, meal, and dessert kind of a Thank You too?

So, when planning a party, I try to have a little something for my guests to take with them, but I always do something food related or practical.

A few weeks ago, with the help of some friends, we threw a small baby shower. I had thought about doing Sprinkles Cupcakes because c’mon, who doesn’t like cupcakes, but then suddenly a wonderful idea came upon me: Champagne Favors!

In our wonderful world of technology, there are no more phone trees to get the news out of a baby’s arrival. With a few clicks or swipes on a smartphone, people can send notice of the baby’s safe arrival, that Mom is doing alright, and a picture of the new baby hours… or even minutes old.

With that, I thought it would be awesome if all of our friends could be toasting to the new baby at the same time. While we couldn’t all be together for the arrival of the baby, we could all be sharing a sip of something bubbly and sending good wishes to the new family.

I wrote a short poem, printed it out using PicMonkey, and then tied them with ribbon to splits of bubbly.

The favor cost less than even cupcakes, and seriously, what’s more practical than champagne?

PS I am over at ChicagoNow this week too!


LINKING UP TODAY AT SERENITY NOW FOR WEEKEND BLOG READING!