Cheap & Cheerful

A feature in which I share a good deal I happen upon...be it wine, food, or just something fun...If you have something Cheap & Cheerful you'd like to share, leave a link or suggestion in the Comments section at the end of this post!  Enjoy!

It's been a wee while since I've posted a Cheap & Cheerful, hasn't it?  It's kind of an organization thing (or lack thereof), rather than that I haven't stumbled upon any good deals.  Because I have!  Here's one:

 

Cocobon 2010 Red.  Purchased at Trader Joe's, for a humble $6.99.  And it's darn tasty.  I'm not going to go all notes and essences on you, because, well, I'm not that sophisticated a wine drinker.  It's simply one of those mellow, easy drinking reds that go well with food and friends.  A little fruity, without being sweet.  Nice depth, without being heavy.  What can I say?  It's cheap & cheerful, without tasting cheap.

TJ's wine notes said of Cocobon:  "will draw nice praise from an average wine drinker."  I guess that's me.  No shame in that, right?

Let's have a glass, in the name of good health.  And if one is good...two is, quite likely, even better.  After all, Mr. Twain did advise:

"Moderation in all things, including moderation."

A wise man, that one.

Cheers!

A Toast

Here's to Getting Things Done!  To Working Hard for Weeks on End, and To Finally Being Able to Sit Down, with a Nice Glass of Spiced Wine.  That's the Stuff.

The Weekend went a little something like this:

The Boy in a fundraising run...

...Joyfully...

Check out that sweet move his buddy's doing!

And back to the cabin for some snow...

Guess who took a snowball hit here?

While the Mister and I raced to (finally) finish painting and millwork...

Who works in conditions like these?  Crazy!

And by the end of the weekend, we were more than a little tired, but oh-so-proud (relieved) to have finished.  Freaking FINALLY.  

It's time for a toast.  Invite your favorite neighbors over, get out a cheap and cheerful bottle (or two) of red wine, some spices...because what's life without a little spice?...and put your feet up.

Mama Nécole's Spiced Wine - makes one 750 ml bottle (easily doubles...or more!)

Ingredients

1 bottle red wine, whatever you prefer (Chuck is perfectly swell, or you can be a little swankier)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

4 cardamom pods

1 cinnamon stick

2 or 3 cloves

1 tsp whole black peppercorns

1 Tbs allspice berries

3 or 4 strips orange peel, as much white pith removed as possible

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, and set over medium low heat.  As soon as the mixture becomes hot (just a few minutes, five or so), turn the heat to low, and let steep for 15 minutes.  DO NOT let it boil, you'll lose that lovely alcohol, and then what would be the point?

Pour the spiced wine through a small sieve, as you serve each glass, then throw the spices (if you're frugal like me) back in the saucepan with the remaining wine, to continue infusing with their flavor.  You can keep the wine over low heat, as you're serving it, so long as it doesn't boil.

This recipe doubles easily, just double all the ingredient amounts, although one cinnamon stick is plenty for two bottles of wine.  Perfectly spiced, perfectly celebratory, and perfectly deserved.

Cheers, Me Dears!  Job well done!

Guess who was enjoying her spiced wine so much, she forgot to get a photo of it?

That's right.  I imagine that you know what wine looks like, though.

Have a lovely day!

Cheap & Cheerful

A feature where I share a good deal I happen upon...be it wine, food, or just something fun...If you have something Cheap & Cheerful you'd like to share, leave a link or suggestion in the Comments section at the end of this post!  Enjoy!

Since we're nearly into Autumn, but September's behaving itself like the August we always hoped for...we'd better make the most of things!  Grab a picnic table, a few friends, and a bottle of Casal Garcia.  A rosé vinho verde this time...ever-so-subtly effervescent...crisp, clean, and pink...what more could you ask for on a hot day?

This is the wine we consumed copious quantities of, back in our Portugal days, although I did not hear of a pink vinho verde, until a few years ago.  There is something extra festive about a rosé, isn't there?  Particularly a rosé that is under $10.  

Oh, happy day!  Enjoy your week.  And your wine.

It Doesn't Have to be Profound

Racking my brain...wracking my brain?  Either way.  I think I've been engaging in a little of both. The gist is this:  trying to come up with a good enough recipe to post is sometimes tricky.  Or rather, I tend to make it tricky.  Testing, tasting, measuring, sharing tastes for confirmation...general prep work that, let's be honest, I don't necessarily always enjoy.  Nor have time for.  (Wow, my mom's grammar-alert just flew off the charts there.  Sorry, Mom.)

Anyway.  

I have a couple of planned recipes up my sleeves, but have a little tweaking, testing, tasting, etc, before they're ready to share.  And I do so hate to leave people hanging.  And more importantly, I hate feeling like I'm being incredibly slack by missing several days of posting.

And so, here I sit, all blessedly by myself, while the Mister is off at the skate park with the kiddos, trying out their new sweet helmets, a la Nana.  (Note to self...inquire into applying for sainthood for the Mister...)  While enjoying a wee glass of rosé, waiting for the gang to return for dinner, some beautiful cherries from our neighbors (Thanks Chris and Ashley!) caught my eye.  I opened a cherry, pulled out the pit, and tossed it into the wine.

And voila!  A mini-revelation struck.  It doesn't have to be profound to be blog-worthy.  (And most likely, even when deemed blog-worthy, really isn't profound anyway.  I mean, seriously, I'm pretty sure I'm not up for any awards these days.)

So, yeah.  That brought me back to a good place.  My sort of place.  That I may indeed sometimes lose sight of.  The place that says:  "Chill out.  Simple is best.  Isn't that what you're always shouting from the rooftops anyway?"  Who do I really need to impress? 

Have a glass of nicely chilled rosé, garnished with a perfectly ripe, perfectly sweet cherry.  Freshly picked if I know my lovely neighbors.  Drink in the sweetness, and ponder the Sweetness that is Life.

Life is, after all, a bowlful of cherries.

At least, that's what I've heard.

And I must, to put it simply, agree.

Cheap & Cheerful

A feature wherein I share a good deal I happen upon...be it wine, food, or just something fun...If you have something Cheap & Cheerful you'd like to share, leave a link or suggestion in the Comments section at the end of this post!  Enjoy!




Well aware that I run the risk of beating a dead horse here, with all the going on (and on) about days gone by, in Portugal...I'm going to chance it.  After all, some damn fine stuff comes out of that country.  Specifically, or for today's purpose at least:  Wine.

More specifically, Vinho Verde.  And most specifically, Twin Vines Vinho Verde, from JM Fonseca.


(Side bar:  I hate to be that guy.  But I have to throw this out there.  I have a little pet peeve about mispronunciation.  Let's blame my mother, for all her grammar corrections throughout my growing up.  Anyway, this is Portuguese...not Spanish.  Say it this way:  Veen-yoo Vaird.  Not, please, Veen-oh Vair-day.  I know, I am so sorry.  Looks like I am that guy.)


Anyway, I happened upon the Twin Vines, at Fred Meyer recently.  Those of you who know me, know that I am a sucker, and I mean sucker, for a vinho verde, so of course I had to try it.  Did I mention that it was on sale for a mere $6.99?  Oh, yeah, baby.  Love a steal.


Vinho Verde translates, literally, to green wine.  It doesn't refer to grape color, but rather the youth of the grapes.  A very subtle effervescence is the result of using these young grapes.  Not nearly as bubbly as a sparkling wine, just a wee bit of lift, really.  Light, fun, and perfect for summer socializing.  

Or lunch with the Mister on a weekend.

Go out, try some.  It's not quite as cheap as we used to get it in the Algarve...I believe 400 escudos was the going rate on a vinho verde back then (yup, pre-Euro), about $2 a bottle.  Justifiably dangerous temptation, for certain, when it's that cheap and cheerful.  Don't worry though, the under $10 Twin Vines won't corrupt your morals, or your bank account.  


PS - I'll have a recipe for that bread in the photo for you all soon.  Yum.


PSS - Mom, I do have excellent grammar, thanks to you.


Saude!