Wine Charming

Joanna Buchanan Coral Wine Charms

Between the monthly wine tastings I host at my clubhouse and entertaining at CCC which always includes wine, I have become a big fan of wine charms. They look beautiful on a wine glass and are highly functional so that everyone remembers which wine glass is theirs.

St. Tropez Scarf

Oversized Silk St. Tropez Scarf

 

My next wine tasting I will be hosting is the wines and cuisine of France - my favorite. I am making my smoked salmon mousse. I also decided on a fun centerpiece - a large wicker basket that will be filled with lots of French baguettes in lieu of flowers. Then they can be eaten with the meal.

Fourthing with Red, White & Blue Style

Navy and White Striped Wicker Wine Tote

 

Whether for the Fourth of July, beach, tailgating, picnics, boating, camping with panache and more, tote your wine and food with style. I have some great picks.

Smoked Salmon Bagel Dip

The BakerMama

 

For my Wines and Foods of the Pacific Northwest wine and food pairing on Friday night, I was interested in making something that combined salmon and cream cheese, two favorites in that region. I found this recipe from The BakerMama and it was a winner. This has a cream cheese and ricotta base topped with smoked salmon, lemon zest, capers, red onion, fresh dill and everything bagel seasoning.

Toting Wine

Hermés Park Bottle Basket

As I have mentioned in other posts, I host several monthly wine tastings. Some are at my home, some are at friends' homes, and some are held at my clubhouse. So I am always carrying bottles of wine. Here are my favorite ways to tote wine safely and in style. The Hermés one above is quite lovely, but sells for over $9,000.

Entertaining with Chinoiserie

Chinoiserie Champagne Bucket

With holiday entertaining around the corner, I have rounded some favorite picks for chilling wine and Champagne or any other beverage of choice.

The Wicker Wine Tote

Ralph Lauren Bailey Wicker Wine Tote

 

I am quite often going to someone's home and bringing a bottle of wine to have with the meal. A wine tote is perfect to transport the wine safely and even keep it chilled. And those paper wine gift bags can cost $3 or $4 each and they don't protect the bottle or keep it chilled in transit. This Ralph Lauren wine tote is so elegant and a lovely choice.

Heart Healthy for Valentine's Day

Muraglia Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Heart Bottle

 

With January being the month for New Year's resolutions like eating healthier, I just hosted a wine tasting featuring the wonderful Spanish Tempranillo wine - the only wine found in studies to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. And in February in honor of Valentine's Day, I am featuring the wines and very healthy foods of the Mediterranean.

Wicker Wine Tote High/Low & Florida Life

Ralph Lauren Wicker Wine Tote

I both belong to and chair several wine tasting groups here in Venice and have been looking for an insulated wine tote to safely transport my bottle of wine.

A Summer Recipe - Gazpacho

Gazpacho - Eat Smarter

Tomorrow night I am attending a Napa Valley Wine Dinner. Each of us is bringing a Cabarnet Sauvignon from Rutherford AVA in Napa - an appellation whose dusty terroir produces some of the world's greatest Cabarnet Sauvignons.

Chic Summer Wine Charms

Joanna Buchanan Coral Wine Charms

Whether I am entertaining at CCC or running one of my gourmet wine tasting and food pairing parties, I always use wine charms. They look great and are essential for people keeping track of their own wine glass.

The Wicker Beverage Tub High/Low

Amanda Lindroth

 

For summer entertaining, one of these wicker beverage tubs is ideal. They hold multiple bottles with great style. They can be used for wine, water, beer, soda, whatever you like.

Chic Wine Gifting

Frances Valentine Wine Bags

 

Wine is one of my great passions. I am very active in a couple of wine groups here and am taking over heading up a gourmet wine and food pairing group starting June 1st. I also love bringing a bottle of wine as a hostess gift and love chic wine bags - they make a gift of wine look so special and intentional.

The Chinoiserie Chiller - A Summer Necessity

Stylin Brunette

This is Stylin Brunette Kristel Powell with their new labradoodle Charlie. Such an adorable picture and you have to love the carrier for Charlie.

Do You Have a House Wine?

Vol du Flamant Rosé

 

I love the idea of a house wine for CCC. When I was growing up in Lake Forest, Illinois, my parents' house red and white wines were French wines - La Foret - pretty close. Having a house wine is a great idea. It's a well priced wine you always have on hand, perfect for a drink on the deck or lanai, for a casual meal, or for entertaining. 

Living Well Is The Best Revenge

Casa Chinoiserie Chic

I had a great day in the garden yesterday and my plans are starting to come together. Even though I am not an expert in gardening here, I do know landscape design, and I have found that most (not all) landscape design companies' work is a bit generic and plebeian. I can do far better myself for free. Also, I am a bit of a plant collector and like to incorporate unusual and heirloom plants. My plan is to keep what I have which includes beautiful palms, coral pink ixora, split leaf philodendron, hibiscus, ferns, and croton, and fill in the blank spots. Those of you who commented with suggestions - they were great and I am using many of your ideas.

Today I am making a favorite recipe. It will be my first serious effort in my new kitchen/house and I am not cutting any corners. This is a favorite of mine for company, and I hope the days of dinner parties and house guests will return for all of us soon. Especially since my new Mercer dining table seats 8 - LOL.

Seafood Lasagna via Coopcancook.com

Let me warn you that it's a lot of ingredients and over an hour to make, but it's beyond delicious. Do not eliminate the crab boil and Cajun seasoning - that makes it!

Ingredients:

For Lasagna
• 1 lb lasagna sheets
• 1 Tbsp. liquid crab boil
• 1.5 lbs medium shrimp
• 16 oz lump crabmeat (you can use imitation)
• 1 Tbsp. Creole or Cajun seasoning
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cups fresh spinach - I use 4 cups because I love spinach and it really reduces down
• 1/2 Tsp. salt
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded Fontina or Muenster cheese

For Sauce
• 5 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. crushed garlic
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups half and half
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1 Tsp. liquid crab boil
• Creole seasoning and cracked black pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp. fresh basil

Filling
• 8 oz Garlic & Herb cream cheese
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp. fresh basil chopped

Directions:

Lasagna:

Boil lasagna until al dente according to package instructions. Pour the liquid crab boil into the water as it boils. Drain and set aside
In a bowl, combine all seafood. Add Creole or Cajun seasoning evenly to the seafood. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil a pan over medium-high heat
Add in the spinach and a pinch of salt. Sauté until spinach has wilted.
Remove spinach from the pan and set aside
Sauce

Preheat oven to 375 F.
Add the butter into the same pan used for the spinach. When the butter melts, add in the garlic and saute for 30 secs
Stir in the flour and continue stirring for 1 minute
Pour in the chicken stock and half and half while stirring. Use a whisk to continue to mix the sauce while it heats and thickens.
Season the sauce to taste using creole seasoning and black pepper
Pour in the liquid crab boil
When the sauce has thickened, stir in Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat when the cheese melts.
Filling

Mix all filling ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
Assembly

Spray a lasagna pan with nonstick cooking spray, then ladle a thin layer of sauce at the bottom of the pan
Place a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce
Spread on 1/3 of the filling over the noodles
Then, add 1/3 of the seafood and spinach
Sprinkle on 1/3 of the Mozzarella & Fontina cheeses
Pour on 1/3 of the sauce
Repeat the above steps 2 more times until you have 3 layers.
Bake, on the center rack of the oven, uncovered for 35-45 mins. Then, broil on high for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is as brown.
Allow the lasagna to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle on some fresh basil, and Enjoy!
Recipe and photo from CoopCanCook.com

Now, a little of this and that to share.

For my tropical climate friends, I now get ceiling fans completely. They feel wonderful, and save energy. In Virginia I kept my AC at 72 degrees. With my ceiling fans here, I have the temp at 77 degrees, and it feels wonderful.

I am nuts about my Dyson V7 Motorhead cordless vac. It was a great purchase. Dog hair is a thing of the past. It is a pleasure to use.

I just ordered this wonderful wicker garbage bin. I love beautiful things including the functional like my darling pink vac. Free shipping, no tax. The straps are real leather BTW.

Wicker Garbage Bin

Enjoy your day - I am going to go put a lovely bottle of Pouilly Fuisse in to chill before I forget. Cheers!

The Wine Fridge

Decorpad

In my current house there is a wet bar under the double staircase with a wine fridge. I really like having all the whites, pinks, and sparkling wines pre-chilled and not taking up space in the refrigerator. There is no wine fridge in my new home but there is a perfect spot for one in an existing cabinet just to the right of the refrigerator.

Have any of you installed an under counter wine fridge in your kitchen in a cabinet? It seems like an easy job for my handyman. Take off the doors and cut out to measure. There is an outlet on that wall he just needs to drop. I can use the upper cabinets for wine glasses. Any tips on installation, brands, etc. would be great. Here is a photo of the spot I am talking about.

Just to the right of the refrigerator

And that ceiling fan is going away. It looks bizarre in the kitchen. I was going to Lowe's today to pick up that Harbor Breeze palm ceiling fan for my lanai. I should have gotten it before my post. After I posted on it, the post got a ton of hits and the fan sold out at every Lowe's and online. Hopefully they will restock. Lesson learned. Buy first, post second. LOL

And thanks for the great cocktail suggestions yesterday. They were fantastic. I am making a Total Wine run today and will get the needed ingredients. This will be fun!!!! Here is one I can't wait to try - the Pink Flamingo with rum, fresh lime juice, and pink grapefruit soda. And it's pink and green.

The Pink Flamingo

Chinoiserie Wine Tags

It drives me nuts when guests bring wine as hostess gifts to my cocktail parties with no name on it so I don't know whom to thank. These personalized Chinoiserie Boatman Geller wine tags solve the problem when I'm the guest and with great Chinoiserie style. Lots of ink colors and type styles allow personalization. Find them here.