Test Kitchen - Lasagna

While Susanne has been snowed in she has been perfecting her lasagna recipe!  We have cooked 9 Lasagnas in 3 days.  Susanne feels confident that this batch is much better than the last.  She is hoping to start a little side business selling lasagnas.  If you are interested in buying one of these yummy looking Lasagnas they are $12.00.

How do we know if it is perfected if she will not let me taste it?!

Oh - I got her to let me taste! They are delicious!!! They would be great if you wanted to drop one of for someone who just had a baby or if you just don't feel like cooking one night!

Yes - I look a little rough - but I have been stuck inside for almost a week!

A sample of wine we have tried during the snow week!

I wanted to tell you about some of the wine I have been sampling over the last few days!
I think I have a new favorite wine is a Merlot - which I did not realize I like Merlot!
 
I found the review online
 Supple in texture, with ripe plum, herb, currant, game and cherry notes, holding its flavor and focus. An elegant, graceful Merlot at an attractive price. 37,000 cases made.


We purchased this bottle at Kroger on sale for $9.00! The regular price is $16.99.  I usually do not purchase anything over $10, so I highly recommend going out and trying this while its on sale!



Read more: http://www.snooth.com/wine/dynamite-vineyards-merlot-north-coast-2003/?t=reviews#ixzz1AvaNqDf3

My next wine has become somewhat of a staple wine - Cupcake Pinot Noir.  Cupcake is a great wine and you can usually find it for around $8-9 a bottle.

Here is more information on the Cupcake wines - the experts can tell you more than I can!

Richardson explained that his Cupcake line has been designed to please the palates of the next generation of wine drinkers. “The current generation of wine consumers tend to find what they like and stick with it. The newer generation is always looking for something new, bigger, better – that’s what this line-up offers.” The wines are hand-crafted to be rich and decadent with a smooth, creamy palate, designed to create a moment of luxury and pure pleasure…making each sip like indulging in a gourmet cupcake.

Richardson literally traveled the world to find the ideal terroir for the grapes of each varietal. He no doubt in involved in the entire wine-making process, and now he’s on the road to personally introduce his wines to market.

- I have taken this wine to several parties gatherings and it has been enjoyed by all! I guess we are part of the "next generation of wine drinkers" so go buy a bottle and let me know what you think!

The 3rd wine of the week was called Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine comes from Chili - I thought it was good - but I am no expert! The reviews say it is best with bold cheeses, red pasta sauces, ribs, steaks, and chocolate!

Stewart purchased this wine - so I am unsure of the total... but it looks like it retails for about  $12.00 a bottle normally... but i am sure it was on sale at Kroger!

Another blogger had to say this about Root:1

Initial strong cherry pie aroma, which mellows into a slightly jammy black cherry. There's a touch of tobacco and hay, with big, firm tannins. There's a tart finish that is very long lasting

http://wine-by-benito.blogspot.com/

This guy has lots of good reviews on wine - and he pairs it with good looking food!

Hopefully we will not be iced in much longer -  Day 4 is getting a little long!!!

Jacksonville Discovery!

So my first blog post, and i am going to tell you about something I ate in Jacksonville.... Makes a lot of sense right?!

Last weekend James and I were in Jacksonville for his grandmothers 90th Birthday!  We met John, Anne and Margaret for lunch.  James and I decided to head to The Brick a little early and get an appetizer while we waited for baby Margaret to wake up from her nap!  We tried the hummus platter - it had a scoop of hummus, a scoop of white bean dip, and a scoop of Muhammara.  I had never tried Muhammara, it is a popular spread from the Middle East.   James and I decided we wanted to try and make it when we got back to Atlanta, but then the snow hit... SO here is the recipe I plan to try when the city is not covered in a thick sheet of ice and I can drive to the store!

Muhammara

yield: Makes about 1 3/4 cups

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

ingredients

• a 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained
• 2/3 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted lightly and chopped fine
• 2 to 4 garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses*
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• toasted pita triangles as an accompaniment

• *available at Middle Eastern markets
• In a food processor blend together the peppers, the bread crumbs, the walnuts, the garlic, the lemon juice, the pomegranate molasses, the cumin, the red pepper flakes, and salt to taste until the mixture is smooth and with the motor running add the oil gradually. Transfer the muhammara to a bowl and serve it at room temperature with the pita triangles.
  
  
  Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Muhammara-10982#ixzz1AkHsrcjJ

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Muhammara-10982#ixzz1AkHfZkEG


Has anyone else ever tried this?