The results are in .....

 Here are the top five whites and top five reds of 2014 from Tasteful Times.  You can't go wrong with any of these wines for dinner parties to holiday gifts. Give them a try. Cheers!

  


RED

1: 19 Crimes

2:  Lone Wolf by Grey Wolf

3:  Cosentino Cabernet

4:  Las Moras Black Label Malbec

5:  Michael Pozzan Cabernet

WHITE

1:  Concannon Chardonnay

2:  J. Pinot Gris

3:  Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc

4:  De Loach Chardonnay

5:  Orin Swift Mannequin

Bowtie Lasagna

This recipe gives you the comfort of lasagna without all the hassle. I am featuring three products we carry in the store that are fantastic. Rao's Tri-Colored Farfalle Pasta, Local Folks Tomato and Herb Marinara and Trader's Point Grass-fed Beef.

Bowtie Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Trader's Point Grass-fed ground beef
• 1 bag of Rao's Tri-Colored Farfalle (Bowtie) Pasta
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 jar of Local Folks Tomato and Herb Marinara
• 1 can/box (appox 24 ounces) of chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese (and more for topping)
• 1/2 cup Ricotta cheese

Directions:

1) Boil pasta until al dente.

2) In a large skillet brown and crumble ground beef until fully cooked, drain, and return to skillet.

3) Add in salt and Italian Seasoning and stir.

4) Add in marinara and tomatoes and stir.

5) Add in cheeses and stir until cheese has melted over low heat.

6) Add in pasta and gently stir.

7) Serve and top with more cheese if desired.

NOTE: This recipe is lighter on the cheese than most so please feel free to add more if you see fit. Also, I am a big fan of all Rao's sauces. Give them a try too!

5th Annual Alzheimer's Dinner

Our 5th Annual Alzheimer's Dinner was hosted on October 9th at Harry & Izzy's to support the Alzheimer's Association.  Tickets were $100, which included a 5 course meal and wine pairings accompanying each course. We had over 60 people attend this amazing event. Ten percent of all wine sales sold that night was donated to the Alzheimer's Association.

The Tasteful Times Crew

Among some of the items served were Seared Scallops with Citrus Butter and Risotto paired with Stag's Leap Karia Chardonnay - a deliciously elegant Chardonnay that was a perfect match with this dish.

Also served was Spinalis, an extremely rare cut of beef from the Ribeye cap, with a Truffle Duxelle sauce. It was paired with a Napa Valley Cabernet, Antica Townsend, that retails for $79.99 a bottle. A very special treat!

Finishing the meal was Chocolate Ganache, Gorgonzola and Pear that went great with Louis Martini Cabernet.  Layers of flavor from the dessert paired perfectly with this smooth Cabernet. 

We would like to say a BIG thank you to everyone that came out to support the Alzheimer's Association and Tasteful Times. We were able to raise over $3,500 for the Alzheimer's Association. We are already looking forward to next year's event!

Slow Cooker: Chipotle Chicken Chili

A chill is in the air, and with it comes "soup season" at my house to stay warm. If you are looking for a super simple Fall recipe...look no further.

This delicious chili has an unique smoky and sweet flavor that will impress you and your friends thanks to the "secret" ingredient: Stonewall Kitchen's Maple Chipotle Grille Sauce.  You can purchase this sauce at Tasteful Times. 

Slow Cooker: Chipotle Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

• 1-1 1/2 lbs of boneless chicken breasts
• 1 small sweet onion, diced
• 1 red or green pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeno, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cans/boxes of your favorite beans (I used the tri-bean blend of kidney, pinto, and black)
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 Tbps cumin
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 bottle of Stonewall Kitchen's Maple Chipotle Grille Sauce

Directions:

1) Add everything to a slow cooker except the chicken and stir until incorporated.

2) Place chicken breasts into slow cooker and make sure they are completely covered in sauce.

3) Cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 6-8 hours or until chicken is super tender and pulls apart easily.

4) Shred chicken with two forks while in the slow cooker or you can carefully remove it and shred in a separate bowl if you find that easier.

5) Enjoy!

TIP: If you like it spicy try adding some cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce. You could easily make this vegetarian too. Omit the chicken and stock completely and use water in place of stock and add in chopped carrots and any other of your favorite veggies in place of the chicken.