Hump Day: A Treat From Santa Barbara

Last week, our friend Erika brought over a fantastic wine for a dinner party at our house.  A 2006 "Les Amours" Syrah from VIE Vineyards in Santa Barbara.  VIE Vineyards focuses on Rhone and Zinfandel varieties from California grapes, so it's no wonder I fell head over heels with this wine. This wine was delicious right out of the bottle.  With notes of plum, blackberry and spice, it was very juicy and...

Hump Day: The Origin of the Soft Kitty

Back in 2005, our dear friend, the esteemed Dr. David Stephenson, worked with his old roommate Perry to develop this week's Hump Day drink: a shot, called  Soft Kitty. Equal parts Jager, Bailey's, and Captain (actually, a little less Captain)  the Soft Kitty is shaken with ice and strained into shot glasses.  It is taken like a shot and has a signature hand motion to go with it that must be done every time a...

Belated Hump Day: New Glarus Back 40

We finally made it back to The Hub's homeland - Waunakee, Wisconsin, the only Waunakee in the world! After a slight delay in O'Hare (to which the pilot said, "Sorry about the delay - it's a Chicago thing") we landed in Madison at 10am yesterday morning.  I think I've already gained 15 pounds.  Between all of my mother-in-law's delicious cookies and my father-in-law's amazing meals, I'm already having trouble...

Hump Day: My Kinda Zin

As I mentioned on Monday, we had an awesome wine with our dinner at Maverick last Friday.  As soon as I tasted it I said aloud, "Now this is my kinda Zin!"  The 2007 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Zinfandel is full bodied, tasting of dark fruits, spice and a hint of vanilla.  It's super smooth and oaky with a beautiful finish.  I have been told before that "my kinda Zins" can often be...

Hump Day: Festive Holiday Cocktails

Happy Hump Day everyone!  It's official, the holidays are in full swing.  Tomorrow I'll be attending my first of many holiday parties this season and to get in the spirit, I thought I'd share some pretty delicious looking and festive cocktails that I found.  I can't wait to try these out .  What's your favorite holiday cocktail? Peppermint Patty You'll Need: - 1 oz. Smirnoff Vodka - 1 oz. Peppermint...

Sick on Hump Day: Hot Toddy, Fact or Fiction?

It seems like everyone is sick right now.  I think it's a combination of the weather changing and the stress of the year.  I started feeling something coming on Thanksgiving night and have been guzzling Zinc and Vitamin C ever since.  I've managed to keep illness at bay, but I can feel it lying in wait ready to strike at any minute! That got me thinking about being sick on Hump Day.  Which got me thinking of...

Hump Day: What To Drink With Your Turkey

Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  The only bad thing about that is that my favorite holiday will soon be over.  I can't wait to stuff my face with deep fried turkey, delicious stuffing, mashed potatoes, and my mini pumpkin cheesecakes.  So what should we be drinking with this feast?  I did some research that I'd like to share with you on this Hump Day. This Cooking Light article suggests...

Hump Day: K&L Wine Club Chardonnay

Sometimes I drink white wine.  Really!  It's true.  I know it doesn't seem like it since I am yet to feature a white wine in any of my Hump Day posts, but I do enjoy the occasional white.  Most of my whites come from the K&L Best Buy Wine Club, which is a fantastic deal.  For $19.95/month (plus shipping and tax) you get a mid-range bottle of red and a bottle of white plus a newsletter containing a brief...

Hump Day: Hot, Spiked (or not) Apple Cider

Sunday was a chilly, rainy day in San Francisco.  It was a perfect opportunity to stay in my jammies, curl up on the couch and watch bad Lifetime movies anxiously await the Packer night game!  As the night drew near, I remembered a purchase I made at Whole Foods earlier in the week that would make the perfect beverage to serve at game time...R.W. Knudsen Organic Mulling Spices! While you can certainly make...

Hump Day: Blast from the Past!

Like most young, college students, my love of wine started slowly.  I began with your traditional Arbor Mist flavors like Strawberry White Zinfandel and quickly moved onto Riesling.  Yes everyone, I was a wine wimp who really only liked the sweet varieties.  Due to its typically dry characteristics, I was very reluctant to try red wine.  It took me moving to California to really experience red wine to its...