My Backyard Chicken Dreams- Roasted with Lemon and Thyme

As much as we love living at the lake, there is one thing missing from the perfect country life. Chickens. I have always wanted chickens. Not a huge mega factory farm barn full. Beautiful, colorful chickens, that roam freely around the yard, eating whatever chickens eat, loving the sunshine and fresh air, and if I am really lucky, rewarding me with a few eggs.

photo by Tracy Carlson

Darn rules! We have rules here, and the meanest one is No Chickens. Talk about crushing a girl's dreams! Instead I have to live vicariously through my friends' chickens, buy eggs from a local farmer- whose chickens roam around freely just like mine would do if I had any- and oooh and awww over pictures of beautiful chickens on Facebook. It's been a tough thing to accept, especially since even in the city people are allowed to keep chickens and the one thing I REALLY really wanted in the country wash a happy flock of lovely chickens. Surely a couple happy hens wouldn't be a bother the neighbors, right? I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want a rooster hanging around waking me up everyday. Visiting the county fairs last summer I got to see some of the show chickens, and they are absolutely beautiful birds. It would make my heart happy for have a few girls milling about the yard, pecking around on the deck, rooting through the potted plants, chomping on the marigolds, chatting up a storm with us. 

photo by Kristi Worthington

Years ago I lived in England. Everyone had chickens. Seriously- everyone. Every yard in the town I lived in was fenced and in the backyard people had long dog run type enclosures for their chickens with the cutest chicken houses. They looked like great big dollhouses- fancy Victorians, castles, mansions- just for the chickens. The hens roamed all over the yard during the day and were tucked safely into their enclosures for the overnights. Why? Apparently the British family appreciated having fresh eggs every day. Unlike here in the U.S., there we did not keep dozens of eggs on hand in the fridge. Eggs are purchased in packs of 6 and kept at room temperature in a bowl of water. They don't spoil, so the British housewife knows something we don't here in Iowa. But I just really wanted some beautiful chickens with that adorable chicken house.

Suzanne Ledford's chickens
provide plenty of eggs

In spite of all this chicken love and longing, I do enjoy eating chicken. Roast chicken, in particular, and I have found that roasting pieces is much quicker than waiting on a whole bird, and just as delicious, and possibly juicier too. I have found that the trick to perfectly moist roast chicken is to choose pieces instead of the whole bird, place them in a baking dish, dot with butter and add a little wine, fruit juice or chicken stock to the pan- cover loosely with foil for part of the roasting time, and don't be stingy with the herbs. Thyme is a natural with chicken, but sage and rosemary also are delicious.

This chicken is roasted with loads of chunks of fresh lemon- and believe me, the lemon flavor you get is amazing. The lemon chunks break down during roasting and baste the chicken with delicious juice, enhanced by the thyme, and leaves you with plenty of pan drippings for a fabulous gravy or jus for drizzling. Serve with roasted potatoes, carrots and lots of crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.

Roasted Lemon Chicken

about 2 lbs chicken pieces
2 lemons, cut in chunks
several sprigs fresh thyme
garlic cloves (whole)
3/4 cup Sauvignon Blanc
drizzle with olive oil

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the chicken pieces in a roasting pan or casserole dish. Season with salt and pepper.

Note- I also used a little Feiny's Citrus Barbeque Rub.

Scrub the lemons well and cut into quarters lengthwise; thence crosswise into chunks. Sprinkle the lemon chunks over the chicken pieces in the roasting pan. Strip the leaves off the thyme sprigs and sprinkle over the chicken pieces.

Peel and lightly smash about 10 or 15 cloves garlic. Sprinkle them over the chicken. Pour the wine in the roasting pan. Drizzle with a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Cover loosely with foil and roast for about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue roasting the chicken for about 45 minutes, until nicely browned.

Remove chicken pieces to serving plate. Strain juices in the pan; serve with the chicken. If you like more of a gravy rather than jus, pour the drippings into a saucepan, add a cup or two of chicken broth and thicken with roux or a cornstarch slurry.

A night out on the (small) town

How do two former city dwellers find a way to have the perfect date night in a rural Iowa town? It's not easy! We have very limited options- a movie theater, a bowling alley, a handful of restaurants and a couple bars. Not the most romantic of possibilities, but with the right person and a good imagination you can have an awesome night out!

Sometimes we have to drive to a nearby town for something different. We don't mind at all. The countryside is very lovely out here in West Central Iowa and the small towns in the distance, with their water towers dotting the landscape, add to the charm. On this Friday afternoon we decided to visit the town of Adel, in Dallas County. Adel has several really good places to eat, we just had to choose which one we wanted.

They have a pretty popular Mexican restaurant, but we passed on that. We have a really good Mexican place near the lake that we eat at often enough. China Village? The Chef was not really "feeling" Chinese tonight. So I suggested The Italian Villages. I could have a nice quiet Italian dinner (usually a safe bet) and a glass of wine. Sounds perfect to me, so that's where we went!

Walking in the restaurant my first impression was "a typical small town family owned" restaurant. Murals of Italian street scenes, canals, sidewalk cafes, line the wall on one side. Neat rows of tables with plastic tablecloths fill the dining room. They do a substantial pizza and takeout business and near the front door is a big pizza oven and the cashier, making it easy for people to pop in and pickup an order to go.

Jacqui was our server and she was a hoot! She took lots of time answering our questions, not just about the food and wine, but about the restaurant, their history, the town, pretty much anything we threw at her. She had great stories about the restaurant over the years and recommended some of her favorites.

The specials were baked cavatelli and steak and shrimp- we both went with the cavatelli. I did get my glass of wine with dinner. No wine list in this little place, but that's ok. I asked for red and got a nice glass of a fairly sweet red wine, which was fine. It was a little bit on the bubbly side, reminded me of Stella Rosa, a very mild wine I used to recommend to "new" wine drinkers.

Nothing fancy....... just really nice

When in Rome, do as the Romans, right? So in Iowa, do as the Iowans- always order the onion rings, and we sure did. The onion rings were great- thinly sliced and perfectly battered and fried. The chef was very friendly and came out to chit chat with us, and he shared his trick to such great o rings- a very very fine cracker meal, packaged shrimp tempura batter mix and seasonings like garlic and parsley. You could see parsley flakes in the breading and they were light and crispy. 

There is a salad bar in the dining room, nothing spectacular, just a giant chilled bowl of salad greens, a few toppings and dressings and a couple pasta salads. It was clean, fresh and well stocked but just the basics, not that it's a bad thing at all. There also was a large heated tureen with the soup of the day. 

It wasn't long before the cavatelli arrived, and it was delicious. The sauce reminded my of The Chef's pasta sauce, with chunky tomatoes and mushrooms. Iowa's famous Graziano's sausage and loads of pasta filled the dish, which was covered in melted mozzarella. It was so so so good. I didn't even eat half of it!

We finally headed home, full and looking forward to lounging on the couch for a bit. Would we go back the The Italian Villages for dinner? Heck yes! It was a thoroughly enjoyable, peaceful meal, at good prices, generous portions and great staff. Next time I want to try the pizza!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Girl Time- Girls Night Out

Many of us have one of those friends- you know the one, they are family, but not technically, but you find a way to make them family, like their niece is married to my son so that makes us- sisters!! For me that friend is Jessica. Over the years we have enjoyed so many good times together. Concerts, road trips, wine tastings, baking days with a stack of CDs of 70s music, epic marathons of making apple butter, dinner in, dinner out, everything a couple of sisters would do. Like it has a way of happening, life sometimes got in the way. Kids, jobs, busy lives and before you know it you don't spend as much time as you once did. We decided to make time for sister time. Do all the things we used to enjoy so much and make it a point to make time to slow down, catch up and enjoy life. 

We picked a popular local restaurant for our inaugural Sister Date. Since we are both wine enthusiasts we wanted a place where we could get a really good steak, and a really good glass of wine. She suggested John and Nick's, a very nice locally owned restaurant in Clive. That's about the midway point for me driving in and her driving west so it worked out great. I had never been here before and was impressed by the dark woods and cozy atmosphere. Candles on the table warmed the feel of the room and we were seated under a picture of the Eiffel Tower- my dream vacation destination. I liked it already!

The wine list was really pretty good. Now, if you're used to Michelin star restaurants with a sommelier and wine attendants on staff you will not be impressed, but if you are looking for good variety and some really good house wine, the wine list is for you. Jessica chose the house Cabernet. It was big and bold and filled the glass with amazing jammy fruity aromas. It was the perfect wine for a cut of beef like prime rib and was one of the better Cabernets I have had in years. We did ask for the name of the wine, but.......I forgot !!!! Anyway, I chose a Riesling. Yes I knew I'd be having steak for dinner but I don't believe in those stuffy old "rules," I believe in drink what you like when you like however you like. So Riesling it is, and I chose the Kung Fu Girl 2013. I might be a little bit biased because Riesling is my favorite wine, but this one was the best ever. Light and fruity, the perfect blend of tart and sweet, I loved it so much I found a store that sells it and bought more for home!

Like all the old family-owned restaurants here, and maybe everywhere, John and Nick's has the old standby- the salad bar. Normally I stay away from salad bars but theirs was very fresh and inviting. Lots and lots of fresh choices, vegetables, salads, and of course the odd fruity fluffy things I've never quite figured out. But besides the fresh salad and great selection of dressings, I added cubes of cheese and some beautiful olives to my plate. Of course, fresh bread arrived at the table. Some of these old traditions I just really enjoy, and the warm loaf of bread is one of them.

Choosing our entrees was not as easy as I thought it would be. They have a great selection of steaks and prime rib. I chose a New York Strip with crab stuffed shrimp and Jessica went with the prime rib. She ordered hers in a way I had never heard of before- seasoned and seared. It was delicious! Apparently, they slice off your prime rib, season it with their house seasoning, I'm guessing salt, pepper and garlic, and sear it on the grill. Now my Chef says he hates it when people order it that way, but I thought it was absolutely fantastic. My steak was perfectly cooked medium rare and was juicy and expertly seasoned. The crab stuffed shrimp were very good, although I thought they could have used a little bit more of the stuffing. And Jessica's prime rib was perfect as well- I was leery of it being overcooked once it's seared but apparently these chefs make this often- it was the perfect doneness.

No girls night, in or out, is ever complete without dessert. I deferred to Jessica to make the choice- we were both so full (Seriously, us girls are meat eaters. We don't "do" doggie bags.) that we decided to share dessert and she chose the chocolate lava cake. It was as lush and delicious as it was beautiful and we devoured it in no time, of course with a second glass of wine. Dessert and wine just go together.

We have a full lineup of Sister Dates to look forward to- days, nights, even a slumber party! We have wines to drink, movies to watch, dinner to cook, pies to bake, Downton Abbey to watch (from the beginning- I have never seen it) and so much more. Brandy, sherry, port. Beautiful teas and froofy coffees. Our favorite wine movies. Laughs, tears, memories and the kind of love only sisters share.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

City Girl's Wine Journal- Cutler Creek

Good grief it is HARD to write about a wine when you can find virtually nothing about the vineyard or vintner. This is the problem I am having right now. The Chef brought home a couple bottles of Pinot Grigio for me to try and I have searched, searched and searched for any information about Cutler Creek Vineyards, and ............... nothing. So I have no interesting back story to share at all. No long family history or unique location, just my experience in the glass.

As a Pinot Grigio goes, this Cutler Creek wine was enjoyable. This one goes in the class of wines I like to call "girlfriend wines." If you are a wine drinker at all, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Barefoot, Flip Flop, Lulu, any wine with a cute label of stick figure girls- obviously marketed to women-  tend to be light, sweeter and simple flavors. Don't get me wrong, I like these wines as well, and often will grab one for sipping, they just aren't very complex. Cutler Creek Pinot Grigio is almost a perfect clone of Barefoot. It's sweet with a hint of tart. It's fresh and makes a good wine for sipping as well as splashing into a light and fresh pasta sauce, marinade or a sprightly vinaigrette. It has an alcohol percentage of 12.5% which is a nice little kick for a low price wine and makes it a great choice for a white sangria if you want to tame the alcohol a bit. 

The Chef and I were tasting and trying to pick out the notes. We both found something very different in the wine. He got a lot of green apple and fruity notes like pear and peach, but I found it to be slightly citrusy, with grass and herb notes, and some minerality underneath. Almost a flinty flavor. It made me wonder about where the grapes were grown, which launched my search to learn more.....that led me nowhere.

Would I buy this wine again? Sure- it makes a nice "stock your fridge" wine, a nice end-of-the-day sipper, would be great in wine cocktails. In fact, I may just grab a few just to play with- wine cocktail party anyone?

City Girl's Wine Journal- Stella Rosa Black

Wine drinking is very trendy these days. Not the stuffy and pretentious cork-sniffing boastful wine drinking of a generation ago. The old rules for wine- white with fish, red with pasta- are thrown out the window and people are exploring different tastes. In am a huge advocate of "drink what you like, when you like, how you like." You can have chianti with sea bass if that's what you love. Go ahead and drink Sauvignon Blanc with a steak- why not? Like all your wine cold and not cool room temp? Go for it! 

Several years ago I offered my services to clients as a personal wine tasting guide. They gathered a few friends for an evening and I would come over with a selection of wines and guide them through 5 or 6 different wines, talking about tasting notes, legs, food pairings, and winemaking. It was fun but I noticed a pattern- while most of the men favored the big bold super Tuscans, women tended to clutch the Moscato bottle and be afraid of reds. I'd recommend wines from all over- California, Europe and Iowa. In Iowa, the wine industry is flourishing with over 100 wineries in the state and many farmers growing acres or grapes as a permanent crop, and trend with locally grown grapes is.......sweet. 

Dry wines are just as delicious and and usually more complex compared to any sweet wine, and learning to appreciate them is an important part of growing as a wine drinker. As the ladies became bolder and wanted to step away from the Moscato and sweet wines, I knew I'd need a good second step wine to recommend. Stella Rosa fit the bill perfectly. It was sweet, just a tad effervescent and most importantly- red!

Stella Rosa wines come from the village of Santo Stefano Belbo. They are imported by the San Antonio Winery, owned by the Riboli family. They are really great wines for newbies. Since discovering Stella Rosa all those years ago the company has expanded the range to include reds, whites, fruit-kissed and sparkling wines. 

After getting some bad news, and in need of some cheer, my wonderful kids stopped by with flowers, a gift card for my Nook, and a bottle of wine (they know me so well!). That bottle was the limited edition Stella Rosa Black.

Let's just say this bottle didn't sit around too long. It went straight into the wine chiller for an evening of relaxation. I remember the original Stella being very fruity and grapey. This one is a little different, more depth, more berry and black cherry notes than grape jam and still has that ever so slight fizz that's so appealing. A quick swirl in my big red wine glass released so many beautiful floral and fruit aromas. The flavor was divine. I happened to have a little chocolate just laying around so I had a little nibble. It was heavenly. 

Stella Rosa wines also have a lower alcohol contact than some wines, which makes it a great choice for a warm summer afternoon sipper on a shady patio somewhere. This would be a great base wine for a sangria too, or a fresh and delicious wine cocktail. Mmmmmm- wine snow cones for the big kids??

If you are stuck in the Moscato rut because you don't like reds because you think they are too dry, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

City Girl's Wine Journal- Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Let's just say I was having one of those nights. My day didn't start out very well and it wasn't improving much as the evening progressed. Maybe it was the weather- the oppressive heat and humidity. Maybe just a passing phase. Mopey, anxious, worried- about what I'm not sure, but I knew I needed a glass of wine. Stat.

That's where Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008 comes in. The Nobilo winery was founded back in the 1930s when the family, fearing the impending war, fled Croatia for New Zealand. The Nobilo family had been making wine for nearly 300 years in their native country, but uprooted and took that expertise to a new land and began again. At first they struggled getting New Zealanders to embrace wine the way Europeans did, but in the end, that drive to succeed paid off, and today the Nobilo wines are enjoyed worldwide.

Which is how I got to experience the Sauvignon Blanc here in the middle of Iowa. This pale yellow wine was very fruity and not too sweet. The usual grassy and herbaceous notes typical of a Sauvignon Blanc were present, the slightest bit of minerality that I find very common in New Zealand wines, and believe it or not- maybe it was the age of the bottle, but a slight banana edge to it. Maybe it was the lush mouthfeel and creamy texture. Reading the winery's tasting notes they describe a "cut tomato plant" essence and I agree- the herby aroma has that faint familiarity.

I loved reading about this wine also. They harvest these grapes at night, which is something I had never thought of- does the time of day affect the finished product? Yes! Nighttime harvests protect the fruit's flavors and pressing them immediately and getting the skins out of the way very early keep the tannins very low and ups the "sipping quality" of this beauty of a wine.

Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with spicier foods, curries, and seafood. It can help tame the richness of roast poultry dishes as well. It's a great buy for the money, usually in the $15 range, and obviously, ages pretty well. My bottle was a 2008 that has been cellared since then. 12.5% alcohol gives it some potency and a nice bite, with a fair amount of acidity. I highly recommend this wine and will be looking for a new vintage to try in comparison (and to stash away for a few years).

City Girl's Wine Journal- Riesling and White Schoolhouse

How about a little Saturday night wine tasting at the Little Lake House? Sounds like a fine idea to me, and I happen to have a couple bottles chilled and ready to open. It's a beautiful, cool evening so The Chef and I decided to give them a try.

Polka Dot Washington Riesling 2012. This is a wine that is definitely marketed towards women. Cute name, cute label, and a big pink polka dot complete the packaging in the tall blue bottle. If you shop with your eyes, you'll definitely be picking up a bottle of Polka Dot.

That is not a bad thing either. It's really good- sweet but not too sweet, peachy and melon flavors, and takes the edge off spicy foods. I get a lot of peach notes in tasting, medium in body and mouthfeel, creamy and soft. A very very very tiny hint of grassiness finishes it off. In the glass the wine is a pretty light amber and clear. It has beautiful floral notes and fresh herbal aromas. Served alongside a spicy Asian dish, this wine would be perfect!

Dale Valley White Schoolhouse 2013. This is a wine I've had many times already- obviously it's a favorite of mine. It reminds me so much of Riesling- many of the same flavor notes and aromas. Peach and stone fruit, sweet cantaloupe and honey highlight this summer favorite of mine. I think it would be awesome with a nice bowl full of Dragon Noodles.

Sadly, unless you live in Iowa you may not be able to try Dale Valley's White Schoolhouse, but if you can- definitely try it. It's worth the drive.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

City Girl's Wine Journal- Copa di Vino

Funny thing about wine- lugging bottles around gets heavy, especially if you're lugging a cooler around and wine is the beverage of choice today. That's where Copa di Vino comes in. These cute little single serve "glasses" are the brainchild of James Martin have been on the market a mere 5 years and have sold over 15 million glasses in 45 states and in 13,000 retail locations.

I remember these little guys hitting our small town grocery store here when they were brand new. My sister bought one for me and one for her and I thought they were just the cutest things ever. They are perfect for throwing in the cooler or keeping on hand at home- just the right amount for cooking (open up and throw a Cabernet in the pasta sauce- yum!) and are very very good drinking wines! You just can't beat the packaging either- peel off the foil liner and enjoy- plus you have a plastic lid so you can cover your wine and keep the flying friends out between sips. 

Riesling, for one thing- my all time favorite white grape, and probably my favorite of all WINES period, is one of the wines offered by Copa di Vino. It's fantastic!! Not too sweet, not too acidic, and not overly "appley" it has great tropical fruit notes and a hint of pineapple. Delicious with food and as a sipping wine.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is amazing. Pure grape everything packed in that little "glass." Very fruity, very jammy and with berry and cherry notes, with a hint of something herbal. It's dry and it's a great steak wine or an excellent choice with a hearty pasta dish like lasagna or veal parmesan.

Their Merlot is also a favorite of mine. I have used it several times to cook with- what's a good all-day  red sauce simmering away without a little wine? Same with a pot roast- you get an excellent gravy base at the end of he cooking period.

No, in case you're wondering, I don't drink wine in the office. My sister happened to pop in one day and drop one off, she had been shopping. Sisters are fun!

Another thing I admire about this company is their faith in their own abilities and their entrepreneurial spirit. They twice appeared on the ABC Show Shark Tank and turned down offers from the Sharks that they felt went against their beliefs and their values- and they were super successful in spite of saying no.  So next time you're in the store, grab a couple of these fun little glasses. You won't regret it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

City Girl's Wine Journal- Winestock

I may have missed out on the big city's annual Winefest, but I wasn't going to miss out on this year's Winestock! Dale Valley Vineyard and Winery near Stuart sure knows how to throw a party. So this year, City Girl got to experience a wine festival, country style. Four bands, a beautiful Iowa summer day, lots of great food, vendors with interesting items. And of course, the wine.

My sister Lisa and I don't get to spend a whole lot of time together, with busy work schedules, kids and grandkids, so Winestock became Sister Day, and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Arriving at the winery, we were able to park among the vines and stroll through them on our way to the festival grounds. Of course, our first stop was the outdoor patio/bar and grabbing a pitcher of Red Sangria Winearita. Icy cold and slushy, it was delicious and a great prelude to the wines ahead.

We grabbed the best table in the house, on the covered patio overlooking beautiful lawn and festival grounds, and right next to the stage! The first band up was Larry Berenguel and Friends, and they were awesome! A great mix of hits and a reggae vibe, they played a long set filled with so many great songs. His band is a very talented group of guys and we thoroughly enjoyed their show.

It didn't take too long for the Winearita pitcher to be empty, so we switched to wines and Time Out was our first choice. Time Out is the winery's award winning Concord wine, and it is a sweet red wine. It smells like grape juice as soon as you pour it in the glass (and by that I mean Welch's, since wine is really just that- grape juice) and has a smooth, sweet drinkability that makes it so enjoyable.

Flipside was the next band to hit the stage and they also provided some of the best singalong party music. We also started to mix and mingle with some great folks in the crowd- another pair of sisters from the Quad Cities, folks vacationing from Indiana and lots of great people from the various bands. Singing and dancing, laughing and sharing stories, the breeze is softly blowing, it's a fantastic day in the Iowa countryside.

Lisa and Larry enjoying the party atmosphere

Well that bottle of Time Out didn't last very long, so up next we shared a bottle of Serendipity. Dale Valley describes this wine as a complex semi sweet blend of estate and local grapes offering flavors of apple and lime, hinting at subtle apricot and kiwi. I didn't really pick up any apple or lime but this lush, and less sweet, wine was very floral to me. Perfumey and delicious. This is another red that's a great sipping wine and delicious well chilled.

The music continues with Boomerang- they opened with Badfinger and it just got better from there. Lots of songs from my childhood-what a great trip down memory lane! They interacted well with the crowd and even a little rain didn't spoil the show. Funny story there- sitting under the canopy we had no idea it was even raining!!

Our next bottle was a drier red- Katydid. Katydid is made from Marechal Foch grapes (my favorite Iowa red grape) and is aged with oak for a little bit drier but not overly tannic wine that's amazing. It's also a multiple award winner for the winery. Our ice in the bucket had pretty much melted by now and that's fine, because this wine is best not overly chilled. It went fabulously with the pork chop on a stick and house-made kettle fried chips and reminded me a lot of Pinot Noir.

Abby Normal was the last band of the event. A little bit of everything, from the Beatles to White Stripes to the Scorpions kept the crowd dancing and singing along. The evening was winding down and the band was packing up, time to say goodbye to new friends and think about how much fun NEXT year will be, and time to grab a bottle to take home. The night was still young and it would be a great night to sit on the deck at The Little Lake House and enjoy a last glass or two and listen to the sounds of the country night. So White Schoolhouse it is, and a quick rest in the wine chiller gave it the perfect chill to bring out the hints of peach and stone fruits and ever so slight hint of citrus from this perfect award-winning wine.

It was a great Sister Day, a great Winestock and a great way to spend a Saturday. I can't wait for next year!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

City Girl's Wine Journal- Kung Fu Girl Riesling

A couple weeks ago my good friend, well, sister, really, Jessica and I went to dinner and like girls often do, we had a glass of wine with dinner. Steak was my menu selection, but I rarely follow the "pairing rules." I drink what I like regardless of what I'm eating. She chose Cabernet with her prime rib, and I chose something completely off the wall- Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2013. Made by Charles Smith Wines, this Washington wine has to be the best Riesling I have EVER had. Seriously. 

This wine is no blend- it is 100% Riesling grapes grown in the Evergreen Vineyards in Ancient Lakes. Riesling has always been my favorite white grape and this wine really shines. I get loads of stone fruits like peaches and a very lovely hint of mineral tones. Beautiful blonde in the glass, it has 12% alcohol and the perfect "bite." Perfect, perfect, perfect bottle. Would have been great with the Dragon Noodles I made the other night!

I also had a chance to test out my new wine chiller I recently got! It's an ATI Wine Chiller with a freezable insert and it chills wine QUICK! I found mine at a garage sale, so I don't even know if they still sell them- if you ever see one- grab it!

Sorry for the short post.......but I just really want to finish this wine!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

City Girl's Wine Journal- Glow

I've already told you about Fireside Winery, in Marengo, Iowa. It's truly one of my top three favorite wineries period- not just Iowa. Today I visited the coolest shop in Guthrie County- Carver's Ridge, in Stuart. They do landscaping, carve rocks and boulders of all sizes (seriously, check out their website- it's worth the drive for an awesome custom carved boulder or engraved glass) and the coolest little gift shop. It's brimming with examples of their beautiful carved boulders and engraved glass items, jewelry, unique food items, carved and engraved items to take with you AND Fireside wine!!

I was so excited to see the big display of Fireside's amazing wines. No more two hour drives to the winery for a bottle (I will still go for events though)- I can get my fix right up the road.

I selected a couple bottles and one of the is Glow- a wine I have not yet tried! So of course I had to have it. This wine is made with Iowa-grown Brianna grapes. Brianna often produces a Riesling-like wine so I just knew I would love this one, and I was right. It's peachy and delicious and has lots of tropical fruit notes like pineapple and banana (which is a surprise in wine). Even The Chef tasted it and said "pineapple and mango". It's a sweeter wine but not cloyingly so. It's a friendly wine I would suggest for any wine drinker. Since I live at a lake I am always looking for something good for patio sipping and this is one of those wines. Cabernet is awesome but you just can't sit in the evening breeze with a bottle of that!

I am a huge fan of wine and cheese pairings and for this one I would choose Havarti, one of my favorites, Provolone and Gouda. It also would easily tame the heat of spicy Asian or Mexican dishes. Good to know, because The Chef and I are big chili heads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

City Girl's Wine Journal- Gallo White Merlot

I know, I know. Gallo. The Walmart of Winemakers. But hey, my small town grocery store was having one HECK of a sale and I couldn't pass up the price. Actually, for the money, they aren't a bad wine for the price. And if I just want something to sip on the patio at night, you almost can't go wrong with a four dollar bottle.

So what is white Merlot anyway? It's a rose style wine made with Merlot grapes- the crushed grapes and juice are kept together for a short time to just impart a little hint of color, then it is strained off and fermented into wine. Without the skins and seeds, much of the tannins are absent. It's a semi sweet wine, with lots of fruit notes. 

Merlot is known for it's plum flavors, berry notes and as a white Merlot is the perfect wine to tame spicy foods like Mexican or Asian. All those same fruity essences are there. I thought this wine was also a great wine for newbies- a step beyond moscato but nowhere near "dry." I'm thinking nice breezy summer day, sitting in the shade, my big floppy black sun hat, a great big glass of white Merlot and some friends. Cheers!

City Girl's Wine Journal: Stone Cliff Cabernet

As many of you know, the state of Iowa is becoming quite an exciting wine region in the US. About 300 vineyards are in Iowa and nearly 100 wineries, the majority of which use Iowa-grown grapes such as Vignoles, Brianna, and many others, but some also bring in grapes that cannot survive our cold climate, like Cabernet and Chardonnay. The grapes may not be grown here but the vintner's expertise still shows in the finished wines.

Stone Cliff Winery in Dubuque is a family-owned winery and vineyards. The vines were planted in 1996, and the first bottles were released in 2001. The vineyard is in the country but the winery and tasting room are in Dubuque in the historic Star Brewing Building, along Dubuque's trendy Riverfront district.

Spending a quiet evening at home with a bottle of wine on Saturday night is just about as perfect an evening as I can imagine. While I have not been able to visit the Stone Cliff Winery yet, I am very lucky that our local small town grocery store carries a good selection of Iowa wines. Cabernet was the wine in my glass tonight as yes, I broke several of "the rules."

First of all, I did chill my bottle. Not ice cold like a soda, but just enough to make it cooler than room temperature. I'm a firm believer in throwing the rules out the window. Drink what you like, however you like. If you like your Chardonnay at room temperature, go for it. Likewise, if you like your red wine on the cool side, or even well chilled, do it! The important thing is that you enjoy your wine. Second, I drank my Cabernet without a meal. It's not really considered a "sipping" wine but instead a big, bold red best suited to pairing with hearty beef dishes, pastas and other foods. I just wanted a bottle to open, and enjoy in the cool spring air.

Stone Cliff's Cabernet is a very well crafted wine that can go head to head with any California Cabernet. It's deep and rich, with big grape aromas. Lots of tannins make this one a great wine for aging, plus they use natural cork to seal the bottle, which allows the wine to continue to breathe and age. The color is deep, dark purple, very grape jammy and lush. I wish I'd had some sharp cheese to nibble on. This wine would be an awesome pairing with cheeses and even dark chocolate. It also is big enough in flavor to make it an excellent choice for cooking, especially Julia Child's Bouef Bourguingon. I'd even make a sangria out of it.

While I'd like to see an Iowa winery use locally grown grapes for winemaking, Stone Cliff does a very good job with the wines they do craft. I hope to visit the tasting room and historic location very very soon.

A Day in the Danish Countryside

It was a fabulous spring day in Iowa! Of course any day that you get to spend some time in a winery is a good day. Iowa has become a very productive wine region in the US, with over 70 operating wineries and many more vineyards just growing grapes a farmers. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love visiting wineries. Rather than standing in the aisle at a mega grocery store liquor department looking at shelf after shelf of unfamiliar bottles with flavors and questionable quality you can taste the wine right there and know exactly what you're taking home!

In west central Iowa there are several wineries and yes, I have been to just about all of them. At each winery I purchase a glass with their logo on it and have acquired quite a collection. 

Today I visited the Danish Countryside Vines and Wines, outside of Exira, in Audubon County in western Iowa. The winery and tasting room are located in an updated barn built in 1913. The barn is BEAUTIFUL! The tasting room features a central bar made from wine barrels and gift shop loaded with wine-themed gifts. Step up to the bar and try some of nearly 30 different wines, all made from grapes grown on the farm. They are all outstanding. Shelves around the room display the many awards the wines have won at competitions. Well deserved awards I might add!

At the winery today I sampled several wines. Sugar and Spice, which is a dessert-style wine made with St. Pepin grapes, was sweet and delicious. Maid of the Harbor, named after the Hans Christian Andersen story of the mermaid, made with Edelweiss grapes- it's so much like a Riesling I just fell in love. Next up was Pretty Belle Peach wine, made from fresh peaches, it's a great companion to a cheese plate (as a dessert course, European style!) or just as a nice sipping wine to enjoy in the summer. Crimson and Clover came next, a red blend of several Iowa grapes and a touch of clover flower. This wine goes great with cheese and it equally good chilled or at room temperature. Mill House Cranberry was tart and sweet at the same time with an undeniable cranberry flavor- perfect for the holidays! My brain immediately thought "hmmm........I could make cranberry sauce or jam with this.....". Berryessa wrapped up the tasting for me with bright blackberry flavor and desserty sweetness. Loren, who was pouring in the tasting room, handed me a chocolate Kiss and joked that now I can tell everyone I got a kiss at the winery.

And speaking of Loren, not only is he the sales manager, he also pours in the tasting room, works with the vines, AND performs live every last Thursday of each month during the winery's season. Today he showed us the entire winemaking area- from the fermenting tanks to the bottling process. And to cap off the visit, he demonstrated how to prune the vines.

It was a great visit and I brought a couple bottles home to enjoy, and that, my friends, is exactly what I am doing!!