Food, Drink & More | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, October 15, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 FOOD AND DRINK Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 15, 2016 THE PERFECT TAILGATING WINE My search for California Cabernet wines in the $10 range continues. It seems like a reasonable request, considering that there are hundreds of wineries in California. They say that life is a cabaret; I’d like to add cabernet to the mix. The 2012 Toasted Head is from the Yolo region(great area for Tomatoes), which covers Mendocino to Sonoma and Napa, and this is where R.H. Philips Vineyards calls home. The area has a relatively mild climate with predictable heating and cooling. The 2012 season in Mendocino County turn out to be a very good year - so good that Toasted Head didn’t have to source too many of its grapes. I found the taste to be soft, even pleasant, with likeable tannins and hint of spice, and appreciated the cedary notes from the oak aging. The rich fruit and the bear on the label might detour some, but for $10 it’s a winner, and if you’re a fan of old world reds, you’ll like this red. Feel free to put it in a brown paper bag when going to a tasting party - I promise that your friends will enjoy it. No matter the cost of wine if you like it, enjoy it and share with friends. This cab is ready to drink now. It’s a perfect BBQ wine. Roast up some sweet peppers or BBQ shrimp, or take it to a drive in movie. Yum !!! When someone uses the term “old world” with regard to wine, they are referring to wines made in countries that are considered the birthplaces of wine, basically Europe and the Middle East. It’s usually a bit lower in alcohol content, in this case at 13.5% Dills Score Each week I will give you my Dills Score. I start with a base of 50 points, and add points for value. For this wine, I added 8 points for color, 8 points for aroma or “nose”, 8 points for taste, 8 points for finish, and 9 points for my overall impression, which includes my value rating. Total Score 89 Retails for $ 15.00, on sale for around $10 at area markets Follow me on twitter kingofcuisine and make sure you listen to my radio show every Saturdays at 3 pm KLAA AM 830 TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills thechefknows@yahoo.com Julie’s Favorite Family Recipes PUMPKIN SQUARES INGREDIENTS Bars: 4 eggs 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 15 -ounce can pumpkin 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda Icing: 8 -ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars. To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars. Recipe courtesy of Patty Ronning as adapted by Paula Deen HEALTHY LIFESTYLES THE JOY OF YOGA HIT THE RESET BUTTON With life’s abundance of responsibilities, downtime and FUN time are vital to happiness. There comes a moment of saturation -- aka stress -- in living and working. A wise person builds fun and relaxation into their schedule to steer clear of reaching the point of no return and saying, “Ahh…I can’t take it anymore!” It is hard to get off the hamster wheel, so here are a few tips for hitting the all-important reset button for mind, body, and perspective. First, take time to unplug. In yoga, we could relate this to pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses. The mind cannot settle when it’s pulled in multiple directions. What we see, hear, feel and taste affects us. To practice withdrawing the senses, find a quiet place to be for a while, close the eyes, and just concentrate on the breath. Consciously, hear the sound of the breath as you smooth it out. This action alone significantly changes the inner landscape. Next, do something for your body that will contribute to your well-being. This could be going to a yoga class, going for a walk, making a healthy meal, or visiting your local wellness professional for a service. Action will change your energy. Think of it as TLC for you. If you’re in a deep rut, this could be hard. Do it anyway. Changing your prana, or vital life force energy, changes your perspective of the world. Positivity and inspiration will usually slip in. Last, have fun! Spend time with someone you love and have a good time together with laughs included. Connecting with others nourishes us spiritually. Meet up, attend yoga, and make your next date for spending time. Love and Namaste, see you in class! Keely Totten Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||