We're Having a Wine & International/Specialty Beer Tasting Party

Here's the invite we sent out to friends:

WINE & INTERNATIONAL BEER Tasting Party

Ever wanted to pretend that you were a snob? Now's your chance! We would love for you to come to our first ever Wine and International Beer Tasting Party at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22nd.

We will have a few samples of different types of wines and international/specialty beers available for sampling. We'll even do some research ahead of time -- short descriptions and proper food pairings will be displayed.

We ask that everyone brings a bottle of wine or a few beers to add to the selection. It doesn't need to be fancy or expensive! We ask that you keep the Bud Light at home, however. Many of our local liquor stores have great selections.

Don't worry -- this won't be 100% hoity-toity. Tweed jackets with leather patches are not required (in fact, they will be openly mocked). This is all in the name of fun.Plus, you can get drunk while learning some new things. Who said educationhad to be boring?

RSVPs are appreciated!

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I have done a bunch of research on food pairings and we will be having:

Cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Swiss, Sharp Cheddar, Mild Cheddar, & Cream)
Cheesecake Assortment
Strawberries
Many Assorted Crackers
Pretzels with assorted dips from Harry & David
Truffles from Harry & David
Mixed Nuts
Smoked Pheasant
Greek Olives
Chips & Homemade Salsa

Lentil Tomato Soup

Lentil Tomato Soup

4 Large Tomatoes
1/2 Large Red Onion, chopped
2 Large Carrots, chopped
3 Stalks Celery, chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
6 C Chicken Broth
1 can Lentils
Italian Seasoning to taste
Pepper to Taste

Process tomatoes in food processor so that there are juice & small/medium chucks. Do not make it completly juiced. Add ALL ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low for 5 hours (it doesn't actually need to cook this long, but this help to blend the flavors.

Servings: 6 bowls
WW Points: 1.5 points/bowl

I served this with garlic bread and it was very tasty.

Strawberry Pie

I made this pie this weekend. Pretty good. Only 4 points for a piece (6 servings in a pie - which is pretty big).

I did double the jello,cornstarch, soda mixture as it didn't seem enough for me.

Homemade Tomato Soup

This is how I made it. It was almost free, as most everything came from my garden.

Homemade Tomato Soup

6 med. fresh tomatoes
2 T Smart Balance Light
2 thinly sliced onions
1 small can tomato sauce
1 T fresh basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. fresh oregano
1 T fresh chives
3 C chicken stock
1 tsp. salt
1 T Splenda
pepper

Boil tomatoes whole for a few minutes. This will make it easier to remove the skins. Melt butter in pot. Cook onions in butter until tender. Stir in peeled tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, thyme, oregano, & chives. Mash tomatoes slightly. Stir in broth. Process soup in Food Processor. (There will still be some seeds.) Return to pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper. Sugar to taste. Makes (6) 1.5 cups servings.

WW Points: 1 point

Slow Cooker Wild Rice Soup (Takes 10-12 hours)

Slow Cooker Wild Rice Soup
Servings: 8

1/2 C wild rice, dry
1 shredded carrot
3 cans fat-free chicken broth (5.5 cups)
1 lb. boneless chicken breasts -- cut in 1" pieces
2 stalks chopped celery
1 medium onion, chopped
8 oz. spinach leaves
1 C FF sour cream
1/2 whole wheat flour

Stir together all ingredients except spinach, sour cream and flour in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 10-12 hours or until chicken and rice are tender. Just before serving, stir together sour cream and flour into a small bowl until smooth. Increase heat to high. Add the spinach and slowly stir in sour cream mixture into hot soup mixture. Stir constantly. Cook and stir until soup is thickened and creamy (6-10 min.)

WW points - 3 points/serving

Raspberry Scones

Raspberry Scones
1.5 C white flour
.5 C whole wheat flour
1 T baking powder
3 T sugar (if you use Splenda it will lower ww points by .25)
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 T reduced calorie butter spread
1 C vanilla soymilk
1 C frozen raspberries

Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter. Stir in soymilk. Gently stir in berries. Spoon into 12 large servings on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

12 servings -- 2 points each

Variations
- add dried fruit or raisins (+.5 points each)
- use Splenda instead of sugar (-.25 points each)

The above recipe is how I made it. You can change it how you want.

Peach Cobbler

Peach Cobbler

It's a Weight Watchers Recipe. Had 3 points per serving (8 servings in a 8x8 baking dish). I bet you could change the sugar to Splenda (or the Splenda baking mix) and lower the points more.

Very Tasty. I HIGHLY Recommend this recipe.

Cabbage Recipes

So, I am posting exactly how I made these items. They are cooking right now so I will have to let you know later how they tasted.

Polish Cabbage Rolls
1/4 Large Green Cabbage
1/2 lb. Ground Beef, browned
1 C Cooked rice
1 egg beaten
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 carrot, minced
1 can tomato soup
1 tsp. worchestershire sauce
Pinch of Thyme
1/2 tsp. basil
salt & pepper

-- Boil water in a large pot, meanwhile cut around core of cabbage. Insert cabbage in boiling water. The leaves will loosen and you can remove. Remove 8 leaves and put rest of cabbage aside.
-- Mix together beef, onion, rice, 1/4 can tomato soup, carrot, egg, worchestershire sauce, and spices.
-- Fill each cabbage leaf with a large spoonful of meat mixture. Fill all 8 leaves. Roll each individually and insert them in a covered casserole dish (13x9 pan).
-- Mix remainder of soup with 1/2 can of water and pour over the cabbage rolls. Bake for 1.5 hours at 350 degrees.
-- Makes 4 servings (2 rolls per serving).

Weight Watchers Points (for those counting): 5.5 per serving

Cabbage Soup
2 C Bloody Mary Mix
2 C Water
3 C Cabbage
2 Ribs Celery
1 Can Mushrooms
1/2 Carrots, minced
1/2 Onion, minced
1 sq. Beef Bouillon
1 sq. Chicken Bouillon
1 Bay Leaf

-- Combine all ingredients and cook until cabbage is tender.

Apparently this recipes, as it is all vegetables is 0 points for Weight Watchers, so eat up and enjoy.

I use Bloody Mary mix, as I love the drink and always have mix around. If you just use tomato juice, you should increase the juice to 3 C and decrease the water to 1 C, plus you'll need to add spices as well.