Mmmm. Wine. Yes, the pregnant lady had a few tastes of wine this weekend. Don’t judge.
I had my first girls night out since we moved to Missouri! It was a much needed evening of great company, fabulous food and yummy wine. A couple of the girls organized this private, in-home wine tasting with PRP Wine International. Although I dumped more than I tasted, I walked away with an order for a few bottles that I will enjoy once baby arrives.
This is a fabulous idea for a couples party or ladies night out. It looks like this company is limited to certain states, but I am sure you could google “in-home wine tasting” and find something comparable where you live. This deal was purchased through Living Social (also found on Groupon) for a fraction of the regular retail cost. There is no obligation to purchase after the tasting, but if you do enjoy a wine you that you tried, you have to order by the case (easily done when a lot of people are involved). We had no trouble finding ones we all liked!
There is something so fun about wine tasting. Maybe it’s the newness of each wine, the variety, or just the giddiness involved with having tons of open wine bottles surrounding you (wow, I really sound like a lush!). Either way, I’ve never had a bad time doing it. Apart from two trips to the Wine Country in California, Fredericksburg, plus a few visits to what ever local wineries we have lived by, I have never done an in-home tasting. Highly recommend it! Not only do you get to drink wine, but you actually might learn a thing or two about wine in general.
Our hosts prepared some amazing food to go with the wine, our sales rep was an adorable ol’ guy and I got a chance to get to know my neighbors better. By the way, this group of women are fabulous. Being in the military is obviously hard for a few reasons, but packing up every few years and having to meet a whole new group of friends really sucks to be quite honest. I am so glad I met this ladies and look forward to these monthly girls nights out.
And since this is a food and nutrition blog, I can’t let you go without giving you some info on the health benefits of wine. I am sure you’ve all heard of resveratrol, the antioxidant found in red wine and in the skin of red grapes; it’s partly responsibly for the various benefits of wine including reducing inflammation in the body and the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. It’s true red wine provides more resveratrol than white wine due to the fact that’s it’s fermented with the skin on the grapes, whereas white wine is not. That is why the benefits of red wine are a little stronger than white wine or other alcohol.
However, white wine lovers don’t worry! White wine has many benefits which are due to 1) the health benefits of wine in general and 2) the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. White wine, like red wine, is full of antioxidants which help to fight those damaging free radicals in the body. One of the leading health benefits of white wine is its role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. It does this by helping to raise the level of “good cholesterol” as well as thins the blood, which reduces buildup or clogging in the arteries. There are also cancer-fighting components in white wine.
Diet and exercise are the most effective ways to get a healthy heart; wine merely has added benefits so don’t go telling your Doctor you started drinking because of me! Moderation is the key. While a little is very good for you, too much can cause major damage to your organs. What is considered safe and effective? No more than 2 glasses a day for men and 1 for women (don’t shoot the messenger). So enjoy that daily glass (if you already do so) and cheers to good health!
So with any new visitors I have, I’d like to introduce you to Meal Planning Monday, where we get our act together for the week. It’s not a chance to see who is making the most elaborate meals, but rather a chance to get your plan written out so that you don’t have to think about it each day. Leave your menu plan in the comments section and come back to get ideas for next week.
Menu for the Week of August 28th
Sunday
Hoisin-Glazed Salmon, Couscous, Couscous Salad (I made this once before and it was good), Asian Slaw
Monday
Sesame-Orange Chicken, Rice, Green Beans
Tuesday
Chicken, Bean & Cheese Quesadillas (using my crock pot beans), Spicy Lime-Cilantro Slaw (soccer night)
Wednesday
Stuffed Portobella Mushrooms, Salad
Thursday
Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Peach Chutney, Fruit Salad, Leftover veggies (soccer night)
Friday
Holiday Weekend and we may go out of town!
What are you having this week?! Leave me a comment; I’d love to hear about it!
Photo credit: Alexandr Shebanov (photo 1), Christopher Hall (photo 2)
Gretchen Hokenson says
This week brings more craziness between school and sport activities EVERY night of the week.
Sunday–Chicken Tetrazini, broccolli (this got bumped from last week since a suprise football scrimage was scheduled, heavy pasta dish+football in 104+ weather did not seem to equal good things)
Monday–Britt is making meatloaf, potatoes, and peas
Tuesday–left overs
Wednesday–Paninis with fruit and veggie sticks
Thursday–Quesadillas with fruit and green salad
Friday–is Daddy’s birthday so we will have tacos al pastor, topped with avocados, cilantro, pickled red onions, and queso al fresco served with fruit salad, your cliantro lime slaw and cake of some sort for dessert
Saturday–a new crockpot recipe for bbq chicken with a host of veggies including sweet potatoes, zuchini so we will see how it tastes.
Melanie Flinn, MS, RD says
Ooh, can we come over on Friday?! 😉 Sounds delicious!
Brittany says
Amen to you on the wine end! And no judging on the pg point. We are the only country in the world who obsesses over things like that. Silliness!
Sunday: Bok choy, chic peas, and cashews. (Very interesting…simmer ginger in apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, and a bit of gf soy, add in chick peas and bok choy and simmer 2-3 minutes. Top with chopped raw cashews. Surprisingly great! And healthy!) I had mine for breakfast b/c I couldn’t do a shake. I know it is a gross choice for breakfast, but it was my cooking for the day!
Monday: Barbecue meatloaf, mashed potatoes/cauliflower (vegan), and sauteed green peas.
Tuesday: Black bean soup with mandarin/jalapeno/red onion salsa on top, massaged kale salad (aarti parti)
Wednesday: Eggs and fruit night (Luck cooks b/c of my classes)
Thursday:Black bean (leftover soup) over brown rice with guacamole
Friday: Oi….can’t think more than Thurs!
Saturday:
Sunday:
Melanie Flinn, MS, RD says
The bok choy does sound interesting! I definitely couldn’t swallow it for breakfast. 🙂 You are eating SO healthy. Love it.
mimi says
Of course Mimi says amen to the wine idea too! I say we eat less and drink more-ha!! Sounds like such a great time and fun get together. You have met such nice people Mel–am so happy for that! Well, we’ll have to order some special vino to have and celebrate after baby Flinn arrives for sure. Or maybe do another party–you knew you’d get my attentio on this topic, right:)
Dana Raver McKenna says
Sunday- Brisket, corn on the cob & apple slaw(recipe from current Southern Living-very good)
Monday- Rosemary Roasted Chicken, new potatoes, okra
Tuesday- Brisket Tacos
Wednesday-Green Salad topped with Roasted Chicken
Thursday- Fish Tacos
Friday-?
Saturday- Turkey Pesto Burgers and Broccoli Salad
Sunday- OUT!
Melanie Flinn, MS, RD says
Do you guys do your own brisket Dana? We just got a smoker a few months ago and smoked a brisket that was fantastic (well my husband did it). Look forward to more- high maintenance but worth it!
Dana Raver McKenna says
we don’t have a smoker, so i usually cook it in the oven. this time i pushed the easy button and purchased a full cooked, pecan smoked brisket from HEB. my daughter had 4 servings and my son had 3. i think, maybe, HEB does a better job of cooking brisket than i do. oh well, can’t win them all.
Amy says
I finally decided on the menu and made my run to the commissary 🙂 Here’s how the week will shape up:
Monday: Gingery Pork Meatballs with whole wheat noodles
Tuesday: Fish tacos made with mahi mahi
Wednesday: Pepperoni, garlic, and arugula pizza (your recipe!)
Thursday: Southwestern turkey burger sliders with chipotle ketchup (your recipe as well!), salad, and baked beans
Friday: Lemon Dill Salmon, rice, and veggies
p.s…. I’m also going to try the new Peanut Butter Cup Blondie recipe from the new Cooking Light! Baby loves chocolate and peanut butter anything!!!