Posts for August 17th 2012

Wine

Wine of the Day: 2010 Twomey Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

Throughout the course of our wine month, we've extolled our fair share of ripe, full-bodied Pinots and robust Veronese blends.

Throughout the course of our wine month, we've extolled our fair share of ripe, full-bodied Pinots and robust Veronese blends. But the latest red we've tried is quite the opposite: it shines through in a subtle, understated way.

The 2010 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir ($46) is the latest appellation Pinot to come out of Twomey Cellars, the folks behind the renowned Silver Oak Cellars. We were lured by its intense aroma, a sweet scent of berries, black cherry, and smoke; "I just want to smell this all day and not drink it," one taster said.

But drink this we did, and without abandon. The wine, which was surprisingly light-bodied, had a nice amount of acidity and a silky-smooth finish. "Klassy with a K," another taster declared, in one of her finer moments. Classy indeed: we wish we had some dried fruit and a quality washed-rind cheese to wash down another bottle.

Photos: Anna Monette Roberts

recipes

Off the Bookshelf: Artisan Soda Workshop's Cream Soda

I've never been the biggest soda fan.

I've never been the biggest soda fan. Even as a child I was far more interested in sugar in solid form (I'm somewhat of a sour gummy candy fanatic) than Coke and the like. Nonetheless, I've always had a soft spot for fragrant cream soda. There's a certain ineffable something about it that manages to lure me in nearly every time I come across it — which is both sadly, and admittedly lucky for my waistline, not that often.

Keep reading for the vanilla-bean-flecked recipe.

Food News

Link Time: Andrew Zimmern's Launching His Own Food Truck

Andrew Zimmern's launching a food truck in the Twin Cities — Eater California Pizza Kitchen embraces the quinoa trend — Zagat Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on your phone — Grub Street NY Jeni's Ice Cream founder offers up the ultimate ice cream base recipe — Food52 The 10 ice cream flavors you must try this Summer — Kitchen Daily Meet the grango, a cross between a grape and a mango — Delish A word of warning when borrowing a friend's kitchen — Epicurious

summer

Perfectly Seasonal: Southeast Asian Tomato Salad

Chances are, if you grace my dinner table anytime between June and October, you'll be digging into a heaping bowl of tomato salad.

Chances are, if you grace my dinner table anytime between June and October, you'll be digging into a heaping bowl of tomato salad. My weekly farmers market trip practically revolves around their acquisition, and I can predict with startling accuracy my mood for the week based on whether I got my fill or not.

More often than not, the tomatoes are destined for the simplest of salads: sliced (or halved, in the case of cherry tomatoes) and dressed with a hefty sprinkle of sea salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, if that, because the best Summer tomatoes don't really need to be gussied up.

This, however, is a game changer. It's likely that I might have simply skipped over this recipe and kept with tradition, greedily gobbling bowl after bowl of the simply dressed fruit, but something about this salad drew me in. Perhaps it was its provenance (I'll almost always blindly follow recipe advice from Melissa Clark) or maybe it was the addition of fish sauce (I'm a sucker for the briny liquid). Either way, I'd suggest that you too break out of your comfort zone and give this variation on the classic Summer salad a try.

Keep reading for the innovative (but simple) recipe.

recipes

Scream For Chocolate Ice Cream

There's nothing better than a scoop of ice cream on a hot Summer day.

There's nothing better than a scoop of ice cream on a hot Summer day. While I love the convenience of a store-bought pint, homemade ice cream, with its creamier consistency, is simply wonderful. Perhaps part of it is the anticipation of waiting for it to freeze.

When it comes to making ice cream, there are two methods: you can churn the milk, cream, sugar, and flavoring (American style), or you can start out using a custard base (French style). A custard-based ice cream is a little more work — use caution to ensure you don't curdle your eggs — and the end result has less ice crystallization and a silkier texture.

I'd made plenty of ice creams over the years, but never the classic chocolate ice cream. Coming into it, I had to choose between Dutch process or natural cocoa powder (Dutch tends to taste more like dark chocolate and natural more like the milk variety). For this go-round, I used quality Dutch process cocoa for a rich truffle-like flavor that you could even smell it once frozen.

Blend in any topping you enjoy — nuts, more chocolate, you name it — to be your own Ben (or Jerry). Read more to enjoy a scoop of classic chocolate ice cream.

savory sights

Savory Sight: Roasted Pork Shoulder

Although roasting a pork shoulder may seem daunting, sevimel shows us how simple it really is.

Although roasting a pork shoulder may seem daunting, sevimel shows us how simple it really is.

All you need is some time and a handful of spices to make the best roasted pork you've ever tasted!

For the full recipe, check out her blog, and be sure to upload your latest food-related obsessions with us in the YumSugar Community. If you're on Instagram, then join us by tagging your pictures with the hashtag #savorysight.

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Meet Jess: Sponsored Guest Blogger and Reebok Fan!

In the Sport of Fitness, you must be prepared for the unknown and the unknowable.

In the Sport of Fitness, you must be prepared for the unknown and the unknowable. "A key element to a fair test of fitness is the unknown. . . . Athletes can't train for what they don't know." (Source: CrossFit.) This is the philosophy of the CrossFit Games and a typical WOD (workout of the day) at your CrossFit local box.

Yes. I love it. I embrace it. But, what do I wear?!