Wife Is Out Of Town, Lamb!

Ok, first of all the plate is a bit over the top, but what the heck I am on my own!  This is dinner,  two small lamb shoulder arm chops on the grill.  I used Penzey's lamb seasoning and Kosher salt, wow just amazing!  If you are looking for a place to purchase great spices, check out Penzey's at www.penzeys.com.

Enjoy!
Oh, I went with a cheap un-oaked Chardonnay box wine, hey its Monday!  

Pan Seared Halibut With A White Wine Caper Sauce

Tonight's fare featured pan seared halibut with a white wine caper sauce and roasted fingerling potatoes.  The wine accompanying  the meal was Chardonnay.

White Wine Caper Sauce Recipe:

• 1/2 cup white wine (I used Chardonnay)
• Juice from 2 lemons
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup rinsed capers
• 2 Tbsp chopped shallots
• 1 cup sliced grape tomatoes
• parsley for garnish
• salt and pepper to taste

In a sauce pan add the butter, olive oil, and shallots.  Sauté until the shallots are translucent.  Add in the wine, capers, lemon juice, and reduce the liquid by half.  Just prior to serving fold in the grape tomatoes.  Place the sauce on the fish, garnish with flat leaf parsley.

Fingerling Potato Recipe:

• Fingerling potatoes halved
• Herbes de Provence
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Place the potatoes into a bowl. Coat the potatoes with the oil and add the  Herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper to taste.  Fold the ingredients together, place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes.  

Matanzas Creek 2006 Merlot

I found the 2006 Matanzas Creek Merlot to be rich with long lasting notes of blackberry, cherry, and spice flavors.  The oak was approachable and the tannins nicely complemented the wine.  I thought the wine did lack a bit of the complexity that I'd hoped for, otherwise it was a nice Merlot.  
Along with beautifully crafted wines, the lavender fields at Matanzas Creek winery are must see when you are in Sonoma County.

Costco Kirkland Brand Wines

While reading my latest issue of Wine Spectator, I noted that the Kirkland Signature Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee de Nalys 2010 received a 91 rating.  At $20 it's a great bargain.  I purchase numerous quality name brand wines at a great price point, such as those from Wagner Family Wines, but I also enjoy the value priced Kirkland wines as well.  We have had a number of the Kirkland wines, such as the one shown here, and found them all to be very presentable. 

Trump's Orchard Apples!

I truly love this time of year when our little local farmer's garden is in full swing, and the first apples of the year are being harvested.  It's great when you can go into the orchard sales area and sample the apples before you purchase them, a real treat.  For our first apple purchase of the season we chose Zestar - a crisp sweet-tart apple...delicious! 

First Soup of the Late Summer

The only ingredient in this soup that is not from my garden or the local vegetable stand is the chicken!  Still cooking, will update you soon.

Joseph Family Vineyards - 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Joseph Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated producer located in the southeast corner of the Alexander Valley.

The Joseph Family Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (980 cases produced) is made in the classic Bordeaux style.  The wine has a deep ruby color with  complex rich ripe fruit and notes of black cherry, cassis, and hints of tobacco.  The tannins blend in nicely providing a long and silky finish. 
The wine was a very nice find and when you taste it you may think it's one of Napa's high-end cabernets, until you see the price of $40!
I will definitely be back for more.  

Bedrock Wine Co. Fall Order

Well folks it's starting to get fun, the fall wine ordering season is heating up.  Just placed my Bedrock Wine Co. fall allocation order.  November can't come fast enough!

Tomatillo Salsa

If you like tomatillo salsa you will love this recipe, enjoy!

Ingredients

•   2 medium tomatoes, quartered

•   6 medium tomatillos (use 12 if they are very tiny)

•   1 small red onion, quartered 

•   2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced

•   3 jalapeno peppers (seeded, I like mine grilled)

•   2 limes, juice of

•   1/4-1/2 cup cilantro (Go fresh, nothing better!)

•   2 tablespoons ground cumin

•   1 pinch red pepper flakes (add more if more heat is desired)

•   1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

•   2 teaspoon Tabasco chipotle pepper sauce (more for a hotter salsa)

•   sea salt (to personal taste)

•   fresh ground pepper (to personal taste)

Directions

Combine the above ingredients into a food processor. Pulse until desired consistency is reached.