What is a corked bottle of wine?

Keeping a wine bottle sealed is probably the most important factor when it comes to maintaining a good wine.

A cork is essential, as it keeps oxygen out of the wine bottle. If a bottle of wine is not airtight then it may become oxidized and undrinkable.

Traditionally, the only corks worth considering were those actually made of cork. Recently, however, many wine experts have recognized that cork may actually cause more problems than it solves.

Cork, due to its malleable nature may have imperfections; these can result in the seal of the bottle not being as airtight as it could be therefore, spoiling the wine. In an attempt to avoid this problem, modern cork manufacturers may treat the cork with a chemical called TVA. Unfortunately, this chemical can cause the wine to taste and smell a little damp and musty.

Having said this, cork is able to expand to fully fill the neck of the bottle, which still makes it the preferred option for special wines that need to be stored, over a long period of time.

Around Toledo

Are you looking for things to do around Toledo? Check out http://www.toledoonsale.com. Toledo On Sale is an online reference where you get the low-down on some of your favorite area merchants including some very good deals. You can sign up for weekly newsletters to update you on the week ahead events, dining deals, shopping steals and much more.

To highlight a few for this week...

- On Wednesday, the 13th reserve a spot for a wine tasting event at Manhattan's Restaurant (1516 Adams St.). For $15 you will taste wines from Uptown Vineyards and appetizers from the restaurant. Starts at 6:30pm - 8pm. Stick around for live musical entertainment at 8pm.

- A visit to Sophie’s Sister (133 N. Michigan Ave.)is a sophisticated fashion experience for the style-conscious woman. We specialize in bringing our customers trend-setting, high quality fashion clothing and accessories from some of today’s most sought after designers.
30% Off All Fall and Winter Merchandise!

- Urban Active Fitness (www.urbanactive.com) is offering all Toledo On Sale subscribers a free 14 day pass to either the Maumee or Sylvania locations for the month of January.

So many other great offerings so check out www.toledoonsale.com for more!

Wine Made Simple

With so many different wines produced around the world it can be confusing for a consumer. How do you know which wine to pair with your upcoming dinner party or just an evening at home with a bowl of warm soup?

Well here is a book that can hopefully help with questions just like those and many others...'Drink This: Wine Made Simple', a new book by Minneapolis-based writer Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl.

Dara shoves aside wine critics' point-based systems and my-cellar's-bigger-than-yours mentalities, encouraging novice drinkers to simply focus on developing their own taste preferences.

The book differentiates itself from other introductory wine texts by suggesting that systematic tastings are the best way to learn the range of a varietal's characteristics. You'll develop a better understanding of Zinfandel, for example, by tasting a single-vineyard Zin alongside both mass-produced and late-harvest bottlings.

Here's Dara's shopping list for an evening of Zin education:

1. Inexpensive American Zinfandel (Rosenblum, Rancho Zabaco, Ravenswood, Cline, Beaulieu Vineyards, Montevina, Seghesio, Gnarly Head or Renwood) $8 to $15

2. and 3. Two different single-vineyard bottles from different vineyards but made by the same producer. (Ridge's Lytton Springs and Geyserville; Edmeades' Piffero Vineyard and Perli Vineyard; Bella's Big River Ranch and Lilly Hill) $20-something each

4. A more expensive, polished Zinfandel, such as Turley Wine Cellars, Gallo-Sonoma or Dashe Cellars. Ask for the "roundest, ripest, richest, fullest, lushest Zinfandel available." $40 and up

5. A late-harvest, ice-wine, dessert-style or "Port" Zinfandel. $15 and up

Can find the book on Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/Drink-This-Wine-Made-Simple/dp/0345511654/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262897681&sr=8-1

Happy 2010

Happy New Year! Hope you all had a safe and happy celebration. Now's the time to set some resolutions (besides the typical getting into shape, the most borrrring pledge in the world). Here are a few of mine for 2010. I resolve to:
- Spend more quality time with my husband and puppy
- Finally paint my downstairs bathroom and dining room
- Throw away items that I have not used for over a year - I need the storage space too as extra motivation
- Actually read and soak in the information in my (600 page) wine study guide so that I can become certified as a wine specialist.

I could probably go on and on but I will stop there for now to keep things realistic. By regularly engaging in meaningful activities that give you pleasure - whether it's visiting friends, picking up a hobby, taking a class or doing volunteer work - you'll simply have less time to engage in the behavior that you want to reduce. Therefore hopefully being able to keep this year's resolutions!

Now what are your resolutions??

Cookie Swaps

It can be difficult to find time to get ready for the holidays and socialize at the same time. A fun way to help you cut-down on the amount of baking that you need to do and socialize at the same time is to have a cookie swap.

Here is how to have a cookie swap - Invite about 8-10 friends over to your house for this fun and yummy get together. Each guest is to bring about 2 dozen of the same cookie - making sure that each guest brings a different variety. Have each guest also bring (10) copies of the recipe to share with the other guests.

As the host, you want to make sure that you have a table big enough to hold the plates of cookies that your guests will be bringing. Since it is a party and the guests will be planning on taking the cookies home, you'll want to serve some refreshments. The guests will want to sample the cookies, so you probably shouldn't plan on anything too sweet. A light meal should do the trick. You may want to also get the guests involved and plan a potluck lunch.

Another idea for the host is to give each guest a recipe book/box to hold all the new recipes and future recipes from these cookie swaps!

One of my favorite cookie recipe follows...

Butterscotch Blondies

2 1/2 C All purpose flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 C (2 sticks) softened Butter
1 3/4 C Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
1 1/2 C Butterscotch chips
*Optional - Can half the amount of Butterscotch chips to 3/4 C and add 3/4 C Chocolate chips

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Combine all your dry ingredients in a medium size bowl
3) In a larger bowl beat together the sugar, butter and vanilla. Then add the eggs.
4) To the butter/sugar mixture add the dry ingredients to well combined.
5) Stir in the butterscotch chips
6) Spread into an ungreased 9"x13" baking dish
7) Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted into the blondies comes out clean. Let cool in pan before cutting into squares.

Enjoy!

Food and Drink Culture

Tasting Table is a free daily email that delivers the best of food and drink culture to adventurous eaters everywhere. Each weekday, subscribers receive delicious idea about dining, wine, cocktails, cooking or restaurant personalities. Informing you on only first-hand recommendations that they have tested thoroughly —one bite at a time.

You can subscribe to one of the local editions: New York, LA, Chicago and San Fran -alerting you to a must try dish at a forgotten restaurant, a hot new bar that deserves its buzz, under-appreciated cook shops and neighborhood food purveyors who may otherwise go unnoticed.

Or check out the newest national edition, Tasting Table Everywhere, keeping you informed about the most interesting dining trends, the latest food luminaries and the best new wines, spirits and cocktails around the country. They'll also direct you to essential new websites, kitchen tools and ingredients. And since you like to travel, they'll cover that, too, with weekly updates about where to eat on the road and how to plan your next food-driven vacation.

Go to http://www.tastingtable.com

Chicago Holiday Getaway

The holiday season is quickly approaching so it is time to get a jump start on your holiday shopping. Eventology has created a unique and stress free two-day shopping trip to Chicago! Gather a group of your friends for a trip to the hub for large retailers, department stores and luxury labels – only four hours away! To save you time and money for the shopping Eventology has worked with trusted vendors to put together a Chicago Holiday Shopping Trip package. A private or semi-private minibus will transfer us to a boutique hotel just off the ‘Magnificent Mile’. You and your friends can relax while not having to worry about maneuvering through the Chicago traffic. After a quick check-in to drop off luggage let the shopping begin! Our onsite eventologist will provide each guest will a city map marked with hot spots to find something for everyone on your Christmas list. Once you have checked off those who have been ‘naughty’ and ‘nice’ you will have time to refresh before your choice of a culinary dining experience - the perfect ending to a perfect day!

And remember, while it is the season to give to others, do something special for yourself. Request a spa appointment to sooth those aching muscles – afterall shopping is tough work!

Check out the link before and more information on my website (http://www.eventologyevents.com)

http://www.grumpybuffalo.com/evoholiday.html

Available dates:
November 20 – 22nd and December 11 – 27th
*Select one day and return the following afternoon (one night stay)