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From the Christmas Kitchen: Rosemary Cashews

Looking for the perfect hors d’oeuvres for guests to nibble while they await your fabulous holiday feast? Try these delicious Rosemary Cashews from one of my favorite cookbooks of all time, Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten (aka The Barefoot Contessa).

Inspired by the bar nuts served at Union Square Cafe in New York City, these delicious, savory cashews are perfect for holiday entertaining. They are insanely tasty, take under ten minutes to prepare and can be made the day ahead and kept in an airtight container. They will prime your guests’ palates without filling them up and, coincidentally, pair beautifully with a festive glass of Champagne.

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While Ina recommends serving the Rosemary Cashews warm, I actually like to make them at least a few hours ahead or the day before. This allows the rosemary mixture to cool and adhere to the cashews better. Go ahead and try it both ways and you be the judge! I must caution you though, they are extremely addictive so only make them when you have a houseful of people coming over so you don’t eat them all yourself. Trust me, I speak from experience!

Also, if you’re looking for a special, homemade culinary gift to give your foodie friends and neighbors for the holidays, these Rosemary Cashews are an excellent choice. Simply package them in a classic Mason jar finished with colorful, festive fabric or paper and tied with a raffia bow and you’re good to go.

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I hope you and your guests enjoy these ever-so tasty Rosemary Cashews and I’d like to wish you all a very Happy & Delicious Holidays!

Cheers,

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"Rosemary Cashews"
Author: 
 
Cashews can be made up to a day ahead of time and are delightful paired with a glass of Champagne!
Ingredients
  • 1 pound roasted, unsalted cashews
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
  1. ) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. ) Spread the cashews out on a sheet pan. Toast in the oven until warm, about 5 minutes.
  3. ) In a large bowl, combine the rosemary, cayenne, sugar, salt, and butter. Thoroughly toss the warm cashews with the spiced butter and serve warm if desired.
 

The post From the Christmas Kitchen: Rosemary Cashews appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.

The Wine Lover’s Glamorous Holiday Gift Guide!

There’s only one thing more fun then receiving gifts during the Holiday Season. And that’s giving the perfect gift to that special someone and watching their eyes light up with glee! If you’re shopping for a wine lover who has a penchant for the finer things, our Wine Lover’s Glamorous Holiday Gift Guide is chock full of ideas that are sure to delight!

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1.) For the Red Wine Lover…
Round Pond Estate Cab Lovers Gift Set ($180): Hailing from one of our favorite properties in the Napa Valley, this gorgeous set of acclaimed wines features 2 styles of Round Pond’s Cabernet Sauvignon, the Reserve and Rutherford, to show just how deliciously diverse one grape variety from the same vineyard can be. Specifically for the lover of big, bold Napa Valley Cabs, this gift set is sure to be a favorite as it brings together Round Pond’s 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (94 points Antonio Galloni) and the 2014 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon in a beautiful, artisan gift box.

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2.) For the Art Lover…
Cuvaison Andy Warhol Series One Collection ($250 – 2 bottle set): In the early 1980s, Alexander Schmidheiny, owner of Cuvaison Winery and friend of Andy Warhol, commissioned the iconic artist to create screenprints for his Cuvaison wine labels. Done in his signature Pop Art style, the prints have rarely been seen until now! Cuvaison and The Andy Warhol Foundation celebrate this historic collaboration with this limited edition Andy Warhol by Cuvaison Collection. This first release in a series of three includes exclusive wines from Cuvaison’s two Napa Valley estates: a Chardonnay from Carneros and a red Bordeaux blend from Brandlin Vineyard on Mount Veeder. Both the beautifully-crafted wines and collector’s box feature original artwork created by Andy Warhol.

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3.) For the Book Lover…
Mark Oldman’s How to Drink Like a Billionaire: Mastering Wine with Joie de Vivre ($23): Want to know the mysteries of how the 1% drink? Mark Oldman, one of America’s most popular wine experts, demystifies the secrets of the wine world. Oldman distills his vast knowledge of wines into this easy-to-read, humorous guide, complete with in-depth how-tos on everything from tasting, swirling, and buying wine the same way billionaires do—without the price tag! From detailing little-known ways to hone in on the best value bottles to the secret maneuvers you can do to master wine in restaurants, shops, and at home, How to Drink Like a Billionaire will have you approaching wine with the shrewdness, style, and unapologetic joy of the 1%.

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4.) For the Holiday Host & Hostess…
Magnum of of Taittinger Brut La Francaise Champagne ($140): This delightful Champagne from Taittinger is definitely one of our favorites with it’s lively, festive bubbles and brisk acidity. This special bubbly is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier aged on the lees for almost 4 years more than the legal minimum of 15 months! This extra time in the cellars allows the wine to reach the peak of aromatic maturity, and the result is a delicately balanced Champagne, known for its consistently excellent quality. There’s nothing more festive then bubbly around the holidays and you’re guaranteed to be invited back year after year if you present your gracious Host and/or Hostess with a magnum of fabulous Champagne – the equivalent of two regular 750mL bottles.

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5.) For the Collector & Gadget Lover…
Coravin Model Two System ($299): This revolutionary gadget needs to be in every wine lover’s home since it completely changes the way you drink wine! Coravin’s Model Two is the company’s most intuitive wine system that gives wine lovers the freedom to pour and enjoy a glass of wine from any bottle, at any time, without pulling the cork! Using Coravin’s proprietary technology, the new Model Two is the best-in-class tool that lets you taste, share, compare and explore wine like never before. Want to sample a glass of your 1982 Bordeaux without committing to an entire bottle? Get out your Coravin! It’s the revolution that’s opening up an enriching world of possibilities.

Cheers,

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The post The Wine Lover’s Glamorous Holiday Gift Guide! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.

Three Perfect Gifts for the Wine Lover!

Still looking for the perfect holiday gift for your Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Bestie and/or Hostess with the Mostess? Let’s face it, this time of year the list could go on and on but there is one gift that is guaranteed never to be returned, is truly one size fits all, and will always bring a smile to the face of your recipient. Yes, you guessed it – wine!

Whether the lucky recipient is just learning about wine, is a seasoned collector or you’re uncertain about their specific vinous preferences here are three gift suggestions from The Wine Atelier that are sure to please:

1.) The Gift of Bubbles: What beverage is the vinous equivalent of a celebration? Sparkling wine, of course! Whether it’s a Cremant from the Loire Valley, a sparkler from California or the real deal, a bottle of Champagne itself, sparkling wine is always well received. You don’t even have to know the vinous preferences of your recipient because at this time of year, a bottle of bubbly is always “a good thing”. In addition to being wonderfully festive, it also has mass appeal and pairs deliciously well with just about any party fare. Some favorites include the Charles Bove Brut Sparkling Wine, Loire Valley, France NV ($15), the Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, North Coast, CA ($30), and for a real statement, how about a magnum of Taittinger Brut la Francaise, Champagne, France, NV ($129).

2.) The Explorateur Wine Club: is your lucky recipient looking to learn about and explore the vast and sometimes confusing world of wine? If so, let The Wine Atelier be their guide! With a gift subscription to The Wine Atelier’s Explorateur Wine Club they’ll get to virtually travel the globe each month when they’ll receive two bottles of wine from one of the world’s renowned wine regions. The wines are Sommelier Selected by yours truly and each shipment comes complete with detailed information on the producer, region, grape variety, as well as food and wine pairing suggestions for each wine. For more information on The Explorateur Wine Club ($45/month) please click here.

3.) Sommelier Selected Special Bottles, Duos and Trios: for the wine lover who has everything, the only thing they can always use more of is wine! Whether they’re crazy for Champagne (Holiday Champagne Duo $99) or have a passion for Pinot Noir (Passion for Pinot Noir Trio $175), our Sommelier Selected Gift Sets are sure to please! In addition to the wine, each selection includes detailed information on the producer, region, grape variety, recommended drinking window and food and wine pairing suggestions. Stylish gift wrap is also included so each selection is ready to present to the lucky recipient. For more information or to browse our Sommelier Selections, please click here!

I hope we’ve helped make your holiday shopping a little easier and remember we’re only a phone call or text away to answer any of your vinous holiday questions at 561.317.6663 ~ Happy Shopping!

Cheers,