Let’s Hear It For My Girls!

Truer words were never spoken than when Plautus stated “Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.” Looking for any reason to celebrate with good wine and great food, my gal pals and I convened for our annual Wine Wednesday Women Christmas soiree this weekend.  We love to spoil each other any chance we can, and this weekend it was my turn to celebrate sincere friendship with a wonderful group.
 

 The table was set full of wine glasses with care.

 

Santa's elf napkins and basil marked the seats for us there.

 

 





The Menu—Italian Inspired  

 

Course One:  Asiago, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses with Prosciutto and grapes
Wine Pairing:  Prosecco and Champagne
Taste:  Delizioso!

Course Two:  Green salad with Olive Garden Italian dressing
Wine Pairing:  Pinot Grigio (I assigned wines and guests brought their choice of the varietal)
Taste:  Fantastico!

Course Three:  Alfredo sauce with linguini and baked garlic chicken breasts
Wine Pairing:  Pinot Noir or Chardonnay
Taste:  Bello!

Course Four:  Mocha pots de crème
Wine Pairing:  Reeder Mesa Vineyards Grand Valley Port
Taste:  Perfetto!
 

Bubbles from Italy and France started off...

 

A cheese course with Prosciutto that left nothing to scoff.

 



Port and pots de crème was a pairing so dear...

 

If you have never made homemade Alfredo, try it soon.  It is not difficult, just time consuming to stir the sauce until the Parmesan cheese is melted smoothly.  It is the food of the Gods, mostly because it is cream, butter, and cheese.  Fabulously artery clogging! 

The dessert is my favorite part though.  Chocolate pots de crème tastes as if one has slaved over the delight for hours, when really it takes all of twenty minutes to complete.   

The Recipe

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. sugar
Dash of salt
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. instant coffee
 1 tsp. rum liquor (I think you can use cognac or brandy too.)
¾ cup hot milk
Raspberries
Whipped cream

Add all ingredients except for the hot milk in the blender; slowly add the
hot milk. Cover the blender to prevent splattering and mix well. Pour into demitasse cups or small ramekins. Refrigerate until set.  Garnish with real whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

I made a mocha version, using one half cup milk chocolate chips and one half cup dark chocolate chips and two teaspoons Kahlua instead of the rum and vanilla.  The dark chocolate and coffee flavors were an easy twist on an already super-simple final course. 

So whether your occasion to celebrate is Christmas or friendship (or because it is Tuesday), I hope you make wine and sweet words part of the fun.   Treat yourself and your loved ones to great food, good beverages, and wonderful laughter.  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good wine!
 

It left us all smiling, filled with great Christmas cheer.