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What could be better for Valentine’s Day than home baked chocolate shortbread with Pinot Noir? Enjoy creating this recipe from J Vineyards & Winery in Sonoma County, California.
Chocolate Almond Shortbread
Ingredients for Chocolate Almond Shortbread
8 ounces butter (at room temperature)
2 ounces granulated sugar
1 ounce powdered sugar
1 ounce cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
8 ounces all purpose flour
1 ounce chopped almonds
Ingredients for Pinot Noir Dried Bing Cherry Puree
8 ounces dried Bing cherries (or other Fruit)
4 ounces J Pinot Noir
2 ounces water
Directions for Chocolate Almond Shortbread
1. In mixer on low speed blend butter, sugars, cocoa, vanilla and salt.
2. Then add flour, and nuts.
3. Roll out dough between two pieces of parchment paper to 1/8 of an inch.
4. Chill dough in refrigerator for one hour; this will make it easier to cut into desired shapes.
Bake 350º for 8-10 minutes.
Directions for Pinot Noir Dried Bing Cherry Puree
1. Combine all the above in small saucepan and bring to a boil, then adjust heat to low and cook until cherries are soft, about 10 minutes.
2. Pour into blender and puree.
3. Allow mixture to cool then place in a pastry bag for piping.
This recipe was provided by the J Vineyards & Winery Culinary Team.
Rave Reviews for Cava
Terry talks about Spanish cavas to a captivated audience.
Yesterday we had an enjoyable and fun afternoon with a group of Howard County residents where Terry explored cavas, sparkling wines from Spain. Terry presented a 45-minute talk with photos of Spain’s delicious and very reasonably priced cavas. Five different styles of cavas were offered for tasting. The organizer of the event, Susan from The Village in Howard, provided an assortment of nibbles and snacks for everyone.
Everyone was attentive and enjoyed the cavas, snacks and conversation. People were encouraged to talk and ask questions. It was interesting to hear comments about the cavas. With the first cava a brut paired with salty potato chips, someone said, “I like this.” After the first cava, the next two cavas met with even more rave reviews. Both were brut natures, one a reserva and the other a gran reserva. By the last cava, a semi-seco rosé, it seemed that the rosé was the favorite cava for several of the attendees.
The people who attended the cava talk are members of The Village in Howard, a part of the worldwide village group that encourages people to “age in place.” This was our second presentation about wine to members of The Village in Howard. Our first presentation centered on our book Georgia, Sakartvelo: the Birthplace of Wine.
The Village in Howard (TVIH) offers a variety of activities for those aged 55 and over. The group is fairly new, having started in 2015 and already has more than 100 members. Depending on their needs people can choose either associate memberships or full memberships.
The TVIH organization offers a variety of events. The online February calendar includes: Happy Hours, Lunch Bunch, Sneakers and Coffee, Bridge Club, Writing Our Lives-How to Create A Memoir, Travel Club/Potluck, and My 3 Cents.
We enjoyed our time with this group of friendly TVIH members and we are looking forward to participating with them in other events.
Residents of Howard County who have reached 55 years of age may join The Village in Howard. To find out more about The Village in Howard visit the TVIH website.
Cheers,
Kathy and Terry