Wine Rack Store Blog

Tonight my boyfriend and I were stumped for dinner ideas. Our garden is full and we have been having stir fries, and fresh salsa for a few weeks now, but we wanted something different. We talked about going out to dinner, which we decided against, since we do have such abundance in the garden. Finally we walked down to the local grocery store to pick up some fresh coho salmon with plans for a delicious and easy salmon-topped salad. We've got some wine brewing away in our kitchen, but that won't be ready for six months, so, we headed down the wine rack aisles to pick something to accompany our meal.

We picked out an inexpensive wine that claimed to go well with seafood, and headed to the register. After a nice walk home in what could be the last warm evenings of summer,my guy cooked up the salmon and some quinoa while I harvested greens from the garden. I love cooking fish, especially salmon, because it is so simple. Pan-fried in a bit of oil, with some fresh squeezed lemon, and chopped garlic (from our garden, of course,) the salmon cooked up quickly. It was perfect over the grains and greens, for an easy, tasty and nutritious dinner, and, the wine complimented the flavors nicely- though I can't wait until the wine is coming from our own wine racks!

Every part of this evening was wonderful. Spending some quality time walking with my favorite person, picking out the main course and the wine, appreciating the good weather and waning sunlight, and of course the delightful meal. Sometimes its important to recognize and appreciate the simple pleasures life has to offer.

Labels: dinner, simple things, walk, wine rack store

Last night I had a fabulous dinner with some of my girlfriends who I haven't seen in a while. We are starting up a cooking club and the first meeting was last night. The hostess sent out these creative invitation and asked us to bring different parts if the meal that would all go along with the theme: Layers. We had a smallish group for the first dinner, but the food was delicious and we were all stuffed. Next time we may have to take a walk or at least a little break before we hit dessert.

To begin with, we had a layered appetizer, a chili bean dip that we scooped up with tortilla chips. It was so good we couldn't help piling up our plates for seconds, though later on our full bellies regretted it. The salad was a layer of beautiful red lettuce, then green lettuce, shredded zucchini, some feta and an amazing creamy minty lemon dressing. We had a lasagna for the entree and a delectable pudding/whipped cream/chocolate-layered dessert on a nutty crust. We started off with a fancy blackberry-layered drink in wine glasses and the hostess was smart enough to break out her wine charms so everyone could keep track of her own glass.

Aside from the feast the company was fabulous. A number of us are taking classes in the fall, so we're getting our books and preparing for the school year to come. It was an absolutely beautiful day, so we all enjoy the tour of the garden and meeting the backyard chickens the hostess has for eggs. She also showed off her new wine table, a nice decorative addition to her living room, already filled with her favorite wines to offer guests on a moment's notice. I cannot wait for another get together with this group of fabulous and creative cooks!

Labels: cocktail wine charm, cooking club, dinner, girls night, wine rack, wine table

Today I had a busy day! To begin with I had to get some paperwork sorted out with enrollment services at my school. That always seems to turn into waiting in a line to learn about one more paper you need to fill out, followed by waiting in the same line to find out about one more paper to fill out. Luckily, the enrollment office opens early and I made it to my doctor's appointment with time to sit and wait there. Once I finished up at the doctor's, it was off to work at the native plant nursery. I completely love my job, but it is still work. All day I was on my feet potting up, fertilizing and watering salmonberries. It may not sound hard, but in the heat of the summer it tires me out quick!

So I make my way home and stop in my garden to admire all the growth, picking some peas and peppers and kale for a salad, and finally get in the shower. After the shower, I do a calming yoga routine to ease away from the stress, and finish off the night opening up a bottle of wine from my wine rack. My boyfriend is getting a delicious dinner ready in the kitchen while I sip away in my pajamas, waiting to finish off full day with a well-deserved relaxing meal, good company, and my glass of wine. Perfect.

Labels: bottle openers, dinner, garden, work

Last Thursday my boyfriend and I went out for a nice dinner to celebrate our 4-year anniversary. We decided to go to a local steak house that is very popular. I was not terribly impressed with it.

We both got dressed up which is not something we do very often. We definitely were over dressed for the location. I thought it would be a more formal restaurant but it turned out to be a Texas-style joint. Stuffed animal heads and tacky fake Christmas trees decorated the walls.

My boyfriend ordered some red wine to complement his steak. They must have had a small wine rack in the kitchen because there wasn’t much of a selection. They served it in white wine glass which made the wine-snob in me laugh.

Between the over cooked steaks and the tacky atmosphere, I don’t think we will be returning there any time soon. Next time we have a special date, I’ll make sure we got to places we’ve enjoyed before.

Labels: dinner, wine rack, wine rack store