Thanksgiving Wine & Spirits

Maura Sullivan

Thanksgiving is coming up quick. The COVID results have come back negative and the social distancing table is set! Let’s face it, this year our recycling bins have been quite impressively full. You’ve been drinking the good stuff and saving that strange looking two buck chuck to regift, or for a guest whose taste is questionable. The whiskey is down to its last drop and all you have left in your fridge is your least favorite flavor of White Claw. Don’t panic, I have the solution for your wine pairings and some festive cocktails that will keep your auntie happy and the political conversations at bay.

Note: if you have a very outspoken relative that will get on their soapbox and spurt their opinions over your beautiful thanksgiving spread, we suggest adding additional alcohol to any of these recipes, for you or for your politely quiet guests.

Let’s start off with something easy and festive, something to greet your guests at the door. German Glühwein (glue-vine). A recipe that my parents brought back from the German Christmas markets. We had a bit of an obsession with this during the cooler months. It is a spiced warm wine that can be made with either white or red wine. This beverage will heighten your holiday senses with its fresh orange slices and the warm spiced aroma of cinnamon, ginger and a strong berry compote. We prefer the red wine recipe to pair with appetizers such as baked brie, dried fruit or any hardy hors d'oeuvre. A strong dry red such as a shiraz or cabernet would do just fine. If you are interested in the white wine version, I always suggest a sweeter riesling or light chardonnay. No need to use your expensive bottles. That regifted two buck chuck can get the job done for this.

Now, let’s get into the main course pairing. We have your standard stuffing, mash potatoes, cranberry sauce, green vegetables and the turkey you worked so hard on. We’ll need to sort out the bottle options.

Pinot noir is always a great red for the table. A light bodied, floral aroma will complement any homemade cranberry sauce or dark meat. I recently picked up a bottle of La Crema from our local Raley’s; a wine that’s great for a heavy dinner and is also kind to your wallet.

La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir 2017 - $18.56 per bottle

A juicy pinot, aromas of ripe strawberries, and freshly cut plums. On the palate, raspberry compote, dark berries with a spice finish.

Of course, we are going to need a white wine option. A bright chardonnay will do the trick. We don’t want to weigh the dinner down with a heavy, overly oak or buttery Chardonnay.

Leeuwin Prelude Chardonnay 2018 - $36.00 per bottle

Aroma is light lemon and poached pear with hints of floral. The palate is smooth with hints of clear fruit and a light creamy finish. A Chardonnay anyone will love. Pairs nicely with light and dark meat. Compliments any hardy stuffing and refreshes the palate for the next course. This can be ordered at obcwines.com, a local importer in Napa. They deliver and offer pick up options. They are currently offering 20% off your order with coupon code HOUSECALL.

Dessert is what makes any great meal complete. We all know the pie is coming, but maybe you’d rather have a night cap. I recently tried a recipe that will satisfy any whiskey lover. The apple whiskey sour. A recipe that I found on Selfproclaimedfoodie. com, this cocktail is great if we’re still experiencing some heat waves or if someone has the fireplace going.

Ingredients

3 oz bourbon whiskey – I recommend Burning Chair (Savage & Cooke) or Bulleit Kentucky Bourbon 3 oz of apple cider (Trader Joe’s Natural Apple Cider), Chilled 1 oz of simple syrup 1 oz of lemon juice 1 half glass of ice

Combine all ingredients in a mixer, shake well and strain (optional). Garnish with lemon and sprinkle cinnamon on the top.

I hope you stay safe, have a DD for the ride home (if you choose venture out) and enjoy the holiday. Continued on page 23

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Wishing you a wonderful holiday Wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with hope and happiness. filled with hope and happiness.

Thanksgiving Continued

Party of 4

Continued from page 20

Parmesan, Rosemary, and Walnut Shortbread

Makes 30 pieces 8 T (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature 4 oz freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (yes, buy the good stuff) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 T minced fresh rosemary 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted at 350°F for 10 minutes, then chopped 1/2 t kosher salt 1/4 t freshly ground black pepper

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter. Add the cheese, and mix well. Stir in the flour, rosemary, walnuts, salt, black pepper. Form the mixture into 1-inch-wide logs (makes 2 logs), wrap them in plastic, and refrigerate for at least half an hour, or up to 3 days. When you're ready to bake the shortbread, position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Cut the logs into 1/4-inch-thick slices, place the slices on the baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden at the edges. Remove the shortbread slices and cool them on a wire rack.

Wine & Spirits

Continued from page 21

Glühwein Ingredients

1/2 medium orange 3/4 cup water 1/4 cup turbinado or granulated sugar 20 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks 2 whole star anise 1 (750-milliliter) bottle dry red wine Rum or amaretto, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the orange in wide strips, taking care to avoid the white pith; set aside. Juice the orange and set the juice aside. 2. Combine the water and sugar in a large, nonreactive saucepan and boil until the sugar has completely dissolved. Reduce the heat and add the cloves, cinnamon, star anise, orange zest, and orange juice. Simmer until a fragrant syrup forms, about 1 minute. 3. Reduce the heat further and add the wine. Let it barely simmer for at least 20 minutes but up to a few hours. Keep an eye out so that it doesn't reach a full boil. 4.Strain and serve in small mugs, adding a shot of rum or amaretto and garnishing with the orange peel and star anise if desired.

Join us for a Benicia mystery series. There will be clues as the story unfolds each month leading to an unexpected and terrifying conclusion. Welcome to “Picket Fences.” Picket Fences Darrell Mcelvane Picket Fences

Previously in Picket Fences … Connie, someone from Angela’s past, has confronted Angela in her home about a scandalous act she committed. We pick up with Bruce, Angela’s husband, meeting her at their home so she can give him, and us, a glimpse into that past.

Bruce walks into the house to find Angela sitting at the dining room table, sipping a glass of wine with a tear-stained face. “Angela… what’s wrong? What happened, is Payton ok?” He joins her at the table. “Payton is fine, but I have to tell you something,” she says, wiping her cheeks dry. “Okay,” he says, cradling her hands.

“Do you remember Carol and Shane Baxter and the clock tower fundraiser?” Angela asks. “Yeah, F.A.C.T. – Feed America's Children Today, right?” Bruce replied. “Well, I found out Carol stole $25,000 from the online donations.” Shaking, Angela gathers her thoughts and begins recounting the event at the Baxter house…

Angela had arrived at Carol's house intent on confronting her about the missing money. She let herself in and called out furiously, “Carol! Carol, I need to talk to you.” “I’m back here, in the study,” Carol responded, “what’s wrong?” Angela entered the study to find Carol at her computer. “There is no easy way to say this… Did you take $25,000 from the F.A.C.T. account?” Angela asked with an accusatory tone. Carol’s look was a plea for mercy, “I was going to give it back! You don’t understand… Shane got us into some really deep trouble. Look what I found —” Angela interrupted, “I don’t care what you need it for, how could you steal from a charity? That’s —” Shane Baxter entered the study. “I’d like to know why you need the money,” he said coolly. The women looked shocked. “How long have you been standing there?” Carol asked, desperately hoping he hadn’t heard. “Long enough,” Shane replied. Angela tried to apologize for the trouble. “No need for apologies, Mrs. Wingate. I would like to talk to my wife, alone,” he said calmly. Then he added, “We will make every effort to get that money back to the charity.” Angela looked at Carol, who was mouthing the words “don’t go.” Pretending she didn’t see, Angela headed toward the door and out to her car. Starting the car, she thought to herself, “This isn’t right, I can’t leave her like that.” With the car still running, she ran back into the house to hear screaming and what sounded like a gunshot. Entering the study, Angela saw a gun in Shane’s hand and blood soaking through the sleeve of Carol's blouse. “Stop!” Angela screamed while she reached for a crystal globe on a nearby desk. Shane started to turn but Angela, propelled by fear, smashed the globe into the side of Shane’s head as hard as she could. He went down. Angela ran to check on Carol. “Thank you for coming back,” Carol murmured while holding her arm. The two women looked over at Shane, who was still breathing. “He’s going to kill me, I know too much, I'm a dead woman,” Carol said, crying. “We’ll take care of that…” Angela said, cradling her. “Just let me think.”