by J.English on December 30, 2009
Many people have been feeling the financial pinch this season, myself included. We had many grand ideas of how we should spend our New Years. In the end we all decided we would feel less stress by staying close to home. It will be just as magical if not more so and we will be sharing instead of spending.
Missy and I love to throw parties. Sometimes we make advanced plans that we don’t follow, most of the time we scramble up something awesome the day before. Seeing as this is the day before it’s definitely scramble time.
The Setting:
We have a 4 bed room house, 10-12 guests including hosts, 4 kiddies to tend to and lots of random items to attempt to decorate and create a theme with. We want to make it magical. I also want Missy and Chris to feel like they aren’t just having another low key dinner party.
Supplies:
1. Everyone’s bringing food or wine
2. Lots of random left over booze
3. Missy’s craft room (crafting and herb central, this will be a big help)
4. Lots of luck
We still need a theme. It will help us transform the space. We are thinking 50’s pot luck and martini party, or Mad Hatter’s style with fancy treats and hidden treasures.
I will keep you posted on our progress. If anyone has ideas please share!
by admin on December 20, 2009
We love to party at the Cokas house and find ourselves there most Saturdays. It has evolved into a food and wine tasting extravaganza. Last night I believe we found one of our all time favorite wines. We headed down to Divine Wine Emporium in Niantic, CT, our go to wine shop. Ken Turcotte, the owner, has a great and ever changing inventory and extensive knowledge of everything we decide to try. I’m a sucker for shiny things, so the red foil label grabbed me right away. Then as we poured our first round of the Pinot Noir Cava, the rich ruby color made me want to change into an outfit that would complement it. There’s nothing better than a drink that makes you feel fancy *insert cheesy grin*.
Segura Viudas ARIA Pinot Noir Brut Cava is full of light fruit flavors such as strawberry, watermelon and elderberry with a very smooth finish. It doesn’t sit on the back of your pallet the way many other sparkling wines do. This Cava is a brut wine so it has no added sugar, though on first taste you would never believe it. This wine hits your tongue like a watermelon jolly rancher but as it rolls to the back of your pallet its crispy dryness takes over and finishes with an adult complexity and smoothness.
A note on wine terms:
Sparkling wines are categorized by the region where they are produced. Champagne for example, is a sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France. Cava is Spain’s version of sparkling wine. One of the nice benefits of Cava is that you can purchase a delicious bottle for $10-$15, a real value compared to it’s pricey French counterpart.
So pick up a bottle of Aria’s Pinot Noir and shift your party into full gear.
by M.Cokas on November 9, 2009
Building a Green Smoothie
I recently became hooked on green smoothies as a delicious and efficient way to eat raw greens. Greens provide so many essential nutrients for every part of the body, they can even help to remineralize your teeth and reverse tooth decay. It hasn’t always been easy to consume the recommended daily amount, especially if you are trying to get your kids to eat them. Well, it can be easy – enter the Green Smoothie. When I started making these smoothies for my family life became easier, my children got healthier and I felt good about the level of nutrition my children were getting.
Kai Likes to Push the Button
What is a green smoothie? A green smoothie is really any frozen blended fruit beverage that you add greens to and no, it isn’t necessarily green in color. It is also a great place to hide other superfoods like chia. There are hundreds, probably even thousands of combinations out there that you can suit to your own tastes, but I have a very basic recipe that I work from most of the time.
[click to continue…]
by J.English on October 30, 2009
I love it when my fiance calls me up to grab lunch. The Dutch Tavern is the oldest bar in New London, CT and one of our favorite midday spots. They serve a very traditional american lunch. Peter Detmold (the owner) is the only one you’ll ever find on the grill and thats the way he likes it. It’s also one of the few places left you can eat for under $5. The Dutch is known for it’s burgers, though my favorites are the tuna melt (pictured above) and the Veggie burger. Just make sure you get there before 3:30pm when he shuts down the grill. Oh and don’t forget to say hi to Ellie.
Let us know your favorite lunch spot.
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Jessie w/ tuna melt and potato salad
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Ed chewing…yummy
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Classic Lunch
by M.Cokas on October 28, 2009
Soaked Chia Seeds
I recently started researching Chia seeds, one of the new ’superfoods’ that has really changed my daily life. I say new, but really Chia use has been traced as far back as the Mayans and Aztecs. It’s also quite familiar to most of us from it’s popular life as the novelty plant Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia. Yet, the more I learned about this powerhouse, the more I loved it. These little seeds are literally packed with nutrients, one of the best sources of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and soluble fiber all in one tiny package. They help regulate blood sugar levels and create long sustaining energy for the body. Another big benefit Chia seeds have to offer, they are hydrophilic, absorbing many times their own weight in water so they are super-hydrating.
The easily digestable Chia seed also has a neutral flavor profile which makes them a joy to consume in hundreds of different ways. One of the easiest I’ve found, Chia Fresca, which basically means just toss a tablespoon in your favorite juice concoction. I’ve tried several different juices, fresh lemon with honey & water; limes, a touch of habanero & agave; or my quick on the way out the door: half water, half orange juice. You can throw them into smoothies or bake with them, you can even make your own natural gelatin type fruit dessert by mixing them with cut fruit and juice and then allowing them to set up. As a Chia seed is introduced to moisture it begins to form a gelatinous layer around the seed that creates a unique texture, I liken it to eating kiwi seeds. Get yourself some Chia and get ready to take your life up a notch.
Chia Seeds in Water
Chia Seeds in Water
