September Wine Tasting - Wine Reviews & Bruschetta Recipe

by Lydia Marshall & Wine Steward Jeanette

Cate ~ Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley $4.99

Full of melon and spice, accents of fresh cut grass blending perfectly with the juicy fruit.  

Spanish Demon ~ Rioja Tempranillo  ~ Spain $4.99 Aromas and flavors of juicy blackberry and black plum that gain surprising complexity from accents of smoke, bitter chocolate, and spice.  Round and smooth, a burst of blood-orange acidity comes up in the middle to add freshness and the wine finishes with light, fine, tannins that border on crisp. 

Mosiac ~ Zinfandel ~Alexander Valley $8.99

Favors of blackberry and black raspberry.  On the palate, the bell pepper was far in the background, but the smooth and supple fruit itself — more of the blackberry, soft dark plum, black raspberry — also had a rather stewed quality, although balanced with a reasonable amount of acid.  I think this wine would be fine for $5 or maybe $6, but IMO even the sale price of $8 was too much.

Ashlyn’s ~Private Reserve Red Blend

70% Syrah 23% Cabernet Sauvignon 7% Merlot Rich, deep and full of spice and blackberry fruit.   Excels at the table.  A great food wine.

All of the wines above would be paired beautifully with this fresh and final summery appetizer. Use the last of the fresh harvested tomatoes mixed with some olives, basil and cheese...then pick your favorite vinaigrette and voila...easy and impressive! You can serve this on crusty bread, a crostini or a cracker. It also makes a unique type salsa, if you will, to put over fish or chicken.

_________________________

Tomato Olive Bruschetta

8 to 12 servings

1 loaf crusty whole grain bread

1 clove garlic

6 to 8 roma tomatoes

10 basil leaves - chopped

1/4 cup crumbled or shaved cheese of choice (Parmesan, feta, goat)

1/2 cup olives - sliced or chopped

2 to 4 tablespoons Italian type vinaigrette dressing

Salt and pepper to taste

Toast sliced bread in oven until golden on both sides and set aside. Next, mix all other ingredients in a bowl, and then top each piece of bread with a spoonful of this fresh goodness.

Super Healthy Avocado Dip and Gluten Free Chips

We have avocados for a steal at 4 for $5 and delicious JUANITAS Tortilla Chips - small bag $1.99 and larger bag for $2.99.

For Wellness Wednesday we are sampling these Gluten Free chips and a super healthy Avocado Dip. You can also serve this dip with a tray of cut vegetables.

_________________________________________

Avocado Dip

2 medium sized avocados

1 small garlic clove - crushed
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (optional)

1/8 cup olive oil

1 - 2  tablespoons lemon juice

Salt to taste

Water if needed to thin out - 1 tablespoon at a time

Hot sauce or a dash of cayenne if desired to be spicy
Top with chopped cilantro if you like it for added "fresh" flavor

Place all ingredients in a food processor or a small blender and whip up to a smooth consistency. Add water as desired for how thick or thin you want the dip to be...or add a bit more water and olive oil to make a delicious and nutritious salad dressing.

Fresh Mozzarella, Balsamic Reduction & Tomatoes Galore...OH MY!

by Lydia Marshall

We have great deals this weekend on GORGEOUS varieties of tomatoes, FRESH MOZZARELLA for only $2.99 a block - elsewhere $4.99 and up, & ISOLA WHITE BALSAMIC reduction for a STEAL at $1.75 - elsewhere $4.99 and up. Some gourmet stores sell this delightful condiment for $9.99

White Balsamic comes from white grapes and white vinegar that is reduced at low temperatures to keep the color from darkening. It has a delightful blend of being tart and sweet, thicker like a light syrup and has a clean after taste. You can serve it drizzled over salads, strawberries, grilled meats, cheese and smoked meat platters...YUM!

Caprese Salad is a delicious salad to make for a dinner party or luncheon, as a platter for a buffet, or simply as a meal for yourself and your family. In the recipe provided in the link below, you can use this white balsamic reduction instead of reducing dark balsamic yourself. 

Click this link for the recipe: http://hazeldellgroceryoutlet.blogspot.com/2014/08/caprese-salad.html

___________________________________________________________________________

by Wine Steward Jeanette

To go with your salad, all you need is a nice crusty bread and this dark crimson red Italian wine...and you're set to go!

Giormani Valpolicella Ripasso, Verona, Italy $9.99 - elsewhere $15.99 and up

This is my favorite Italian wine that we carry.  I love it's earthiness, a bit of smokiness, and that the flavors are layered. It lasts on the palate and changes as it goes down! Very easy to drink, holds up well with most foods and is use a great value. 

SHOP US FIRST 

for all of your wine needs!

REXALL Naturalist Supplements SEMI-ANNUAL VITAMIN SALE

Quality. 

Value. Trust.

SHOP US FIRST!

The entire line of Rexall Sundown Naturalist Supplements is 

on sale - 20% OFF - Now until 9/9/14.

Rexall Sundown offers nutritional products that your body requires to fit an active lifestyle and maintain good health.* Rexall Sundown has been certified by STR - a leading independent consumer products testing firm - as meeting the highest manufacturing and product quality standards in the nutritional supplement industry.

The entire line (of over 50 different supplements) offers basic vitamin supplements that you are used to seeing suggested for optimum health, such as, vitamins A, C, D, E...all of the B's, magnesium, potassium, calcium, etc. The line also carries supplements that have become more familiar to the public in recent years such as, Co Q-10, fish oils, plant oils, melatonin to aid in sleep, and the like. 

Herbs are also a big part of this line. The following is taken from the Naturalist Rexall Sundown Brochure: Herbs have been used for centuries in many cultures, and are increasingly making their way into today's world of high-tech health practices. As the clinical evidence grows supporting the benefits of  herbs, many physicians are becoming more determined to educate both their patients and themselves about natural health care options. The vitamins, minerals and herbal formulas from Naturalist line allow consumers to benefit from this rich history of naturally derived health maintenance alternatives. 

Many consumers are discovering the advantages of supplementing their diets with herbal blends. These specialized blends were developed to support today's active lifestyles and targeted health needs. Among the many specialty herbal blends available are formulas for supporting a healthy heart, prostate, liver and eyes as well as menopause support and energy*

The previous information in this blog post was taken from The Naturalist by Rexall Sundown Brochure available at the vitamin section of Hazel Dell Grocery Outlet Bargain Market.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Tandoori Chicken with Rice Pilaf...and a Perfect Riesling to Match

by Lydia Marshall

Indian cuisine is not complicated cooking, you should not be intimidated.  What you need to make sure of when embarking on this ethnic food, is to be stocked up on the usual Indian spices (see image below of our NEW Spice Rack at GREAT prices!).  Rice, vegetables, legumes and yogurt are runner up players in this cuisine, and then you're set.  It's healthy food, loaded with bursting flavor and disease fighting spices. 

One misconception is that all of the dishes are spicy 'hot', and that's not the case.  Yes, all of the dishes are spicy, meaning that they are exploding with ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, corriander, turmeric, etc.  But, the heat can be controlled to your liking with every dish.   It's depth and layers of flavor are matched by no other cuisine that I've tried so far.  This is my opinion, have fun deciding for yourself.  Take it from me though, don't be intimidated and wait too long, you'll regret it.

For Sampling Saturday yesterday we featured Tandoori Chicken with Near East Rice Pilaf that's a great price at $1.29, and I used many of our La Fiesta Spices that are a STEAL compared to other stores. Our wine steward Jeanette selected a great Riesling from Moldova to pair with this dish. Grape Valley Riesling is only $4.99 - elsewhere $7.99 and up. It's also wrapped like a gift, so it would be a really nice wine to bring to a dinner party for the host or hostess.

So don't forget to come SHOP US FIRST for your grocery needs and SAVE MONEY! Also, try to make this dish for your friends and family at home while BBQ season is still upon us!

_______________________________________________

Tandoori Chicken 

(Serves 4 to 6)

Ingredients 

1 package chicken thighs, skin & bone removed

3 tablespoons water

2 cups plain yogurt

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons ginger powder

2 teaspoons curry powder

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons paprika

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons salt

Optional: If you want some heat, add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the marinade.

Preparation

1) Put all ingredients except for the chicken in a zip lock bag and mix through until it's blended well. 

Next, add the chicken and make sure that marinade coats all of the chicken pieces. Set aside in refrigerator for 4 hours to overnight. 

2) When ready to cook, you can grill it, bake it or cook it on a medium high pan until cooked through. The preferred method is to grill on a barbecue or a grill pan.  

3) Serve this with rice and a vegetable on the side.

NOTE:

 1.)  One really important tip in this recipe is to not cut short the marinating time of the chicken. The minimum is four hours and ideally, you'd marinate it overnight for optimum flavor. 

 2.)   You do not need to use red food coloring (which is what gives tandoori chicken it's deep color) to make this dish any more authentic.  The color of my chicken looks lighter and more golden, which is not what you're used to seeing in restaurants.  It is not necessary for enhancing the flavor in any way, it just affects how the chicken looks

We also have this spice packet from Kitchens of India that sells for only .99 cents. You can also use it mixed with the yogurt, water and lemon juice to make your marinade and grill the chicken. It is on the spicy side...so keep that in mind.

Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose & Mexican Salad with Spiced Chicken

by Lydia Marshall & Wine Steward Jeanette 

It's the weekend friends and it's time for some wine ideas for your dinner gatherings, parties or just for you to enjoy out on the patio while the summer sunshine continues for a few more weeks. The Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose´ is a summertime rose´ that is on the drier side, and one of our store favorites in this category of wine. It is fruity without being too sweet. It has delightful hints of strawberries and watermelon. It's a crisp and bright flavored rose´. We carry it for $5.99, and elsewhere it sells from $9.99 to up to even $19.99...so remember to SHOP US FIRST! 

Rose´wines have gotten a bad wrap as simply being the overly sweet White Zinfandel...well, not all of them are this sweet. Not that we're saying that White Zin is not a good wine, it is loved by many, but there is a whole other world of rose wines available.

Rose´ is made with the skin of the grape to give it it's beautiful color, and this is where the tannins come from also. The color can range from a pale golden pink color, to some with pale rusty orange, and then can range to deeper purplish pink tones. A good indicator of how sweet a rose´ will be is the depth of it's color. The deeper the color, the sweeter the wine. 

This Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose´ has gorgeous hues of golden orange and pale pink blended beautifully together. The fruity notes are beautifully balanced with it not being sweet, but not too dry either, making it a softer rose´. This employee favorite blends well with grilled fish or chicken, cheese, salads and slightly spicy food. The following recipe is a perfect pairing with this rose´as it's a crisp, fresh salad served with spiced chicken, salty cheese and roasted peppers.

_______________________________________________________

Mexican Salad with Spiced Chicken

(Serves 4)

Ingredients 

Salad

1 package of romaine hearts (usually comes with three)

1/2 of a red onion, sliced fine

12 tablespoons of roasted red peppers, roughly chopped

8 tablespoons of raw pepitas... aka pumpkin seeds

1/2 lb of Mexican Cotija Cheese, crumbled

1 package of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (six larger size pieces)

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1/8 teaspoon Mexican chili powder

1/8 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper

3 tablespoons of olive oil

Dressing (Makes one cup)

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 avocado

1/4 cup water

1/2 lime, squeezed

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon Mexican chili powder

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon sugar or agave

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon chopped cilantro

Preparation

1.)  Place pepitas into a large pan over med heat and toast, tossing frequently so you don't burn them.  When 3/4 of the nuts are golden brown, turn off heat and set aside.

2.)  Place vinegar, avocado, water and lime into a blender and puree until smooth.  Pour into a bowl, add the remaining ingredients for the dressing into the bowl and whisk until incorporated, set aside.

3.)  Season chicken thighs with cumin, garlic, chili powder, red chili flakes, salt and pepper.  Heat olive oil in a large pan over med high heat, add seasoned chicken and cook until golden brown and slightly crispy on each side.  When cooked, leave in pan and set aside to cool while you prepare the salad.

4.)  On a dinner plate, place two large handfuls of romaine, top with red onion slices, three tablespoons of roasted red peppers, two tablespoons of the toasted pepitas, two tablespoons of crumbled cotija cheese and 1 1/2 of the chicken thighs cut into slices.  Drizzle with a generous portion of the dressing and serve.

Tip:  You can use your favorite already prepared vinaigrette dressing for this salad.  Just give it a Mexican twist by adding pureed avocado, juice of half of a lime, one teaspoon of chopped cilantro and an 1/8 teaspoon of Mexican chili powder.  Whisk all of the ingredients together, taste for salt or pepper, and serve.

Flax Seed Smoothie

by Lydia Marshall

WOW!! We have Organic Milled Flax Seeds for only $2.99 - elsewhere $6.99...this is an amazing deal!

You can add milled flax seeds on top of your cereal, oatmeal, add to your baked goods for more fiber and Omega-3 power, and add it to your morning smoothies! See recipe below.

Why are flax seeds so highly recommended by health professionals? These tiny seeds might be small but they pack a ton of nutritional value. The mild nutty flavor won't overpower the flavor of what you are using it in, it only has around 35 calories per tablespoon, and that tablespoon packs loads of vitamins, minerals and the highly valued OMEGA-3 fatty acids...around 1500 mg per tablespoon.

These healthy fats will help lubricate your joints, lower cholesterol, and even help with reducing your risk of heart related issues...not to mention that these healthy fats can help to feed your brain.

The body can't make Omega-3's..these are called essential fatty acids, and we can only get them from the foods we eat. This fat is an essential food for children's developing brains and also for adults to maintain proper brain function. If you consider fat lubricating joints...this also works for the brain in order for it to run smoothly. This fat can help with memory, performance and can help the brains transmitters to fire properly. Omega's may also support with warding off depression and support the alleviation of some focus related mental issues.  Flax seeds pack protein as well, and can help to ward off certain types of cancers, they pack a ton of fiber and they are filling so can help with weight control.

One of the easiest ways to get your suggested one tablespoon per day is to add it to your smoothies.

______________________________________________________

FLAXSEED SMOOTHIE

Servings: one to two

1/2 banana

1/2 cup frozen berries of choice

1 1/2 cups nut milk of choice

1 tablespoon milled flax seeds

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Mix all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.