Monthly Archives: May 2014

What is your chef style?

ChefStyleWhat is chef style?

I’m not talking about your rank in the kitchen, but the manner in which you behave in the kitchen.

Chef style: Cleaning

Do you clean up as you go along or do you make a giant mess and clean it up at the end?

Or maybe you are lucky enough to have a wonderful mate who doesn’t mind cleaning up your giant mess since you create such wonderful culinary delights. Continue reading

The great red wine vs white wine debate

Red wine vs white wine debatePeople have asked me, do you like red wine or white wine?

My answer, “Yes.”

Why must we divide ourselves into two factions? Why is there a red wine vs white wine debate? I understand that there are some people who do prefer one over the other. I, myself, like both and will drink wine based on various things, mood, weather, mood, cravings, mood, meals,…did I say mood? Continue reading

5 Easy Staycation Ideas and Tips to Make Your Summer Fun!

Five Staycation ideas and tipsSometimes, you need a break, but you don’t have the time, or the money, to go anywhere exotic and far away.  Enter the staycation! I’ve included a few staycation ideas to help you plan a mental getaway this summer or any time of the year, really.

Staycation tip one: No chores

That’s right.  Don’t do any chores.  OK, maybe make your bed if it really bothers you like it bothers me, but otherwise, forget cleaning and scrubbing.  Just relax.

Staycation tip two: Go out to eat

You don’t have to go somewhere fancy with white linens on the tables, just don’t cook and try somewhere new. Continue reading

What is your favorite wine? Hello, tempranillo!

What is Tempranillo?While I like both red and white, I do have some favorites. My favorite red? Tempranillo. What is tempranillo? I’m so glad you asked…even though you didn’t.

It’s flavor just speaks to me…ok that sounded pretentious. It doesn’t have a bite like some red wines. It has that interesting berry flavor which fancy people call cassis, but I call black currant. OK, I can also taste the plum. Yay plum! Continue reading

Three hotel stay tips: how to stay clean

hotel stay tipsHere’s the thing: Hotel rooms are dirty.  Sure, they might look clean, but trust me, they aren’t. I’ve got a few tips to satiate the germaphobe in us all. Read on if you want to know how to stay clean in a hotel room!

Hotel stay tip #1: Lysol everything

Seriously, I carry small cans of the stuff with me when I travel and spray down the whole freaking room as soon as I put down my luggage (not on the bed). Start with the TV remote, then move on to the bed. Pretty much spray down any surface you might touch…especially the door handles and light switches. Continue reading

Have you heard of IT’S-IT ice cream sandwich?

Unless you’re from northern California, odds are you have no idea what I’m talking about and that’s sad.

IT'S-IT, WTF-Amy, ice cream, sandwich

I’m talking about the IT’S-IT ice cream sandwich…well, it’s the best ice cream sandwich,ever.

I’ve driven past the factory in the Bay Area and you can smell the oatmeal cookies baking.  Oh the cookies!

Add to that a big old scoop of ice cream.  My favorite was chocolate, but that was elusive.  Vanilla was the most common and so was mint for some reason.  Cappuccino was the back up for the chocolate. Continue reading

Wine Review Chateau Julien Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

WTF-Amy-Wine-Review-Cabernet-SauvignonI’m not sure how I found this wine from the Monterey/Carmel Valley region of California, but am I happy I did. Sadly, I haven’t been to this winery, but their website had a really cool map showing the different viticultural areas in the Monterey area.  I’ve been to Monterey several times.  It’s just wonderful.  Then again, most of the California coast is wonderful. It’s funny, but a good wine smells like a hutch that used to be my great-great grandmother’s.  For some reason, that piece of antique furniture smells like a good wine. So, what is Cabernet Sauvignon? Aside from red wine, obviously.  But according to Wikipedia (sorry for the reference), it’s one of the most widely recognized red wine grape varieties in the world.  Apparently, some time in the 17th century someone (a monk?) happened to cross a Cabernet Franc with a Sauvignon Blanc (both great wines) and voila! A delicious grape was born. Continue reading

Travel Goal: Visit all 50 United States

Travel, Goals, United States, AmericaMost people seem to think travel should involve far off, exotic places.  I aspire to see Iowa.  Seriously. One of my travel goals is to visit all 50 states.  So far, I’ve been to 25.

I set this goal one day after reading a blog post about life goals.  The term “bucket list” seemed too dark.  I liked the positive vibes and came up with a 50 state travel goal. Continue reading