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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wine Careers -
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Zhu Zhu Pet Wins Toy of the Year Award
Zhu Zhu Pet Wins Toy of the Year Award
The winners are in. Toy of the Year, The Toy Industry Association handed out the awards last Saturday, February 13, as part of the kickoff of the American International Toy Fair in New York City.
The winners are in. Toy of the Year, The Toy Industry Association handed out the awards last Saturday, February 13, as part of the kickoff of the American International Toy Fair in New York City.
The Zhu Zhu Pet, manufactured by the Clayton-based toy company Cepia LLC, won Toy of the Year and also took home the top award in two categories:
- Recognizing an outstanding toy that combines innovation and play value, the Innovative Toy of the Year was presented to Zhu Zhu Pets by Cepia
- Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for girls of any age, the Girl Toy of the Year was presented to Zhu Zhu Pets by Cepia
Zhu Zhu Pets were the right toy at the right time at the right price. The Toy of the Year award is a great honor and one we share with our retail partners, as well as the millions of parents and kids that have brought Zhu Zhu Pets into their homes. But by no means will we be a one-hit wonder -- there's even more exciting things coming from Zhu Zhu Pets in 2010.
Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters are now in stock and available at http://www.specialcelebrationgifts.com/
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two
Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two
Set the Stage:
It can be simple to set the stage for a romantic dinner for two. Literally think of your table as your stage set. A white or red table cloth or place mats can make a perfect background for romance. Unfurl some red ribbon and let it flutter naturally on the cloth. Small votives, or candles will add a sense of mystery, and a bunch of red roses – or a single rose placed at each setting, will add the scent of romance. Sprinkle candy hearts or wrapped candy kisses all around and you’ve got it going on for the beginnings of a fabulous evening. Don’t forget to download your favorite love songs – the ones you loved when you first met!
Show your Fondness with a Fabulous Fondue:
It can be simple to set the stage for a romantic dinner for two. Literally think of your table as your stage set. A white or red table cloth or place mats can make a perfect background for romance. Unfurl some red ribbon and let it flutter naturally on the cloth. Small votives, or candles will add a sense of mystery, and a bunch of red roses – or a single rose placed at each setting, will add the scent of romance. Sprinkle candy hearts or wrapped candy kisses all around and you’ve got it going on for the beginnings of a fabulous evening. Don’t forget to download your favorite love songs – the ones you loved when you first met!
Show your Fondness with a Fabulous Fondue:
Fondue is a romantic’s favorite! Savoring and sharing the creamy concoction is a sheer delight. Bring out the fondue pot, or pick up a new one…or a used one in garage sales or antique stores. No fondue pot? Use a heavy saucepan instead. You can substitute the Gruyere if it is hard to find, using Baby Swiss or regular Swiss. You must use white wine in this recipe; the acid in the wine is what helps the cheese stay dreamily creamy as it melts.
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
2 Tbsp. Flour
1 clove garlic, cut in half
1-1/2 cups dry white wine such as our Sun Fish Chardonnay
1 Tbsp. Lemon juice OR 2 Tbsp. Kirsch, if desired
Preparation:
Coat cheeses with flour by tossing together in a large bowl. Rub garlic on the bottom and sides of the fondue dish and discard, or rub garlic on bottom and sides of heavy saucepan. Pour wine into fondue dish and heat just until bubbles rise to the surface. Stir in lemon juice or kirsch, if using.
Gradually add floured cheese, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly over low heat, until cheeses are melted. You may add more cheese or wine, as needed, to reach the desired consistency. If you made the fondue in a regular saucepan, pour the hot fondue into a round pan you can keep warm over a hot plate on the table.
Cut French bread or a round rustic loaf into cubes. Dip the cubed bread into the fondue and enjoy!
For the perfect wine pairing for this luscious recipe, try one of these wines:
Sun Fish 2008 Mendocino Chardonnay
This 2008 Sun Fish Mendocino Chardonnay has fresh ripe aromas of apple and peach with hints of citrus and golden raspberry. The flavors are light and lively with medium acidity, fruity flavors and nice round mouth-feel. The finish is fruity and mellow with hints of acidity.
De Beaumont Cellars 2008 Alexander Valley White Meritage
This 2008 De Beaumont Cellars Alexander Valley White Meritage has deep and complex fruit aromas. The citrus, green apple and tropical aromas are framed with a mild honey character and light spiciness. The flavor is silky smooth and a wonderful compliment to the aroma.
The perfect end to a romantic evening has got to be chocolate covered strawberries. These can be made in a flash. Pair them with these wines:
Mariana Vineyard 2007 Mendocino Zinfandel
This 2007 Mariana Vineyard Mendocino Zinfandel has aromas of plum, blackberry and sandalwood with hints of moist tobacco and spice. This is a big mouthwatering wine with medium tannin. The finish is long and juicy with underlying oak.
Mariana Vineyard 2007 Mendocino Petite Sirah
This 2007 Mariana Vineyard Mendocino Petite Sirah has aromas of blackberry, blueberry and anise with hints of cherry and spice. The tannin is light giving the wine a medium-weight on the palate and allowing the fruit to shine through. The finish is medium to long and focused on the fruit with the smooth tannin acting as a platter to showcase the ripe flavors.
Super Easy CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES (MICROWAVE):
Ingredients:
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate pieces
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 pt. fresh strawberries, hulls intact, washed & dried
Preparation:
Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. In a 1-quart microwave proof bowl, place the chocolate, then adding the butter on top in center. Microwave on medium for 2 minutes, then stir. Continue microwaving on medium for 30 seconds to 1 minute more, until chocolate and butter are all melted, stirring frequently.
Using the strawberry hulls as handles, partially dip the strawberries into chocolate, twirling the strawberries in the chocolate to cover berries. Then place berries, hull side down, on the wax paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes before serving.
Published by WineShop At Home
Copyright © 2010 WineShop At Home. All rights reserved.
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
2 Tbsp. Flour
1 clove garlic, cut in half
1-1/2 cups dry white wine such as our Sun Fish Chardonnay
1 Tbsp. Lemon juice OR 2 Tbsp. Kirsch, if desired
Preparation:
Coat cheeses with flour by tossing together in a large bowl. Rub garlic on the bottom and sides of the fondue dish and discard, or rub garlic on bottom and sides of heavy saucepan. Pour wine into fondue dish and heat just until bubbles rise to the surface. Stir in lemon juice or kirsch, if using.
Gradually add floured cheese, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly over low heat, until cheeses are melted. You may add more cheese or wine, as needed, to reach the desired consistency. If you made the fondue in a regular saucepan, pour the hot fondue into a round pan you can keep warm over a hot plate on the table.
Cut French bread or a round rustic loaf into cubes. Dip the cubed bread into the fondue and enjoy!
For the perfect wine pairing for this luscious recipe, try one of these wines:
Sun Fish 2008 Mendocino Chardonnay
This 2008 Sun Fish Mendocino Chardonnay has fresh ripe aromas of apple and peach with hints of citrus and golden raspberry. The flavors are light and lively with medium acidity, fruity flavors and nice round mouth-feel. The finish is fruity and mellow with hints of acidity.
De Beaumont Cellars 2008 Alexander Valley White Meritage
This 2008 De Beaumont Cellars Alexander Valley White Meritage has deep and complex fruit aromas. The citrus, green apple and tropical aromas are framed with a mild honey character and light spiciness. The flavor is silky smooth and a wonderful compliment to the aroma.
The perfect end to a romantic evening has got to be chocolate covered strawberries. These can be made in a flash. Pair them with these wines:
Mariana Vineyard 2007 Mendocino Zinfandel
This 2007 Mariana Vineyard Mendocino Zinfandel has aromas of plum, blackberry and sandalwood with hints of moist tobacco and spice. This is a big mouthwatering wine with medium tannin. The finish is long and juicy with underlying oak.
Mariana Vineyard 2007 Mendocino Petite Sirah
This 2007 Mariana Vineyard Mendocino Petite Sirah has aromas of blackberry, blueberry and anise with hints of cherry and spice. The tannin is light giving the wine a medium-weight on the palate and allowing the fruit to shine through. The finish is medium to long and focused on the fruit with the smooth tannin acting as a platter to showcase the ripe flavors.
Super Easy CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES (MICROWAVE):
Ingredients:
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate pieces
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 pt. fresh strawberries, hulls intact, washed & dried
Preparation:
Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. In a 1-quart microwave proof bowl, place the chocolate, then adding the butter on top in center. Microwave on medium for 2 minutes, then stir. Continue microwaving on medium for 30 seconds to 1 minute more, until chocolate and butter are all melted, stirring frequently.
Using the strawberry hulls as handles, partially dip the strawberries into chocolate, twirling the strawberries in the chocolate to cover berries. Then place berries, hull side down, on the wax paper lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes before serving.
Published by WineShop At Home
Copyright © 2010 WineShop At Home. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Here comes Cupid
Here comes Cupid!
Valentine's Day is Coming and we want to help you make it a sweetheart of a day!
Valentine's Day Wine Club Special - Give a special someone an open-ended wine club membership for Valentine's day.
You can select to give reds, whites or one of each. They will receive two exceptional wines from California's best boutique wineries delivered right to their door for the duration of the membership. It's a perfect way to share the wine country with your loved one.
3 Month gift membership $89.85
6 Month gift membership $171.70
12 Month gift membership $359.40
Valentine's Day Gift Ideas
Though there are various traditions and customs associated with the festival, the most popular way of celebrating Valentines Day is by expressing love to sweethearts and dear ones with an exchange of gifts.
Some of the most traditional Valentine's Day gifts exchanged between lovers are fresh flowers, chocolates and cards. Jewelry is also fast emerging as the most sought after Valentine's Day gift for women. In the modern technologically advanced age, exchange of text messages between friends and loved ones has become a norm.
Going on dates with beloved is the other major way of celebrating Valentine's Day Festival. Restaurants see a busy time as people celebrate the day of romance with a candle light dinner.
People also participate in Valentine's Day wine parties and balls organized by various clubs and hotels. Private parties are also organized in homes and farmhouses where young and the old have a blast.
Some couple use the occasion to propose their beloved while some chose to get engaged on the festival that celebrates love and lovers.
Some of the most traditional Valentine's Day gifts exchanged between lovers are fresh flowers, chocolates and cards. Jewelry is also fast emerging as the most sought after Valentine's Day gift for women. In the modern technologically advanced age, exchange of text messages between friends and loved ones has become a norm.
Going on dates with beloved is the other major way of celebrating Valentine's Day Festival. Restaurants see a busy time as people celebrate the day of romance with a candle light dinner.
People also participate in Valentine's Day wine parties and balls organized by various clubs and hotels. Private parties are also organized in homes and farmhouses where young and the old have a blast.
Some couple use the occasion to propose their beloved while some chose to get engaged on the festival that celebrates love and lovers.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
How to approve wine at a restaurant
How to approve wine at a restaurant
Mark Phillips is one of the nation’s most popular wine speakers.
Here is a clip from his PBS show
Taste Wine
Mark Phillips is one of the nation’s most popular wine speakers. The main reason for his popularity is that he has such a humorous, non-snobby approach to wine that resonates with the wine consumer. He is the founder of the Progressive Approach to wine which is a modern and practical approach to wine vs. the Traditional Approach that other wine experts espouse. Because of Phillips’s approach, PBS asked him to host a wine special which made its debut in March 2006. The show, “Enjoying Wine with Mark Phillips” shattered all records by being picked up by over 300 stations. The show was originally scheduled to air for just two years but it’s been continued for another two years, through 2010.
Here is a clip from his PBS show:
Monday, January 11, 2010
An Exclusive Wine Tasting of Napa Valley Wines!
An Exclusive Wine Tasting of Napa Valley Wines!
OUR MOST POPULAR EVENT!
"A Trip to Napa Valley"
An Exclusive Wine Shop at Home Event @ your home
Only $59.00! (plus tax, shipping included)
With Wine Shop at Home you can have an exceptional day with your friends. An independent wine consultant will showcase our new releases and show you what makes the Napa Valley so special! We will pour 5 different wines plus you get a complimentary bottle of wine for you to keep or to share.
No air travel needed: The Napa Valley comes to you! You provide the hors d'oeurves and an array of fine cheeses to complement the wines.
Discount Pricing for the host on wines purchased and on a gift item or 50% off your 1st payment when you join the wine club.
OUR MOST POPULAR EVENT!
"A Trip to Napa Valley"
An Exclusive Wine Shop at Home Event @ your home
Only $59.00! (plus tax, shipping included)
With Wine Shop at Home you can have an exceptional day with your friends. An independent wine consultant will showcase our new releases and show you what makes the Napa Valley so special! We will pour 5 different wines plus you get a complimentary bottle of wine for you to keep or to share.
No air travel needed: The Napa Valley comes to you! You provide the hors d'oeurves and an array of fine cheeses to complement the wines.
Discount Pricing for the host on wines purchased and on a gift item or 50% off your 1st payment when you join the wine club.
ONLY $59
Call Norma Serrano,
Wine Shop at Home Consultant
at (323) 974 - 5231
visit our website: www.wineshopathome.com/normaserrano
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