Twisted Vine Winery

As the sun came up this morning it was with the comment, " look how far on the hills I can see".  Most of the leaves are gone with the oak and poplar hanging on.  There are still some vibrant yellows and golds that have the "awe" look at that them.  It really does seem good to be able to see on the hills and deep into the pine stand (what is left of it).  True wild open spaces until late spring.  Raspberry and blackberry bushes have lost there foliage, now we will be able to see little and big animals that travel through by the house. 

As daylight slips away earlier each day and darkness sets in we will all be waiting for that one special day in December.  No, not Christmas!  Winter Solstice, December 21, 2016.  It makes me happy to know daylight will be pushing darkness aside after December 21.  We will be setting the clocks back in  couple weeks which means it will be dark when supper is on the table.   I like those daylight evenings, 6 more months!

I'm sure many of you know, I like wine.  Not dry wine, that reminds me of the worst liquid medicines I took as a little girl.  Give me the fruity, sweet, flavor burst wines.  There are a couple local wineries that fit the bill for my choice.  Lakewood Winery in Watkins Glen, NY, for their Niagara and Abbey Rose.  The Wilcox Winery in Wilcox, PA, for their Blueberry.  Bastress Winery, Williamsport, PA for their Jack Ass Red and Group Therapy.  The new one.............Twisted Vine Winery near Kane, PA, for their Wild Berry.  My wine tour is quite a circle of miles apart but all the more reason to take some beautiful rides.

Half gone or half full?  Tonight probably empty! 
It is that good if you like sweet wine.

We had friends visit yesterday and they brought me a bottle of wine from the Twisted Vine Winery and Dick a bottle of homemade brandy.  The day was perfect with lots of chatter, laughter, a little serious talk and catching up on life since 1968.  Remember the saying about paths crossing for a reason?  This is where it rings true, the reason.  In 1968 my path crossed with someone and now in 2016 that crossing has brought joy and friendship from this young couple.  When I think of how this time in our lives have come to be it is almost unbelievable.  I am so happy and proud to be a part of it all.  There is no doubt the friendship will continue.  What a great couple and amazing how much we have in common.  Good people deserve good happenings and I wish the best to them!

Now, I love cooking and will be very honest.  I HAVE FAILURES!  Yesterday for our company I decided to make it simple.  Potato soup with Italian Sausage, fresh spinach, onions, garlic, jalapeno smoked pepper, chicken broth and topped of with heavy cream.  I bought two small jalapenos, one for a Mexican dish we had the other night and the other for the potato soup.  I put them over the open flame on the stove, blackened them and put in a sandwich bag for 10 minutes.  That way the blackened peel slips off, take the seeds and stem out and chop.  We couldn't even taste the one I put in the Mexican dish.  The one I put in the soup for company.............kick butt, hotter than hot!.  I was so upset!  They ate it and didn't complain but for me it was one of those "oh, no!" times.  Thank goodness I had made dinner rolls, apple pie and a Tandy Cake.  So, now you know........Cheryl makes big blunders in the kitchen.  Take the good with the bad.  I can guarantee from now on I will add a little spice at a time!

The deadly hot one!

Chicken enchiladas in a creamy cheese sauce.  Chipotle
rice and refried beans.  Why couldn't this have been
the one I put the deadly Jalapeno in......

Thank you for all the interest in my cookbook.  Once most of the money is in I will place the order.  Please know that when I mail the book to you I will put in any extra money left if the postage is less than you sent me.  The more that I buy the cheaper per cookbook.  As of now I have 59 requested, plus the 15 I am buying.