A beautiful time of year!
We hope you’re enjoying the colorful lights of the holidays and the peaceful imagery winter brings to the landscape. It’s the perfect time to get into a good novel, have a long conversation over mulled wine, do a bit of writing or something creative you like! So, we thought we’d share a few classic poems to wet your pallet for the coming days of winter.
‘Winter-Time’ by Robert Louis Stevenson
Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.
Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.
Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.
When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.
Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.
‘Talking in Their Sleep’ by Edith M. Thomas
“You think I am dead,”
The apple tree said,
“Because I have never a leaf to show –
Because I stoop,
And my branches droop,
And the dull gray mosses over me grow!
“But I’m still alive in trunk and shoot;
The buds of next May
I fold away –
But I pity the withered grass at my root.”
“You think I am dead,”
The quick grass said,
“Because I have parted with stem and blade!
But under the ground,
I am safe and sound
With the snow’s thick blanket over me laid.
“I’m all alive, and ready to shoot,
Should the spring of the year
Come dancing here –
But I pity the flower without branch or root.”
“You think I am dead,”
A soft voice said,
“Because not a branch or root I own.
I never have died, but close I hide
In a plumy seed that the wind has sown.
“Patient I wait through the long winter hours;
You will see me again –
I shall laugh at you then,
Out of the eyes of a hundred flowers.
A Day of thanks
May your day be filled with warmth, laughter, good food and an endless supply of fine wine!
~ Cheers
Fall is the time for Cooking!
Hang up the phone, put on some music and get ready for some afternoons of kitchen-filled awesomeness. If you know you’re going to do a bit (ok, a LOT) of cooking in the kitchen, consider prepping your breakfast the night before. Whip up that pancake batter and put on the crockpot to work on your favorite fall, morning brew. …There’s nothing like setting yourself up for tasty baking success, and starting out with something tasty too!
slow cooker hot chocolate
“Combining cocoa powder and chocolate chips with milk, evaporated milk or heavy cream and marshmallows makes the most decadent, mouthwatering hot chocolate!” Add your favorite coffee (liquor or wine) for an added zip to your special morning.
creamy four-cheese spinach butternut squash
This dish has flavors all throughout! With the perfect variety of cheeses and spices, talk about a fall food worth falling in LOVE with! It’s SO good, you won’t even have to try! Pair with our 2013 Zinfandel which is full of deep rich jammy fruit, a hint of sweet on the forward and a rich mellow finish.
pumpkin crisp
It’s a recipe you’ll soon be dreaming about – especially if you’ve never tried it before. This little unforgettable has got ALL the ‘all-time favorites’! …Quick oats, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and some intrigue, gingersnap “cookie flour”. Pair it with our 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, and you’ll be as pleased as a cat curled up next to a fire. …or Sandi’s lap…
LOL! …Anyway…back to the autumn food eats!
white cheddar mac n’ cheese stuffed squash
This is a simple yet satisfying fall dish, that combines nicely with white cheddar and a nutty, earthy-like flavor. Try it with our Rosella’s White Wine Blend.
baked apples with sausage stuffing
This recipe is not only FUN, but it’s also deeeelightful to the tastebuds! A healthy, yet satisfying dish like this will have you putting it into your monthly rotation for a while! Bring your friends and family over for a bit of fun in the kitchen. Don’t forget the wine! Pairs well with Rosella’s Red Wine Blend.
From one chef to another, happy seasonal cooking!
~ Rosella’s
Applegate Valley Wine Trail
