December 2015 | Simple, Good and Tasty

Vino 101: Drinking the stars

Posted in on Thu, 12/24/2015 - 5:42am by Mike Healan -

With the holiday season upon us, your mind is probably fizzy, and not just from the stress. Sparkling wine has been a celebratory drink for generations, and it is especially synonymous with Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

But which one to get? A wall of sparkling wine can be overwhelming, especially to someone who only buys the stuff once a year.

Well, have no fear. I’m going to give you a basic overview of the different kinds of sparkling wine and provide examples of each type.

Champagne

Mention sparkling wine, and Champagne is the first thing most people think of. In order to be called Champagne, a wine has to come from a specific region (in regulatory parlance, the Champagne “AOC”) in northern France, and must be made using a very specific method.

Kitchen DIY: Homemade beef broth

Posted in Health on Tue, 12/15/2015 - 12:26pm by Laurie Jesch-Kulseth -

Not long ago, my little boy was sick for a few days, so my usual cooking routine was interrupted. I absolutely don’t mind the interruption, and like having him home with me all day again, but I just hate it when my little ones are sick. Since he hasn’t been eating a whole lot (sore throat), I’m so thankful to have frozen broth at the ready for both the ease and the nourishment that it can give to him. I guess this is as good a time as any to post this recipe, then.

Making broth isn’t a new concept, but it seems as though the foodie/health world has rediscovered it lately. There’s a good reason for that. Making broth is simple and it offers so many healthy benefits that store-bought versions simply do not. They also taste so much better. Make a homemade broth and then do a taste-test with a store brand. I have. The difference is stunning.