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    Posted on October 17th, 2011

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    Oct 22 – Best Bake Sale Cookbook, Mr. Breakfast, Great WA Riesling

    First up is Gretchen Holt-Witt, founder of Cookies for Kids Cancer – and author of the “Best Bake Sale Cookbook.”

    In December 2007, Gretchen Holt-Witt set the lofty goal of baking and selling 96,000 cookies during the holidays, all in the name of funding research for pediatric cancer, the #1 disease killer of kids in the United States and the disease her young son was battling. Armed with the determination of a mom on a mission plus the knowledge that funds for research mean more treatment options, better survival rates, and hope for the future, Holt-Witt succeeded in selling all 96,000 cookies and raising over $400,000 for new pediatric cancer treatments.

    Long after the ovens cooled, requests for more cookies along with offers to help poured in. Gretchen knew she was onto something. She and her husband Larry answered the call to action by starting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer (cookiesforkidscancer.org), a national non-profit that inspires people to host bake sales of all sizes, from desktops and porches to entire corporations and communities, with some raising more than $30,000 in one day. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer went on to partner with The Glad Products Company, inspiring thousands of individuals with Glad’s promise to match funds raised at bake sales. The partnership has received attention from Martha Stewart, CNN, Parade, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Woman’s Day, O The Oprah Magazine, the Today show, and more.

    With experience, passion, heart, and great stories from bake sale hosts, this cookbook was created to inspire more bake sales as well as directly benefit this amazing charity. 100% of the author’s proceeds and royalties will be donated to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for pediatric cancer research. The recipes include easy-to-prepare treats for cookies, brownies, bars, cupcakes, quick breads, and more. In addition, there are tips on starting your own bake sale and inspirational quotes and stories throughout the book.  www.cookiesforkidscancer.org

    In the second half I’ll be chatting with the world famous “Mr. Breakfast” about the most important meal of the day.  www.mrbreakfast.com

    Mr Breakfast is the world’s undisputed #1 expert on breakfast. The Klark Kent to Mr Breakfast’s Superman is Eddy Chavey, an accomplished author and a graduate of the Los Angeles New School Of Cooking.

    His Mission: (1) To instill the importance of eating breakfast; (2) to show how multi-facited and fantastic the most important meal of the day can be and (3) to help provide breakfast to those in need through the promotion of school breakfast programs and food charities via The Breakfast Of Love Miracle Network.  Check out some “Mr Breakfast videos!”

    Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
    2008 40 Days Riesling from Washington State
    The Blind Boar Wine Company is a collaborative project by Dusted Valley and many leading winegrowers throughout Washington State. It offers our family an opportunity to showcase the tremendous value and character the Northwest has to offer.   Riesling was one of the first grape varieties to be grown in Washington. This wine has mouthwatering acidity a lovely floral nose, with vivid apricot, peach and apple flavors!

    Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and join us :-)

  • Other

    Posted on October 10th, 2011

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    Oct 15 – Midwest Beerfest and more!

    Live from the 11th Annual Midwest Beerfest at Century II Convention Center, Wichita Kansas

    I’ll be talking to some of the folks who will be pouring their brews, and telling you about all the fun to be had at this years Beerfest.  What event allows you to taste more than 350 beers from around the world including microbrews from Kansas, purchase tasty food from local restaurants, and bid on great silent auction items — all while taking a “sip for a scholarship?” The 11th Annual Midwest Beerfest!

    Join fellow brew-lovers and increase your beer knowledge from 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15 at Century II Exhibition Hall, Wichita, Kansas, for a “big brew” adventure and help celebrate our 11th year of great beers, food and fun.  www.midwestbeerfest.com

    In the second half…

    It’s all about wine and a great two day Oregon wine event you should make plans to attend!   We attended last year and will be going to Oregon again this year for ¡Salud! The Premier Oregon Pinot Noir Auction. I’ll be talking to Donna Morris, owner of Winderlea Vineyard & Winery and Co-Chair of the ¡Salud! Steering Committee.

    ¡Salud! marks the world premiere of Oregon’s finest Pinot Noir. Winemakers from the state’s foremost wineries will debut the 2010 vintage at this benefit for Oregon’s seasonal vineyard workers and their families. This event is the only opportunity to acquire unique cuvées made exclusively for ¡Salud! – the very best of the latest vintage of Oregon Pinot Noir.

    Tasting and Big Board Auction – Friday, November 11, 2011
    Domaine Drouhin Oregon – 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Casual Attire

    Dinner and Auction Gala – Saturday, November 12, 2011
    The Governor Hotel, Portland – 5:00 p.m.,  Black Tie Optional

    The ticket price of $395 per person includes the Friday Tasting and Big Board Auction and the Saturday Auction and Dinner. Seating is limited. Click here to purchase tickets online or call (503) 681-1850 with any questions.  Learn more at:  www.saludauction.org

    Also be talking to Melissa Burr winemaker at Stoller Vineyards in Oregon about the winery, vineyards and her wines.  May have to crack open on of the Stoller special cuvee wines from last years ¡Salud! that I was lucky enough to win at the Big Board auction.

    Watch a video of Guy and Melissa at last years Salud Auction

     

    Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
    2008 Stoller Vineyards JV Estate Pinot Noir
    Aromas of ripe red raspberries, Bing cherries, floral notes of lilac and violets, barrel spices of cinnamon and clove, and herb de Provence (lavender and green herbal tones/tea leaf). The palate features bramble berry flavors, bright acidity and medium tannins with a real purity of red fruit flavors.

    Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and join us!

  • Other

    Posted on October 5th, 2011

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    Oct 8 – Kristina Vanni & Pumpkins, Killer Rhone wine

    My first guest is Kristina Vanni.  Whether it is being named master of the grill or earning kudos for whipping up a sweet treat, this award-winning culinary diva can rock any cuisine and is always ready for her food to take center stage!

    Kristina Vanni -" The Budget Diva"

    Kristina’s passion for food began at the tender age of 12 when she earned a spot in the winner’s circle at the Pillsbury Bake-Off. Since then she has gone on to win top honors from Martha Stewart, Betty Crocker, and Kraft, just to name a few. Most recently she won 1st place for grilling at the National Beef Cook-Off and the Grand Prize from the National Pork Board.

     

    Today it’s all about Pumpkins!  Not just the “Jack-O-Lantern” gourd for Halloween, but great recipes and more fun with this fall treat.

    To learn more about Kristina visit www.kristinavanni.com and to see some of her great recipes click HERE

    In the second half I’ll be telling you about some FUN events that you’ll want to get on your calendar;  The Wichita Wine Opener is scheduled Thursday, October 20th at Abode Venue.  A fun food & wine event that is a benefits The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

    Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
    2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Les Valats

    The deep ruby/purple-colored 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Les Valats displays the chocolatey side of Grenache along with aromas and flavors of scorched earth, black fruits, and earth. This masculine, classic Rasteau should age nicely for a decade.

    91pts Wine Advocate

    This wine is on sale at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road – Regularly $26; Sale price $16.99
    You would have heard about it if you were on the Jacob’s email list!   Send your email address to Whitney at wine@jacobliquor.com :-)

  • Other

    Posted on September 25th, 2011

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    Oct 1 – Latin Cooking & 07′ Napa Cab Value

    Born in Miami and raised during the Cuban migration that change Miami for ever, and in my opinion for the better, I love Latin food.  Cuban, or any of the many cuisines from South America all are distinct, colorful, flavorful and FUN.  My guest this week is Sandra Gutierrez with her new book; “The New Southern-Latino Table – Recipes That Bring Together theBold and Beloved Flavors of Latin American & the American South. ”

    In this splendid cookbook, bicultural chef Sandra Gutierrez blends ingredients, traditions, and culinary techniques, creatively marrying the diverse and delicious cuisines of more than twenty Latin American countries with the beloved food of the American South.

    The New Southern-Latino Table features 150 original and delightfully tasty recipes that combine the best of both culinary cultures. Sandra, who has taught thousands of people how to cook, highlights the surprising affinities between the foodways of the Latin and Southern regions–including a wide variety of ethnic roots in each tradition and many shared basic ingredients–while embracing their flavorful contrasts and fascinating histories.

    These lively dishes–including Jalapeno Deviled Eggs, Cocktail Chiles Rellenos with Latin Pimiento Cheese, Two-Corn Summer Salad, Latin Fried Chicken with Smoky Ketchup, Macaroni con Queso, and Chile Chocolate Brownies–promise to spark the imaginations and the meals of home cooks, seasoned or novice, and of food lovers everywhere. Along with delectable appetizers, salads, entrees, side dishes, and desserts, Sandra also provides a handy glossary, a section on how to navigate a Latin tienda, and a guide to ingredient sources. The New Southern-Latino Table brings to your home innovative, vibrant dishes that meld Latin American and Southern palates.

    I’ll also be telling you about another Latin cookbook by Lourdes Castro “Latin Grilling – Recipes to Share, from Patagonia Asado to Yucatecan Barbecue and more.

    From the steamy jungles of the Yucatán to the verdant valleys along the Andes, Latin Grilling goes beyond typical barbecue fare and familiar Mexican and Tex-Mex standards to present more than 90 recipes that showcase the diversity of Latin American cooking. Acclaimed cooking teacher Lourdes Castro takes you on a culinary tour of the Americas with ten fiestas featuring authentic Latin flavors tailored for home cooking and backyard grilling.

    In addition to steak and other grilled meats, Latin Grilling includes options for chicken, fish, shrimp, and vegetables to offer a bounty of delicious dishes sure to please all of your guests. Kick off your Peruvian party with a trio of fresh ceviches or host a Cuban Cookout complete with a whole roasted hog. With country-by-country entertaining plans and menus including beverages, starters, entrées, sides, and desserts, this celebration of traditional Latin American grilling is a refreshing change of pace. Lourdes captures the essence of Latin America in each meticulously formulated recipe, and to ensure you feel comfortable at the grill, she shares tips and notes on ingredients, flavor variations, techniques, and entertaining ideas throughout.

    Whether you’re hosting a festive Brazilian Rodizio kicked off with Caipiroska cocktails and Skewered Shrimp with Coconut Lime Sauce, or a hearty Andean Barbecue featuring Arepas, Grilled Salt-Crusted Beef Tenderloin, and Chocolate Pudding with Espresso Cream, Latin Grilling is sure to get the party started—and keep your amigos coming back for more.

    Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
    2007 Franciscan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

    The fruit-laden 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers a luscious bouquet of dark fruit including blackcurrant, black cherry, and blackberry layered over aromas of sweet vanilla and baking spices. Approachable cherry and cocoa notes lead to a wine of intense concentration, with flavors of dried plums and cola laced with hints of tobacco. Generous weight and mouth-filling velvet tannins frame a finish that lingers with flavors of dark cherry and cassis.

    “A terrific wine that proves you don’t have to spend a fortune for a top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet. It’s a deeply flavored, brooding young wine, filled with exciting blackberry, cassis and mineral flavors. Big in tannins, yet with a very refined, classy mouthfeel, it should begin to hit its stride after 2014.”
    94 Points Wine Enthusiast

  • Other

    Posted on September 20th, 2011

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    Sept 24 – Delicious Memories & Amalaya Malbec blend

    This Saturday we begin with Anna Boiardi, author of Delicious Memories – Recipes and Stories from the Chef Boyardee Family.

    The Boiardi name has reached tables across America for more than 70 years. Most Americans have fond memories of this iconic brand, evoking nostalgia for a simpler time. From a very young age, Anna Boiardi spent countless hours helping her mother and grandmother, kneading and folding, and listening to stories as rich as the tortellini she and her mother would work to perfection. Now, for the first time, Anna brings us the authentic recipes that inspired the brand, including Ravioli with Ricotta and Squash Filling, Cotechino with Lentils, and Baked Fennel with Butter and Parmesan. Recipes for sauces, meats, and of course pasta dishes are just some of the secrets Anna shares in Delicious Memories.  Get a copy now!

    Anna Boiardi is the granddaughter of Mario Boiardi and the great-niece of Hector Boiardi, founders of the Chef Boiardi Food Product Co. Born and raised in Italy in a family of chefs, Boiardi learned to cook at home with her mother and grandparents. After college, she launched Cucina Academy, which has been featured on CNBC, and she appears regularly on QVC presenting her dessert line, Delicious Memories. Boiardi lives in New York.
    Learn more about Anna at www.annaboiardi.com

    Things to do today and next week:

    Going on Saturday starting at Noon:
    The Wagon Masters Downtown Chili Cookoff
    I’ll be telling you all about this great annual event that is good family fun and a treat for the taste buds.  www.wagonmasterschili.com

    Chef Aaron Whitcomb, executive chef at Newport Grill joins us to talk about the upcoming Continental Wine Dinner at Newport Grill Sept 29th, 7 p.m.  Reservations are required and this event will fill up quickly so call today; 316 636-9555

    Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
    2009 Amalaya Malbec Blend
    The color is deep magenta with red hues. The aromas begin with a top note of roses and violets followed by a red fruit profile of cherries and strawberries with hints of white pepper. The flavors are similar, with exotic plum and berry wrapped in a sweet, wet clay, earthy background. The entry on the palate is smooth, moving to full bodied and silky with a persistent finish.Enjoy this wine with grilled meats including game, duck, red pasta sauces, hearty comfort foods, and a variety of mild and medium cheeses.

     

    “A wide range of mint, damson plum, crushed blackberry and mesquite notes are offset by tangy acidity and a long, mineral-tinged finish. Silky. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tannat. Drink now.”  89 Points Wine Spectator

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