Nov 30 – Let’s Bake

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Guy

Let’s Bake: Over 100 Dessert Recipes for Gifting & Giving

Over 100 recipes of cookies, cakes, pies, and other delicious treats to gift, share, and enjoy!

Let’s Bake is a celebration of generosity, kindness and love. This vibrant collection showcases a gorgeous assortment of cakes, cookies, pastries, and pies—each recipe a gift to share, whether for friends, fundraisers or special occasions.

From exquisitely textured shortbread layered with chocolate to a tasty raspberry-topped lemon tart, these delectables will delight. With over 100 recipes easy to prepare and share for any occasion, whether for a birthday or a bake sale, Let’s Bake includes favorites like:

• Date Night Chocolate Praline Tart


•Light as Air Angel Food Cake
• Espresso Brown Butter Blondies
• Burnt Basque Cheesecake
• Butterscotch Crunch Cookies
• Vintage Baked Alaska
• Pear Tarte Tatin
• Tipsy Tiramisu

Featuring beautiful photography and tips and tricks to help you save time in the kitchen, Let’s Bake is your guide to a world of sweet gift giving. Let every treat you bake be a testament to the power of sharing a moment with those who matter most.

Gail Sweeney has been an home baker for 25 years distributing her baked goods to specialty markets, boutique stores, catering clients, restaurants, and, of course, her family and friends. Professionally, she works as a Child Psychologist, supporting children, adolescents and their families through stressful life events. She has written and directed the award-winning short documentary A Mind of Your Own about kids with learning disabilities, their struggles as well as their triumps. This is why Gail’s love for baking stems from the happiness it brings to others. Also an aspiring food photographer, her recipes have been featured in local newspapers and television.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Something sweet to go with dessert!

Posted in Other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Nov 30 – Let’s Bake

Nov 23 – You Can Cook Anything

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Guy

My 1st guest this week is Jorj Morgan with her relatively new “You Can Cook Anything – A Guide for Newly Inspired Cooks.”

Renowned chef Jorj Morgan is demystifying the art of making home-cooked meals with her interactive You Can Cook Any THING cookbook series. Created specifically for novice chefs with tight budgets, big appetites, and zero clue in the kitchen, each book in this five-part series features QR codes that take readers straight to instructional how-tos — it’s like having Jorj right there in the kitchen to help!


Tired of fast food, microwaved meals, and sad sandwiches? Is eating out all the time breaking the bank? Renowned chef Jorj Morgan is coming to the rescue in kitchens across the country with her You Can Cook Any THING cookbook series, published by Warren Publishing. This comprehensive five-book series breaks down everyTHING you’ve ever imagined or craved to eat. The books feature AI-generated artwork to depict each of the dishes alongside QR codes that link to instructional videos. Morgan’s multi-media approach helps readers build confidence in what they cook with no pressure from unattainable presentations. The AI-generated artwork is a little rougher around the edges, and it’s fun—just like real food—so readers won’t be intimidated if their final results don’t look Instagram-ready. Get a copy of any of the series books here!


Jorj Morgan has appeared on nationally syndicated television programs and participated in regional media tours. She has been the featured guest on numerous radio, food, and entertaining programs and her quotes have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, New York Times, Women’s World, First for Women, and Reader’s Digest, among others. Her comprehensive website www.jorj.com; YouTube channel, In the Kitchen with Jorj; Facebook and Instagram @jorjmorgancooking; X (formerly Twitter) @jorjmorgan; and Pinterest @jorjmorgancooking; are committed to creating content to demystify the kitchen and make meals prepared at home accessible to everyone. Learn more about Jorj here!


Later in the show I’ll be talking to Sean Minor (a Kansas native) about the wine of the week and more importantly the AIWF Holiday dinner at the Wichita Marriott December 5th.  Sean and his daughter Elle (also a winemaker) will be here in Wichita for the dinner and we will feature an array of his premium wines paired with a very special dinner prepared by Chef Peter Moretti. Learn more at AIWFWichita.org  and make reservations today! 

Sean Minor Wines was founded in 2005 by Sean and Nicole Minor, husband and wife team, and is still family-owned and operated to this day. Originally named Four Bears Winery, after their four children. Just as children grow, so did we, but our commitment to crafting delicious, affordable wines remains as strong as ever.

As of 2023, Elle Minor, Sean and Nicole’s daughter, has joined the team as Production Manager and Assistant Winemaker. With fresh ideas and youthful energy, she’s eager to add her own spin on the family wines.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
One of the primo wines being poured at the AIWF dinner!
2022 Sean Minor Signature Series, Nicole Marie Red Blend

This full bodied, zesty blend has flavors of warm blueberry pie and dark cherry compote with hints of vanilla and cassis, making it perfect for your weekly pasta night. 50% Merlot – 25% Zinfandel – 25% Petite Sirah

This wine is concentrated with aromas of boysenberry, huckleberry, cinnamon, clove and violet. The palate offers blackberry jam, orange zest and cardamom that glide into tobacco leaf and a dry finish. Pair with prime rib.

Badge 94 Points

The Tasting Panel
Badge 92 Points
Wine Enthusiast

 

 

 

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nov 23 – You Can Cook Anything

Nov 16 – Hope Family Wines

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Guy

This week it’s all about one of my favorite wine producers in California!  My guest is Austin Hope, proprietor of Hope Family Wines.

The Hope family has been farming in Paso Robles for more than 30 years. When they arrived in this barely-discovered region, they planted apples and grapes. Little did they know that the rolling, oak-studded terrain of Paso Robles would one day become a vinicultural terroir of significance and one of the top winegrowing regions for quality red wine within the Central Coast.  www.hopefamilywines.com

Gone are the apple orchards. Today, the Hopes cultivate mature vineyards of the varieties best suited to their area including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Mourvedre and Grenache. Vine density has increased and each vine is asked to produce very little fruit. The terroir of this domain expresses itself in its unique regional character. Regardless of the varieties planted, the expression of Paso Robles is displayed in the glass with spice, licorice and berry in the nose, soft textures and silky tannins on the palate.  Hope Family Wines on Facebook & X

Austin Hope arrived in Paso Robles in 1978, when his family moved to the small farming town in search of new opportunity. His parents bought land and planted both vineyards and apple orchards. He was just eight years old when the grapes came on line in the 1980s and began learning in the vineyards alongside his father, Chuck Hope.

In 1995 he graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in fruit science. Beginning in the 1980s, the Hope family sold Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to Caymus for its Liberty School label, and Austin followed his father’s advice to seek out an opportunity to work with Caymus founder Chuck Wagner.

Austin worked with Wagner in Napa, both inside the winery and the administrative offices, learning the nuts and bolts of the wine business from one of California’s most respected producers. “That was probably my a-ha moment,” says Austin. “I realized that I not only wanted to grow grapes, but to manage our own label to bring our fruit directly to the market,” he says.

The Hope family began producing Liberty School wines and founded Treana in 1996. After beginning as the assistant winemaker, Austin became winemaker for the Hope portfolio in 1998.  Hope Family Wines now makes Treana, Liberty School, Candor, Troublemaker and Austin Hope wines. In 2009, Austin Hope was named “Winemaker of the Year” at the California Mid-State Fair.

When he’s not in the lab tasting or on the road promoting his wines, Austin enjoys duck hunting with Spartacus, his Labrador retriever, and staying ahead of the curve on the indie music scene by attending as many rock-n-roll concerts as possible. He’s also a dedicated dad who enjoys spending time with his two young daughters

Good Life Guy’s Wine(s) of the week:
A Few of Austin’s primo wines!  🙂

Grab some at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road or your local wine merchant and join us!

Posted in Other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Nov 16 – Hope Family Wines

Nov 9 – When Southern Women Cook

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Morgan Bolling who in collaboration with Toni Tipton-Martin put together an epic cookbook of history, Lore and 300 Recipes with contributions from 70 Woman. “When Southern Women Cook”, a massive book from America’s Test Kitchen. Available November 12, Preorder on Amazon!

A first-of-its-kind Southern cookbook featuring more than 300 Cook’s Country recipes and fascinating insights into the culinary techniques and heroes of the American South.  Tour the diverse history of Southern food through 200+ stories of women who’ve shaped the cuisine!

Shepherded by Toni Tipton-Martin and Cook’s Country Executive Editor and TV personality Morgan Bolling, When Southern Women Cook showcases the hard work, hospitality, and creativity of women who have given soul to Southern cooking from the start. Every page amplifies their contributions, from the enslaved cooks making foundational food at Monticello to Mexican Americans accessing sweet memories with colorful conchas today.

  • 70+ voices paint a true picture of the South: Emmy Award–winning producer and author Von Diaz covers Caribbean immigrant foodways through Southern stews; food journalist Kim Severson delves into recipes’ power as cultural currency; mixologist and beverage historian Tiffanie Barriere reflects on Juneteenth customs including red drink. Consulting food historian KC Hysmith contributes important—and fascinating—context throughout. America’s Test Kitchen
  • 300 Recipes—must-knows, little-knowns, and modern inventions: Regional Brunswick Stew, Dollywood Cinnamon Bread, Pickle-Brined Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi, and Oat Guava Cookies bridge the gap between what Southern cooking is known for and how it continues to evolve.
  • Recipe headnotes contextualize your cooking: Learn Edna Lewis’ biscuit wisdom. Read about Waffle House and fry chicken thighs to top light-as-air waffles. Meet Joy Perrine, the “Bad Girl of Bourbon.”

Covering every region and flavor of the American South, from Texas Barbecue to Gullah Geechee rice dishes, this collection of 300 recipes is a joyous celebration of Southern cuisine and its diverse heroes, past and present. Order a copy NOW!

Morgan Bolling & Toni Tipton-Martin

About the Authors:
Julia Child Award recipient, journalist, and Cook’s Country Editor-in-Chief Toni Tipton-Martin is the force behind the James Beard and IACP Award–winning book Jubilee as well as The Jemima Code and the newly released Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs & Juice. North Carolina–born Morgan Bolling is Cook’s Country Executive Editor of Creative Content, a Cook’s Country TV cast member, and a barbecue expert. Together, they aim to amplify the stories of Southern women cooks throughout history.  Morgan is on Facebook and so is America’s Test Kitchen.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2022 NetFlix/Cupcake LOVE IS WINE Chardonnay
A collaboration between Netflix’s hit show Love is Blind and Cupcake Vineyards. “You’ll fall head over heels with our chardonnay’s luscious layers of creamy butter, tantalizing hints of apricot and apple, and a touch of vanilla. Your new dream match pairs perfectly with long walks on the beach and even longer Love is Blind marathons. One gold goblet will have you asking yourself: is love truly… wine?”  ABV13%   www.cupcakevineyards.com

This wine is on sale at Jacob Liquor Exchange. A classy GOLD bottle with a screwcap.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Nov 9 – When Southern Women Cook

Nov 2 – Redler Institute of Culinary Arts

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Guy

Join me this Saturday and learn a little about The Butler Community College (BCC) Redler Institute of Culinary Arts or RICA.

Up first is Les Padzensky, a good friend and more importantly a powerful presence in the Wichita Culinary Scene and now the Director of RICA.

An award-winning professional with more than 30 years of management experience in the local culinary and hospitality industry, Padzensky returns to Butler after having served as an adjunct hospitalilty professor for several years starting in 1998.

Good Life Guy & Padzensky

Padzensky has worked for several notable food service and hospitality organizations in the Wichita area during his career, including LaTour Management, Inc., where his major concerns were Piccadilly Market & Grill, Timberline Steakhouse & Grill, and Epoch Development where he was a Regional Manager for Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers. He also spent 12 years as Vice President of Food and Beverage for Warren Theatres.

Padzensky is a past chairman and current board member of the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association and has served on the Redler Institute’s Industry Advisory Committee for three years, most recently as Chairman.

While the relatively new, Redler Institute of Culinary Arts has had a talented cadre of instructors, the new batch brings some of Wichita’s most talented chef-instructors training an enthusiastic group of new food service students.  One of them is Robbie Lynn Garlick (not garlic 🙂 ) who I had the pleasure of meeting last week at a RICA event.

Chef Robbie Lynn Garlick

Ms. Garlick is The Pastry Arts Instructor at Redler Institute of Culinary Arts and Pastry Chef at FioRito Ristorante.  This gal is so talented and loved by the students she teaches and mentors at RICA. I had a loaf of bread from a recipe of another instructor that she guided her students in producing last week, probably one of the best baked items I have ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Then this past Saturday at Scott & Betsy Redler’s home after a splendid gourmet club dinner, we enjoyed some of the most amazing macaroons ever!  She is a great addition to the teaching staff at RICA and FioRito is lucky to have her.  I am always interested in ones journey in food or wine. I look forward to sharing her story with you.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2021 Haraszthy Family Cellars, Bearitage LODI Petite Sirah
An immediately noticeable dark inky color typical of Petite Sirah greets your wine glass. Flavor and bouquet of blueberries, chocolate, and black pepper. Nicely balanced, dense tannin structure balanced against the jammy character of this wine, ABV13.8%  91-Califoprnia State Fair

 

Get some at Jacob Liquor Exchange on N. Rock Road and join us!

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nov 2 – Redler Institute of Culinary Arts