Jan 2 – Taste of Tucson

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Guy

My guest this week is Jackie Alpers with her new book!  Order a copy today…

A collection of delicious Sonoran-style recipes from local restaurant experts and the author’s own original recipes, all inspired by the rich culture of Southern Arizona.

A cookbook dedicated to the foods inspired by the region’s beauty and diversity, Taste of Tucson discovers through recipes and photos the unique mix of cultures that create Southern Arizona’s incredible Sonoran-style cuisine. Award-winning photographer and cookbook author Jackie Alpers shares her own inspired recipe creations in this book as well as recipes for her favorite restaurants’ dishes, while incorporating the history of the region, the mysticism and lore, and how it has contributed to the food of the people who live there. Building from tried-and-true basics and tutorials on tacos, enchiladas, carne asada, and huevos rancheros, she divulges secrets to making the Tucson area’s most unique Sonoran style savories and sweets, including Chicken Mole Amarillo, Adobo Pulled Pork, Red Pozole, Sonoran Hot Dogs, Street Snacks, Dark Chocolate and Coffee Figgy Pudding Cakes, and more.
For cooks of all levels, from anywhere in the world who loves to dine on this Southwestern region’s foods, this cookbook welcomes you to bring the Sonoran region’s best and most iconic tastes into your own kitchen.  Try Jackie’s Oven Roasted Salsa recipe tonight.

Portrait of Taste of Tucson author Jackie Alpers at her home in Tucson, Arizona.

Jackie Alpers is an award-winning professional food photographer & cookbook author who writes, cooks, and styles recipes in her sun-lit studio in Tucson, Arizona and documents food & travel on location.  She is a longtime contributing recipe developer & photographer for The Food Network, Refinery29, TheKitchn, TodayFood, Real Simple, National Geographic and Edible Baja Arizona Magazine among others. She has been featured in articles for Reader’s Digest, CNN, Good Morning America, The New York Times & NPR. Learn more about Jackie!

Recipes and food photography from her blog, Jackie’s Happy Plate has been featured in numerous online publications including Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Glamour, Better Homes and Gardens, MSN, Brit + Co. and Buzzfeed Food.  Follow Jackie on Facebook & Twitter

Something to go with Sonoran-Style cuisine and the New Year.
How about I tell you all about my top Champagnes from 2020!

 

 

 

January 9th Virtual Tasting will feature 5 Sean Minor Wines
2018 Sauvignon Blanc – 2018 Chardonnay – 2018 Pinot Noir
2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Sean Minor Central Coast Chardonnay
This Central Coast Chardonnay is a golden straw color and displays aromas of apricot, apple, and honeydew with subtle notes of butter. On the entry, tropical fruit notes with green apple flavors are framed by nice acidity which integrates well with the medium body mouth feel. The green apple and pear with juicy acidity provide a lengthy finish.  www.seanminorwines.com

Critical Acclaim WE90 Wine Enthusiast
Fresh aromas of grapefruit, lemon and a hint of pear carry the nose. There is a snappy freshness to the palate, where bright flavors of apple and pear meet with sea salt and sizzling acidity.

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Dec 26 – SOCIAL Holidays & Happy Hours

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Guy

My guest this week is my good friend Adriene Rathbun with her new cookbook “SOCIAL Hoidays & Happy Hours.”
Follow Adriene on Facebook and Instagram.

Whether you’ve been a guest in her home for an enchanted evening,  watched as she performed culinary magic during cooking classes in her kitchen or perhaps been a faithful reader of her columns in The Wichita Eagle, one thing is clear: Adriene Rathbun has a gift.

Enthusiastic readers, from chefs to beginning cooks, love trying the recipes she shares and the comments that go with them. But there’s always more to the story. Now you can learn not only Adriene’s advice on entertaining, but she shares recipes and tips on making every guest feel welcome at your memorable party. She believes in making every gathering, casual or formal, a celebration.  Entertaining is Adriene’s specialty, and she shares some of her favorite recipes and tips to help you impress your guests and create memorable parties. Holidays don’t have to be just the traditional ones, sometimes gathering people around your table is reason enough to call it a holiday.

Happy Hours are one of her favorite ways to catch up with friends – it can be casual and easy. She shares many cocktail recipes, favorite wines, a few appetizers and a checklist to be sure you’re prepared for hosting a successful happy hour. Cheers to celebrating life, one holiday at a time with your loved ones!

Since 2009, I’ve taught cooking classes out of my kitchen in our 1924 historic Mediterranean Revival home nestled in the heart of College Hill in Wichita, Kansas. My passion for entertaining comes from my Lebanese heritage and from growing up in a family where nightly, home-cooked family meals were a ritual and large extended family meals were a weekly occurrence.

Teaching cooking began as a day dream with a few pushes from a couple ladies who are my mother’s friends by the name of Marilyn and Donna. I’d see these ladies at the gym, and they’d encourage and nudge me to start teaching cooking classes. With a wonderful husband encouraging me, a little planning, a “why not see where this takes me” attitude, I launched Social with little expectation and a zest for sharing my love of creating delicious, simple food.

Creative careers rarely are a straightened arrow, unlike my husband’s law profession, and the excitement of trying new ventures has led my career to food styling for corporate photo shoots, styling for a cookbook, writing a weekly food column for the Wichita Eagle since 2016 and my current project of finishing up my own cookbook.  Learn more about Adriene and order a copy NOW!

Sorry…taking a break from Virtual Tasting for the Holidays
I’ll be back on Facebook Live in January

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2019 Bogle Chardonnay, California
Green apple and pear aromas classically characterize this wine as Clarksburg, while honeycomb and vanilla heighten the first impression. The rich, round entry rolls into a viscous and silky mouthfeel, surrounded by Asian pears and Honeycrisp apples. The finish lingers long and soft, like the wafting aromas of grandma’s warm apple pie. This versatile wine pairs well with grilled fish, roasted chicken, fresh green salads, and soft, mild cheeses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available at Jacob Liquor on N. Rock Road.
Buy it this week for $7.99 and get the rebate!
Save up to $3.oo per bottle when you buy 6
Rebate Offer expires 12/31/2020

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Dec 19 – Disney Parks Cookbook

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Guy

My guest this week is Ashley Craft with her new book “The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook.”  USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Experience the magic of the Disney Parks right in your kitchen with these 100, easy and delicious recipes inspired by Walt Disney World.  Get a copy NOW!

Stroll right down the middle of Main Street USA, journey from Adventureland to Infinity and Beyond at Pixar Pier, and explore every avenue in between to taste the flavors of the Disney Parks…all without leaving your kitchen.  With The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook you can bring the magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World snacks and treats right to your home. Recreate favorites like the classic Dole Whip and Mickey Pretzels to new favorites like blue milk from Star Wars land and Jack Jack’s Cookie Num Nums from Pixar Pier.
These 100 recipes inspired by iconic yummies are perfect whether you are a forever Disney fan or just love a good snack. Now you can feel as if you shared a snack with Mickey himself right from the comfort of your own home!

As a child who grew up in Anaheim, California, Ashley Craft could recite the Star Tours ride by heart, navigate the Park without a map, and fell asleep to the sound of Disneyland fireworks each night in her bedroom. After two internships at Walt Disney World and many, many more visits to the Disney Parks, Ashley is now one of the leading experts of Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Her popular blog, Ashley Crafted, is best known for featuring recipes inspired by Disney Park foods to help people recreate that Disney magic right in their own kitchens. Today, Ashley lives in Kansas with her husband, Danny, and three kids, Elliot, Hazel, and Clifford…but she still makes time to visit the Mouse. Learn more at AshleyCrafted.com.    Follow Ashley on Facebook & Twitter

  Tonight’s Virtual Wine Tasting
High Quality Wines for The Holidays – December 19, 2020 – With Good Life Guy
Facebook LIVE, 6:00 p.m. Central, Details/Downloads below

  • 2018 Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay
  • 2017 MacMurray Estate Vineyard Russian River Pinnot Noir
  • 2017 Benziger Family Winery Sonoma County Merlot
  • 2017 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Find these wines at Jacob Liquor on North Rock Road or your local wine merchant. Buy them all or what you like, can’t find the exact vintage or producer?  Buy a similar wine and join the FUN!

Downloads: FB Live tips   Great Wine for Christmas Tasting Guide
Go here to join the party:  Guy’s Facebook Page

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Dec 12 – Ultimate Spam Cookbook

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Guy

Today it’s all about SPAM and The Ultimate Spam Cookbook!  Not the computer generated kind, the canned kind that you may or may not have fond memories from your earlier years.  I have great memories of my Grandfather slicing Spam in to 1/4 inch slices and pan frying it in bacon grease as a breakfast meat.

My guest is Tara Cox Executive Managing Editor at Rachael Ray Every Day magazine and founding editor-in-chief of RVLiving magazine. She’s an Author, Essayist, RV fan, Roadside America Enthusiast, Coney Island Baby, B+W Cookie Hunter, Old NYC Aficionado and wrote the forward for this fun cookbook. Learn more about Tara here.

One Little Blue Can, Endless Possibilities

The Ultimate SPAM Cookbook licensed by Hormel Foods
Order a copy NOW!

Cook with SPAM products like you never have before!

The Ultimate SPAM Cookbook is filled with more than 100 unique recipes for every meal of the day—from breakfast hash in the morning and a pulled BBQ sandwich for lunch to savory grilled kabobs for dinner and even guacamole dip for a snack in between.

Whether you want to prepare elevated, gourmet dishes or cook with classic, down-home style, these recipes have it all!

  • Over 100 one-of-a-kind recipes for every meal of the day
  • Discover out-of-the-box flavors with SPAM (R) products as the perfect ingredient to incorporate in new and updated ways
  • Recipes from celebrity chefs, Hormel Foods (R), TV personalities, food journalists, magazine publishers, restaurant owners, and other renowned industry leaders.

History of an Icon
During World War II, more than 130 million cans of SPAM products were purchased by the military, since delivering fresh meat to soldiers was difficult. During the war’s food shortages, it was then introduced to places such as Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines, and others.
A lot of people—even some SPAM® lovers like you— still aren’t sure what SPAM® Brand stands for. We’re spelling it out once and for all: Sizzle Pork And MMM®   www.spam.com

Tonight’s Virtual Wine Tasting
Fun Wine for Entertaining – December 12, 2020 – With Good Life Guy
Facebook LIVE, 6:00 p.m. Central, Details/Downloads below

  • 2019 Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2019 Dark Horse Pinot Grigio
  • 2018 Dark Horse Chardonnay
  • 2018 Dark Horse Merlot
  • 2019 Dark Horse Cabernet

Find these wines at Jacob Liquor on North Rock Road or your local wine merchant. Buy them all or what you like, can’t find the exact vintage or producer?  Buy a similar wine and join the FUN!

Downloads: FB Live tips  Dark Horse Tasting Sheet
Go here to join the party:  Guy’s Facebook Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…
Save the date: December 14th, 2020 On line auction benefit for the
Kansas Restaurant Hospitality Association
Bid on the Dinner for 8 at Scott Redler’s home with wines selected and served by Guy Bower

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Dec 5 – Give Me Liberty & Give Me A Drink!

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Guy

My guest this week is Jarrett Dieterle with his new book “Give Me Liberty and Give Me A Drink – 65 Cocktails to Protest America’s Most Outlandish Alcohol Laws.”

Across this nation, in breweries, liquor stores, bars, and even our own homes, we’re being stripped of our most basic boozy rights. Thanks to Prohibition and its 100-year hangover, some of the most outdated, bizarre, and laughably loony laws still on the books today center around alcohol and how we drink it.

In New Mexico, $1 margaritas are illegal. In Utah, cocktails must be mixed behind a barrier called the “Zion curtain.” And forget about happy hour in Massachusetts—the state banned it in 1984. But we don’t have to stand down and dry up—it’s time to take to liquid protest. Created by the nation’s leading alcohol policy expert, Give Me Liberty and Give Me a Drink! combines the thirst-inducing pleasure of trivia with 65 recipes for classic and innovative cocktails.

So arm yourself with a mezcal-based One Pint, Two Pint, inspired by Vermont’s ban on beer pitchers, or The Boiling Point, a beer cocktail that is highly illegal in Virginia, and get ready to drink your way to a revolution on the rocks.

Jarrett Dieterle is a leading alcohol policy expert, the editor in chief of DrinksReform.org, a contributing drinks writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and the director of commercial freedom and a senior fellow at the R Street Institute, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, DC. A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Richmond, he has written about spirits, booze history, and questionable regulations for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post, the New York Post, Forbes, Liquor.com, VinePair, SevenFifty Daily, and NPR’s James Beard Award–winning blog, The Salt. He is a native of Michigan and lives with his wife and Australian shepherd mix near Richmond, Virginia, where he never, ever has a boilermaker (thanks, Virginia government).

In the second half I’ll be talking to Chef Darrell “DAS” Smith.  DAS learned most of his cooking skills from his mother. His love for food and the culinary arts began to further develop at the age of 19 while training at Atlanta Technical College, where he focused on American cuisine. Shortly after graduation, Chef Das landed a position in Detroit, Michigan where he taught youth how to find motivation and express themselves, using food as a creative outlet. His admiration for teaching and food prompted an uncalculated move to Los Angeles, CA where he worked to hone his craft and create a living for himself as a full-time chef.

Chef Das has prepared cuisine for Michelle Obama’s luncheon in 2014. He has been featured on the Food Network’s hit shows “Next Food Network Star” and “The Great Food Truck Race”. He has served as a recurring expert on the Oprah Winfrey Network’s hit series, “Home Made Simple” and published a cook book that focuses on the fundamentals of cooking titled “Now Look Who’s Cooking”. Most recently, Chef Das was the personal chef to entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Chef DAS recently launched Spice Sack product line a custom spice blend company designed to take the intimidation out of cooking.
Want to be a part of a cool new product?  Visit the Kick Starter page and support Chef DAS and his creative “Spice Sack” products.  Learn more about Spice Sack here!….

Tonight’s Virtual Bubbles Tasting
Worldly Bubbles for Holidays or Any Days
December 5, 2020 – With Good Life Guy
Facebook LIVE, 6:00 p.m. Central, Details/Downloads below

  • Lamarca Prosecco – Italy
  • Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava – Spain
  • Bouvet Rose Excvellence Brut – France
  • Mumm Napa Brut Prestige – California

Find these bubbles at Jacob Liquor on North Rock Road or your local wine merchant. Buy them all or what you like, can’t find the exact producer?  Buy a similar bottle and join the FUN!

Downloads:
Champagne & Sparkling Wine Overview
Great Value Bubbles Tasting Notes

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