Years ago when the children were small and I was a major volunteer in Arlington, Texas we had a wonderful babysitter named Goldie. Goldie was in her late 60's and her husband had recently retired from Skaggs Albertson's as a baker. His and (her salvation) was his garden. In that garden he grew tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, garlic, squash, cucumbers, potatoes and more. Goldie would can as much as she could and for us she would make hot salsa. And our family liked it hot. The initial jars would start out saying hot and then become hotter. I don't know what it is but just because you add more jalapenos does not make it hotter.
I have become Goldie. With each succession of hot salsa I have made I have added more. Initially sriracha sauce, then jalapenos and this latest batch is a combination. In about a week I will know if I have finally gotten it right. Of course tomato season is about over. But it has made me think about Goldie and what a wonderful and caring person she was.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Napa Sunday
Yesterday we set out to Napa to pick up some wine and do a little wine tasting. Our first stop was at Mumm. The weather was wonderful and we sat outside and enjoyed tasting a little bit of champagne. This is a picture of the grapes growing at Mumm. Everyone is Napa is playing a waiting game as to when to pick the grapes. The weather was very wet in the spring and has been unusually mild and the grapes are staying on the vine longer then norm.
Onward we went to Joseph Phelps to pick up some wine we had order and to do a little tasting. Everyone at the winery is talking about the 2008 Insignia and how great the ratings might be.
After that we headed up to Deer Park Road and the Bremer Family Winery. They were offering a vertical tasting of their Claret from 2002 to 2005. Our favorite was the 2004. They were also serving brick oven pizzas. I had a very tasty caramelized onion with garlic and Gorgonzola cheese pizza. Jim got a sausage and tomato basil pizza that he did not offer to share with me.
Our last stop was at Ladera which was new to us. As a club member of Chappellet we are also able to do tastings at several other wineries. We decided to make an appointment and check out Ladera as it was just up the road from Bremer.
It is a beautiful property and the wines were great. I think we are now a member of their wine club.
Onward we went to Joseph Phelps to pick up some wine we had order and to do a little tasting. Everyone at the winery is talking about the 2008 Insignia and how great the ratings might be.After that we headed up to Deer Park Road and the Bremer Family Winery. They were offering a vertical tasting of their Claret from 2002 to 2005. Our favorite was the 2004. They were also serving brick oven pizzas. I had a very tasty caramelized onion with garlic and Gorgonzola cheese pizza. Jim got a sausage and tomato basil pizza that he did not offer to share with me.
Our last stop was at Ladera which was new to us. As a club member of Chappellet we are also able to do tastings at several other wineries. We decided to make an appointment and check out Ladera as it was just up the road from Bremer.
It is a beautiful property and the wines were great. I think we are now a member of their wine club.
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