Apparently, it is still January. Remember that wonderful wedding I mentioned a few weeks ago? Feels like it was months ago. But, I have developed a coping strategy to get me through and it seems to be working. It goes like this:
1. Make risotto. Spend half an hour at the stove one evening, glass of red nearby and favourite playlist on the iPod. Use the risotto recipe from Let’s Eat; no fuss, absolutely delicious.
2. Have an Elemis bath. Their aching muscle super soak is possibly the best bubble bath on the planet. Leaves you feeling weightless, a bit like the gas-and-air feeling before the pain kicks in.
3. Red wine. Well you didn’t expect me to have a dry January, did you?
Current white in the fridge: Cave de Lugny Mâcon-Villages 2011, France £7.49, Waitrose
“Blimey, I picked the wrong wine today!” so tweeted a friend last week. And my heart sank. She’d picked up a half-price offer, with an unfamiliar label, and at the end of a long day – work done, kids in bed – had poured a glass. She was left disappointed. Bad taste in mouth, literally. She said she’s more of a Macon girl normally, so this one is for her. It is from the brilliant Cave de Lugny co-operative in the Maconnais region in Burgundy and is a great gateway into the wines from this region. Ripe, peachy and absolutely, hand-on-heart, not disappointing.
Current red in the rack: Tesco Finest Stellenbosch Red 2010, £9.99, Tesco
Lordy, this is a lovely wine. I mean, it stopped me from doing what I was doing (normally three things at once, none of them particularly well) and just take a long sniff. I had a little sit-down to do it. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (otherwise known as a Bordeaux blend, for this is where it originated) and it is aged in oak barrels adding vanilla to the already-pretty-heady black cherry flavours. Made in the Stellenbosch region just east of Cape Town, this is a New World wine take on an Old World classic, and I loved it. More please.
Pip pip x
I ADORE making risotto. I've seen a couple of people on twitter, when I've mentioned that I love it, saying that they hate it and that all that stirring is boring, but I find it sends me off into a bit of a daze (kind of like when people play with your hair ahaha).
I have a question: my red wine is too cold straight from the the wine rack. How do you 'warm it up' so it's the right temp to drink?
Exactly, so therapeutic…but you do have to be in the mood (same goes for hair-twiddling)! Best way to warm it up from the wine rack is pour it onto a glass and warm the glass with your hands (assuming you have toasty hands). Anything too dramatic isn't great for the wine, but if really cold (and really desperate) then sit it in a bit of lukewarm water for a bit. Whatever you do, don't put it in the microwave, like my father-in-law used to do!
You are now officially my hero! I am off to Waitrose tomorrow and shall pick up a bottle or 3 of the Macon!
Funnily enough, we went to Stellenbosch when on honeymoon, so might have to seek out the red too!
I feel very honoured to have been especially catered for 😀
Xxx
Anytime, Ms Miles. Very happy to be of service. And Stellenbosch….how that makes me wish for sun and lush green vineyards right now…wonderful place.
Love, love, love risotto. Is a firm fixture on our weekly meal planning. It pisses me off though that supermarkets only sell small bags of arborio rice.
WOW just love your post!! had a great time to read this post. really interesting, thanks for sharing with us valuable post..
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