Mazen and Sylvia had Lunch Bunch together today and I went to pick them both up at preschool because Sarah needed a hand in the final days of pregnancy! The Sayas had the best time playing together all afternoon.
Before I went to pick them up, I had a quick lunch of leftover sunflower butter noodles with rotisserie chicken and veggies. Leftovers from Tuesday!
I did a ton of snacking this afternoon and had some insatiable hunger! I was probably just thirsty, which I figured out late in the day, but snacks included a few crackers, an apple, half of the kiddo’s PB&J snack sandwich, a bite of cheese, a few bites of banana and half of a discarded Siggi’s popsicle. Plus a cup of tea!
Mazen skipped his nap today and Sylvia stayed until dinner time, so by 5:30, mama needed a glass of wine ; ) We have some fancy Sonoma wines but I’d love some recommendations for your favorite house wines. What do you open when you just want a glass?
For dinner we made the Cook Smarts Deconstructed Shepherd’s Pie. REALLY good!! I loved the Greek yogurt mashed potatoes underneath the grass-fed beef and veggies we used. I chose 93% lean beef instead of 80% and thought it turned out fantastic. In fact, I bet 80% would have been too greasy.
Time for SURVIVOR! And Downton and Nashville….
Mabel @ Ma Bella Vita says
That glass of wine is looking really appetizing. Is funny because I have the exact same glass at my apartment. Maybe that’s a sign I should indulge as well?! 🙂
PS: Those noodles look super delicious.
Anne says
I just discovered Bridlewood wines – $10-$15 and the cab and blend are great!
Linda @ The Fitty says
Sunflower butter noodles…oh my, I’ve only heard of peanut! Did you make it pad Thai style?
Emily Butler says
What a great friend you are helping out your pregnant friend! I’ve been having a lot of those days where I just want to munch non stop and nothing satisfies!
theresa says
Wagner Family Conundrum
http://www.wagnerfamilyofwine.com/products/brand/Conundrum
http://www.conundrumwines.com/
You can find it for $13-$17, even though the listed price says $22.
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Those noodles look great!
Michelle says
For a white wine option I love Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. It is crisp and dry and our go to everyday white wine.
Mimi says
YES! Definitely my favorite too, and you can reliably find it on sale!
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
I haven’t watched Downton in forever, I need to catch up!!
Cara's Healthy Cravings says
I have a soft spot for California Zin, so these are a couple of my moderately priced favs. I have more favs, I just can’t remember them at the moment.
Cline Zinfandel or Ravenswood Old vine Zinfandel
What are your favs?
Hannah @ eat, drink and save money says
The shepherds pie looks awesome! Fun idea to do it deconstructed.
[email protected] says
Nothing better than snacking on a classic PB and J! 🙂
Andrea Johnson says
The Bogle Essential Red is my house wine these days – ~$10-12 depending on whether its on sale. I put it through an aerator and it’s as good as a $20 bottle.
Maggie says
for weekday white, clos du bois chard – can’t beat 8 bucks 🙂 a little step up from that, love wente chard. both available at harris teeter!!
Kerry Cartledge says
Paydirt has a blend and a Zin that we love! Definitely worth trying… The Riddler and Sean Minor Blends are also good “weekday wines” but the Sean Minor definitely needs time to open.
Sarah says
Just want to chime in on a good easy red wine to drink. Apothic Red is great and around $10 per bottle.
Megan says
I second this recommendation!
Melanie G. says
Thirded!
Ellen says
Definitely a cheapo, but when I just want a glass of wine at the end of the day, I usually go for Yellow Tail Cabernet or Pinot Noir.
Leigh says
Try the J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon. My friends and I did a blind taste test of about half a dozen Cabs, and this consistently came up a winner.
[email protected] says
Deconstructed shepherds pie looks awesome!!! Love a bit of ground meat! Did you use lamb?
KathEats says
Beef!
Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties says
I just discovered the cheap $3 shiraz from trader joe’s… I think it’s SO good!!
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner says
I like the red blend House Wine or Black Box Pinot Noir–I know it is boxed, but it is really good! I brought it for Christmas, and everyone loved it.
emily says
Black Box is really super for a boxed wine!
Anna says
We actually keep a box of decent wine around for when we just want a glass. You can definitely find quality in boxes these days (or, at least ‘house wine’ quality) and it’s super affordable! The state liquor store always has a sale where Black Box wine (I like the malbec) is around $20 – it contains 4 bottles-worth, so that’s less than $7 a bottle! And it’s no Franzia 😛
KathEats says
I love a lot of the boxed wines but I can’t keep them in the house! I end up having a glass a night because it’s so easy to access. I need a cork to commit to : )
Anna says
Haha! That’s a totally valid consideration!
emily says
We love Ménage a Trois Midnight as our “go to” wine lately.
http://m.wine.com/catalog/details?productid=135392
emily says
also, we buy it at Sam’s club and it is around $4 cheaper than at our grocery stores.
elizabeth says
Cocobon Red Blend from Trader Joes for $6.99 is my new favorite find. It’s a great house wine, granted you don’t mind something juicy and fruity. If you want something a bit more dry, J.Lohr cab is a nice option (the burgundy colored label). Those are my low end, house wine pours!
Jennifer says
I love the Kirkland wines for house wine (Costco brand). The Malbec is my favorite, we usually end up drinking a bottle per week, but it’s only $7!
Kristin says
I have to represent my home state of Oregon with some Willamette Valley suggestions on wine….Elk Cove has some really nice inexpensive Pinots as well as Penner-Ash’s Rubeo (around $25). A red blend that is great for everyday drinking! Another great find that my husband and I discovered is Lemelson Vineyard’s Thea’s Selection Pinot ($30) is our top favorite now, so good! As for whites, I really like New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs…just reminds me of summer!
Rachel says
Mark West Pinot Noir is a good one and is reliably on sale too. I second the Went chard too.
Katie @ Live Half Full says
I love 14 Hands Cabernet and their Red Blend too!
Rosie Lucchesini-Jack says
Bogle makes some very good house wines: their pinot, merlot and zins are quite good with the price point all being under $12.
Melanie G. says
I’ve never found an everyday-priced red that I drink consistently, but in the summer Casal Garcia Vinho Verde is my house! Buy it buy the case – so crispy and summery. Can’t beat it at around $8 bottle! It’s always a special day in May when I open my first bottle! :))
April says
A good, cheap all around red is Garnacha de Fuego. I think it has great flavor and appeals to a lot of people …. that’s why we served it at our wedding 😉
mary says
kath…if i only want a glass, i will open a bottle but seal it with a vacu vin (you can get them at any kitchen hardware or wine shop). i also put the bottle in the refrigerator and can get it to last for about three days or so. if i want another glass on day two, i just pull the bottle out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before i want to drink it so that the wine can get to optimum drinking temperature.
http://www.vacuvin.com/286/1022/Wine-Essentials
http://www.vacuvin.com/286/270/Wine-Saver
Megan says
Apothic, Estancia, Trentatre Rosso 33 (TJ exclusive) Menage e Tois and Charles Shaw Merlot!