[FRIDAY FAVES] Dreaming of Hawaii and Relish Trays

Photo: Farsai Chaikulngamdee via Unsplash

It's Friday! Only 6 more days until Thanksgiving! Below are a few tidbits we are grateful for.

FRIDAY FAVES - 11.20.20

- An absolutely CLASSIC gold heart locket that would make for a thoughtful keepsake.

- Inspired by the Great British Baking Show, I went searching for jelly cakes on Instagram. Woah! If you're looking for a whimsical rabbit hole to fall down, you should do the same.

- Plan a trip to Hawaii by cruising these stunning island rental homes. Drool!

- Did you know you can send a Sip Better tasting kit as a gift? No membership necessary.

- Remember relish trays?! Let's revive them this year for Thanksgiving! Bonus points if you put your spread on a vintage tray.

Take care this weekend!

—Emily Rentsch

[FRIDAY FAVES] Ice Cream for Thanksgiving and More!

Photo: Kelsey Curtis via Unsplash

Hello, Friday! The election is over(is it???) and it's time to relax. Read on for nice things:

FRIDAY FAVES 11.6.20

- The marketing for Kristen Bell's CBD skincare line, Happy Dance, is HILARIOUS!

- Need to look at something beautiful? Check out local MN artist Daughters And Suns' custom portraits!

- This Chilean wine is perfect for all seasons. Seriously.

- Okay, did you know that Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream has a Thanksgiving collection??? You can buy it online! (Oh, and we have a Thanksgiving collection, too!)

- If you just can't stay away from election coverage, at least check out these funny election memes to keep you sane.

Enjoy the weekend!

[RECIPE] It's All Gravy, Baby

Photo: Gaelle Marcel via Unsplash

My Dad likes to say that Gravy is his favorite food. When I was a kid, I thought this was a ridiculous choice for a favorite. I mean, gravy is liquid! And boring! Right?

Now, many years and hundreds of meals later, I think I finally get the appeal of this earthy, understated sauce. Gravy is truly the heart of a meal, reduced to a golden liquid that highlights and enriches everything else piled on your plate. It's the glitter, the pillow mint, the CHERRY on your Thanksgiving dinner table. A good gravy makes the whole meal sing.

We asked friend of Sip Better Chef Mike Shannon for his classic gravy recipe and are happy to pass it on to you, right here. Please enjoy, and don't forget the wine!

In Chef Mike's own words: Great gravy—that velvety, luscious, flavorful glaze—is about two things: Texture and flavor. The texture is just a balance of ratios, fat to flour to liquid. The flavor starts with great stock. Make your own if you can. If not, use high quality, unsalted stock—not broth....

[RECIPE + PAIRING] English Muffin Stuffing

Why is stuffing so often the star of the Thanksgiving table? Is it because it feels like a soft, warm hug? Probably! I've got a crazy delicious recipe that I like to whip out for holiday meals, courtesy of my buddy Chef Corey Meier (Create Catering). It's so good it went a tad viral when we debuted it on The Jason Show! Check it out below and don't forget the wine pairing!

ENGLISH MUFFIN STUFFING
Created by Corey Meier
*Pair to Domaine des Chers Cru Beaujolais ‘Saint-Amour’ Gamay| Beaujolais, France

Ingredients:
• 6 Store bought or fresh English muffins (cut into cubes)
• 6 Tbsp European-style sweet cream, unsalted butter
• 2 Cups of duck confit (or smoked duck, smoked chicken, roasted/smoked pheasant or breakfast sausage)
• 2 Stalks of celery, diced
• 1 Medium sweet yellow onion, diced
• 3 Cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 Apple, diced
• ½ Tbsp fresh chopped sage
• ½ Tbsp fresh chopped thyme
• ½ Tbsp Fresh chopped rosemary
• 1 Cup chicken stock
• Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

- Preheat oven to 325...

3 Wines To Please Everyone At Your Holiday Table

Hosting the holidays this year? Holy Stress, amiright? Not only do you want to please your guests with delicious vittles, but you're also thinking about the music, the decor, the flow of the evening...

And then there are the beverages.

Ideally, you would stock a crazy supply of beverages to please every person's personal palate, but that's tricky without spending loads of cash and ending up with lots of extra bottles you might not be crazy about once all of the guests have gone home.

Let's keep it simple, shall we? Here are three different wines that are friendly enough to appeal to a range of people, while also suiting the harvest vibes of a holiday meal. Don't knock yourself out. After all, the most important part of a holiday gathering is the warmth of good company, right?'

Domaine J. Laurens "La Rose No°7" | France**

This sparkling rosé of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir is adorably pink AND a stellar companion to all things Thanksgiving Day. It's got a delicate mousse...