Wine Me Wednesday: Pink Moscato

This is a special entry for Wine Me Wednesday as it also includes a little bit about entertaining and a very simple, versatile recipe.  Sutter Homes Pink Moscato is a sweet and fruity wine.  At $6.99 for a 750mL bottle, it was a great choice for this evening's impromptu dinner party and this week's featured wine.

After a fantastic day of grocery shopping with friends, we returned to my house to enjoy a glass of wine and light meal.  Since wine typically goes very nicely with cheese, grapes and bread, that's what we had.

A buttery brie and fresh mozzarella turned out to be fantastic cheese selections and went very nicely with a homemade Herbed Balsamic Vinaigrette, roasted red peppers and bread.  Grapes added a refreshing note to the meal and rounded everything out.

Grated Parmesan cheese added another level to the vinaigrette which is certainly going to be featured in future dishes.  I greatly enjoy finding and/or coming up with new (and easy, very very easy) recipes.  With 3 ingredients, this dressing/dipping sauce/marinade is almost too easy to make:

 Jenn's Herbed Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/2 cup (or so) flavored oil (with garlic and herbs, I used Wegmans Basting Oil)
1/8 cup (or so) balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup (or so) grated Parmesan cheese

 Combine the ingredients in a bowl, serve with sliced baguette or other delicious bread.  May also be served with meats, salads, etc.

As I "eyeballed" it when I poured the ingredients into a serving dish, the measurements are merely to be used as a rough guide.  One of the beautiful things about a vinaigrette is how flexible it can be, so make yours to taste.  If you have a favorite vinaigrette or idea about how to use it in a new way, please share in the comments below.

Here are two of the combinations we enjoyed with our wine:

French baguette, fresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, baby basil leaves and vinaigrette.

Rosemary bread, buttery brie, vinaigrette.  Simple and delicious.

Please forgive the blurry image in the picture above ^ ^ ^, I was too excited to try it to take a clear picture.  All in all, it was a nice day and evening.  Delicious foods were purchased and eaten and the company was great.  We will definitely have to do it again soon.

Menu Monday: Rotisserie Chicken Week

Welcome to the second Menu Monday on Solo Culinary Adventures.  This week will feature rotisserie chicken in several meals.  At approximately 3 pounds, the fully cooked chicken costs $5 and can be incorporated into 3 days worth of meals.

A breakdown of how the chicken will be divided over the 3 days of meals:
Breasts: 1 for dinner this evening, 1/2 for chicken salad, 1/2 for chicken burrito bowl
Thighs, Wings, Drumsticks, Chicken Stock: chicken noodle soup

Other items for the week include omelets, homemade pizza, pasta salad, potatoes and mushroom ravioli with a creamy white wine sauce.  Check back soon for a recipe to make the creamy white wine sauce.

My grocery list for this week includes: 1 rotisserie chicken, carrots, celery, cucumber, cream, bananas and another fruit, eggs, mushrooms, yogurt, hummus, pizza dough, cheese, pepperoni, tomatoes, and milk.

What do you enjoy making with rotisserie chicken?  What tips do you have for saving money while eating tasty, healthy meals?

Menu Monday: The First

Welcome to the first installation of Menu Mondays on Solo Culinary Adventures.  After a brief blogging hiatus due to a bit of a speed bump in my life, I am back and ready to continue with Solo Culinary Adventures.  Before we get into it, I will give you a brief overview of the speed bump I've encountered:

To make a rather long story short, the contract I had been working under recently came to an end.  At this point in time, I am experiencing a case of unemployment and have begun searching for a new job. Hopefully things go well and I find something new soon.  Interestingly though, the rather sudden change in my finances has increased my drive to continue Solo Culinary Adventures and find ways to maintain a well balanced diet on a limited budget.

For this first installation of Menu Mondays, I will be shopping in my own fridge, freezer and pantry prior to heading out to the grocery stores.  Once the pantry has been "shopped" I'll come up with a grocery list to fill out the menu for the week.  Disclaimer: I am not a morning person and my stomach is usually not ready for food when I wake up.  So, my daily breakfast consists of a cup of black coffee brewed with my Keurig and 2 spoonfuls of sugar.  Occasionally, I might add a handful of granola to the mix, but that is a very rare occurrence.

After a thorough analysis of what I have on stock in my kitchen, here is my grocery list:
1 lb ground beef, 1/4 lb deli chicken, 1/4 lb deli pepperoni, 1/2 lb deli provolone cheese, hamburger buns, carrots, cucumbers, pizza dough, mushrooms, shredded cheese, yogurt, fruit, pita chips and spicy mustard.

Luckily, I already have most of the ingredients for the items on this week's menu.  Grocery shopping shouldn't take long at all and there are only two stops to make (Aldi for fresh produce and Giant Eagle for the meat & dairy items).  If I come across a better deal on meat options, the menu may be altered somewhat, but here is the basic menu for the week:

Do you plan a weekly menu?  What are some of your favorite standby dishes?  Do you have any money saving tips for a person living on a budget?  Please share in the comments section below.

Happy Eating!