Gnocchi alla Sorrentina

Whenever I go into Whole Foods, I love walking down the frozen food aisle because you never know what you will find. This time I stumbled on some frozen gnocchi alla Sorrentina (also known as gnocchi in a marina sauce with mozzarella). Gnocchi is like a pasta pillow and is not all that common. It has somewhat of a potatoey taste to it, which I know sounds really odd. This one from Whole Foods was perfect because you could make it in the microwave. The marina sauce had a good flavor to it and even though it was frozen, there was a bit of freshness to it. Like most frozen pasta dishes, the mozzarella was a little scarce and seemed to end up on the side of the container. It would be nice if they would have added a bit more, but you can always add in your own. Pair this with a salad and you have a simple and easy, but flavor dinner. This is a great way to mix up the usual pasta night and have something a little unusual. And who doesn't love a meal that you can throw together in minutes. So pick up a package the next time you find yourself on the frozen food aisle in Whole Foods.

"Bogle"ing My Mind

Sauvignon blancs tend to be more acidic and spicy. They have more of a zippy herbal taste, instead of the fruit flavors. I found this one from Bogle vineyards in Sacramento at Whole Foods. It's pretty acidic and has lots of herbal, earthy flavors, making it a perfect pair with fish and cheese. As a wine to drink by itself, I prefer something with a bit more fruit to it. However, I am sure that with the right foods, it would be much better. That's the great thing about wine...some are meant to enjoy with food and some are better by themselves, but either way there is something for everyone and everything. If you prefer less fruity wines, then this is a great option. No matter what it is, give it a try and take a walk on the wild side.

Wine of the Week

Wine is something that always intrigues me because you can never know all about it and there is always something new. I am very new to the wine world and still don't know what my favorite grape is or have a favorite brand. I don't know how to creatively pair wines with food, but I am definitely working on it. Every time I go to the grocery store, I always browse the wine aisles, even if I am not buying (I like to see what's out there). I was walking through the wines at Whole Foods and decided that it was the time to buy. This bottle immediately caught my eye because it had two of my favorite things on it...pink and high heels! How could I not try this?! Allegro is a moscato wine that is basically like drinking sparkling grape juice with alcohol. It's super sweet and beyond easy to drink. It's a great dessert wine or if you are just getting into wine. It's just a fun, playful, and great for girls night wine. It was reasonably priced and perfect for a relaxing night at home.

Cookie Challenge

I try to be open and up to any challenge. Food challenges are no exception. This one was to make a vegan, gluten free cookie for a friend. So we found a recipe that had only five ingredients: raw honey, coconut oil, salt, almond extract, and gluten free flour. The recipe called for blanched almond flour, however, Whole Foods didn't have any...which was weird. Also, they only had a giant bottle of almond extract, so I will be making a lot of recipes with almond extract. Anyways, back to the recipe. All you do is mix the ingredients together until a creamy dough forms. Pop the cookies on a cookies sheet and bake at 350 for about 8 minutes. Take them out and cool completely.
While the cookies are baking and cooling, you make the icing. It uses raw honey, coconut oil, almond extract, lemon and lemon zest. Again, Whole Foods failed and didn't have lemons. The icing was good, but unfortunately there wasn't much of a lemon flavor. Mix together and chill in the refrigerate for about 20 minutes. Spread on the cookies and then enjoy! Honestly, I had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be like a shortbread. The consistency was a crust on the outside and a somewhat crumbly texture. The icing really kicked up the flavor, so I would say it is a must. The best part about these cookies is that they had no flour, sugar, or eggs, so they were pretty healthy. I am glad that I tried them and was pleasantly surprised. Don't be afraid to try something new. You never know what you will get.