The Top 50! 06/26/2009
 

*****Update:  We have found out from Murphy-Goode that voting has been suspended.  But that's OK!  You can still check out my video here and leave a comment on my site letting me know what you think!  Best of luck to everyone and thank you to all the great people I've met along the way!*****

I just found out this morning that I've made it into the Top 50 for the "Really Goode Job" with Murphy-Goode!  Rather fitting that I found out through Twitter!  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to everyone who has voted and you can now vote for me all over again and help me get into the Top 10.  Just go to here and cast your vote.  I'm the only Ohio representative and wouldn't it be great to see a Buckeye there?!  =)

 
 
Amy and Alex
Amy and Alex at New Student Welcome Party, with the our wine :)
Please check out my guest post over at Andy's Goode Life!
 
 

Hi everyone!  Hopefully by now you know that I've applied for the job of Murphy Goode Sonoma Wine Country Lifestyle Corespondent (and if you haven't voted for me yet-go here http://www.areallygoodejob.com/video-view.aspx?vid=QFjG-o5FOLQ and spread the word to your friends!)

Anyway, I've been asked to write a Guest Blog post for Andy's Goode Life.  She's letting me pick the subject and I really want to make mine about all of you!

I'm basing my application on my belief that wine is more than just the vintage, tannins, and acids, but rather about the time that you spend drinking it friends.  So here's my questions to you...

What do you think of first when you think of wine?

Please leave me a comment below and I'll feature you in my article!  Oh, and don't forget to vote!

 
Go Vote for me! 06/12/2009
 
Picture of wine toast
Easter in Regent's Park!

My video is officially up on the Murphy Good Website so now it's time for every to go vote!  To vote:

*Follow this link http://bit.ly/47RT6
*Watch my video
*Look to the right of the video and enter your email address where it says to vote
*They will send you a confirmation email which you then have to follow the directions in that for your vote to be counted.  Check your junk mail folder just in case (it ended up in my junk mail!)
*Come back here and leave your comments! 
*And most importantly!  Spread the word!!  Please send the link to your friends and family!  Email, Twitter, Facebook, whatever you have to do!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to those who agreed to have their pictures used in the video.  I really mean it that the times I've spent with you have meant the world to me and, more often than not, it involved a glass of wine.  :)  Next time we toast, maybe Sonoma?

With many kisses and much love,
XXamyXX

P.S.  The video I've uploaded to YouTube has optional Captioning for my friends who are deaf/hard of hearing.  Check out my earlier post from 10 June and turn on the captioning in the embedded video, or check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fmxBHF8h-w but still make sure you head to the link above to vote!

 
Blooper Reel 06/11/2009
 

And for a special treat...The blooper reel... :)  Enjoy

To vote for the real thing, go to http://bit.ly/47RT6

 
Time to Submit 06/10/2009
 

**Update 12 June 2009 - Make sure you go vote here! http://bit.ly/47RT6

Well its finally time!  After having to reshoot several sections of my video because I keep dreaming new ideas for it (maybe its all the Murphy Goode wine I've been drinking)!  I've finally got all the editing done.  There was about 40 minutes of footage to whittle down to 60 seconds so hopefully I've gotten my message across.  You can check out the video here, but also make sure that you head over to the Murphy Goode website to vote for mine and I'll see you in Sonoma for good friends, good conversations, and Murphy Goode wine... :)

 
Recipes from BBQ 05/29/2009
 
**11 June 2009 Update** The mini lamb burger were SOOOOO popular that I've been asked to make them 3 times since the cookout!

Here are the recipes from the cookout for those of you not on Facebook!  Enjoy!
Grilled Mini Lamb Burgers from Murphy Goode (where you can find even more recipes.)

Ingredients:
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 5 ounces ground pork fat (*note-If you can find "grass fed" lamb you won't need this.  Or for a healthy option, substitute for 5 ounces avocado)
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, minced finde (*note-I used red onion)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced fine
  • 1 tablespoon fresh min, minced fine (*note-We all agreed THIS is what made the burgers!)
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced fine
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced fine
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, fresh ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons Merlot Mustard (recipe follows)
  • 8 mini hamburger buns (we ordered from Resch's Bakery)
In a large bowl, combine lamb, onion, garlic, and spices and mix thoroughly.  Divide meat into 8 (3 ounce) portions.  Form portions into round patties and refrigerate until ready to grill.

Preheat grill to medium-high temperature.  Grill lamb burgers on both sides to medium doneness, approximately 3 minutes on each side.  Serve immediately on a mini hamburger bun.

Makes 8 (3 ounce) servings

For the Merlot Mustard
  • 1 cup Merlot
  • 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses (can be found in most Asian or Mediterranean markets)
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
Serve with Alexander Valley Merlot

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce from Murphy Goode

Ingredients:
Marinade:
  • 1 pound boned skinned chicken breast cut into strips
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons each coriander and cumin
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 6 tablespoons tamarind water
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup peanut oil         
  • 2 cups raw peanuts2 jalapeños
  • 1 1-inch cubed, peeled ginger
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 4 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped coriander
Skewer chicken on bamboo skewers that have been soaked in water.  Mix minced garlic, spices, sugar, fish sauce, and oil.  Pour over chicken.  Marinate for 30 minutes.

Heat peanut oil in skillet to smoking.  Add peanuts and turn off heat. Cook 3-5 minutes.  Remove with slotted spoon and food process with 1 tablespoon of peanut oil and blend to coarse paste.  Add liquid ingredients and blend until smooth.  Add coriander.

Grill chicken and serve with sauce.


Jicama Slaw

Ingredients:
Dessing
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • salt and white pepper to taste
Slaw:
  • 1 jicama, peeled and cut into matchsticks
  • 1/2 head napa cabbage, shredded
  • 2 carrots, grated
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Make the dressing: Whisk together the lime juice, vinegar, chili powder, and honey in a bowl.  Whisk in the oil and season to taste.  I also added a splash of white wine vinegar to add a bit of tang, but not necessary.

Slaw:  Combine the jicama, cabbage, and carrots in a large bowl.  Pour the dressing over.  (I put it in a big bag and shook!)

Makes 8 servings.
 
 

It's taken me a few days to recover from the BBQ!  We had an...interesting evening.  Everything was going well until it came time to shoot.  We thought it would be nice to shoot the footage outside on the patio with a fire in the firepit.  I wanted the fire to be a centerpiece so we waited until it was a bit dark.  I had a halogen spotlight set up so it would provide enough light for the shot.

That is until the spotlight fell over and shattered.  We took a look at the footage and realized that it was too dark to see.  We tried to shine a car's headlights on the scene--nope.  A hand held spotlight--nope.  So on to Plan B!  We moved everything inside and tried again!  It worked fine!  But by the time it was all over, it was time to break out another bottle of Murphy Good Wine!  We had a bottle of The Fumé Sauvignon Blanc and the Alexander Valley Merlot to go with the Chicken Satay and Grilled Mini Lamb burgers (a former sheep farmer has serve lamb you know!).

I've been asked to post the recipes that I served here so that everyone can share them.  For those of you on Facebook, I have posted them to my profile (check out the notes) and I'll post them here in the next day or two!  Just invite me over to help you eat them!

By the way...A special thanks to Tonya, Christian, Doug, Laine, and of course my mom and dad for all their help!

 
 

This morning Nikki and I ran in the Pet Promise Rescue Run 5K!  Then it off for a quick lunch before coming home to cook for the BBQ later this evening.  Like I said, I wanted my video to be about friends and family so what better way than to ask my friends and family to take part in the video process.  It's going to be a busy evening and they're going to start arriving shortly so I'm off to put the finishing touches on the Mini-lamb burgers and Chicken Satay!  Love the recipes on your site!

 
Hi Murphy Goode! 05/22/2009
 

Hi Murphy Goode!  I've decided to keep track of my process of making my video application to you so I can share the process with my friends and family as well!

Because here's the deal.  When I began thinking about what I wanted to say in my video, I started to think about what wine meant to me.  I didn't think of the vintage, tannins, or acidity first though.  I thought of times that I've spent with my friends and family toasting a celebration with the clink of glasses.  Ahhhh, the memories that "Cheers!" brought back. 

So here is my journey.  I'm so glad to have the chance to share it with you!