Need a side dish for a picnic, barbecue, or just a healthy snack? This little fruit salad packs a punch of nutrients and grab a handful of nuts and you have yourself a healthy, satisfying snack.
Here is a super easy meal for the weekdays and also makes an excellent leftover dish. This meal gets you plenty of protein and sweet potatoes are making a case for themselves as one of the healthiest foods around. Research shoes the sweet potatoes are high in dietary fiber, naturally occurring sugars and complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. If you don’t want the potatoes, replace with carrots.
With the weather getting better, barbecue season is right around the corner. You gotta love the smell of grilling anything from veggies to fish to meat. And nothing accompanies grilled food and the spice like a big zinfandel. This month our wine selection is the old world style Sausal Winery’s Family Zinfandel. While not overly fruity, this zin is able to stand up to spicy marinades as well as simply grilled meats. If you are into the bigger more robust reds, try the Family Reserve Zinfandel. Reasonably priced and easy to get in many places since it is a partner vineyard with Beverages & More.
This month we have been reminded by our friends Katy and John of how good Belgian beer is and especially when you get stuck in Europe because a volcano will not let you return to the states, and thus, you have to venture to Gent, Belgium to visit the Huyghe Brewery. Here you try the mother of all Belgian beers – Delerium Tremens. This my friends is Adam’s favorite unfiltered Belgian Strong Ale and at 9% alcohol a little goes a long way. However, it is still very drinkable and full of clove and citrus flavors. Goes well with most foods and great alone at your favorite local bar. Also, the Delrium Tremens name and pink elephant logo are meaningful and very clever.
Finally got a chicken recipe on the blog. This soup is as full of goodness. Hominy is simply corn without the germ and it is delicious in this soup. This is also one of the easy meals where you can load up on anything you have in the fridge that might be going bad soon. This soup is very filling but nourishing and it pairs well with a Viognier or dry Riesling. As for the beer, go with Stella Artois.
This is a great, quick steak recipe and one that will quickly satisfy some hunger. Don’t be fooled by the potato salad part…it is red potatoes on leafs of lettuce. I can’t tell you how easy this meal is to prepare and no wonder they say this is a “no knife” recipe. Double the recipe and it makes for a great lunch the following day. Can’t go wrong with your favorite Cabernet or Zinfandel.
Here is a great chili recipe for one of those colder spring nights. Very easy to make and totally warms the soul. If you are a carnivore, you can always add some beef or chicken to this dish. If you prefer spicy, feel free to kick it up a notch with the spices. We used 2 cans black beans, 1 can kidney beans for variety. Any preference for some bread, try Trader Joe’s corn bread. For a beverage compliment, try the beers Negro Modelo or Fat Tire or maybe a Zinfandel if you add some meat to the chili.
Now here is a salad from Williams Sonoma with so many interesting flavors and ingredients, it seems that you were just emptying the fridge of food so things wouldn’t spoil. But, this salad is absolutely wonderful and the tastes all strangely complement themselves. Dill, green onions, sun-dried tomatoes with potatoes and salmon? Several of these ingredients are in season and and we were even able to use lettuce from a client’s garden (thanks Dana). Nice for lunch or an early light dinner. The flavors pair well with a crisp New Zealand sauvignon blanc.
Since April generally has decent weather and us So Cal folks love to be outside, this month we are making the versatile 2008 Redtree Pinot Noir the wine of the month (88 pts. Wine Spectator). First off, it is very simple and fruity with cherry and raspberry flavors. This wine will be better if decanted well before serving and has often tasted wonderful a day later after being re-corked. According to the wine lady Katy, this might be due to the high alcohol and tannin content. Second, it is an absolute steal at $7.99/bottle at BevMo. Goes great with chicken salads and chicken sandwiches. Also, great by itself if you simply need to take the edge off.
Ohhh, do we have a treat this month. A long time favorite, Sierra Nevada Brewery has branched out a bit and has gone to the German Bock style beer. The Sierra Nevada Glissade might be the perfect spring time beer with the seasonal hops and freshness that simply shout out “spring time.” Drink by itself, pair with some sandwiches or salads, or even give it a run with a thin crust, vegetable-loaded pizza. And at a nice 6.4% alcohol content, this still delivers a bit of a punch without sacrificing a refreshing taste.
Here at Thrive Wellness we are passionate about healthy, organic food from local, sustainable sources. We also enjoy pairing this food with great wine and beer. Check out and enjoy the recommendations and recipes.
