Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Celebrate Mother's Day with the Wine ConneXtion!

Mother's Day is this very weekend (!) and for those of you last minute planners- the Wine ConneXtion in North Andover has just the event to set you right for the day!  If you haven't been out to the Wine ConneXtion yet, this is a golden opportunity.  On an average day they have countless bottles of wine, table wines to treasures, all at fantastic prices.  Honestly, walking through their aisles is a bit like walking through Willy Wonka's factory- new discoveries and happy finds at every turn. 

They are rolling out the red carpet however for this Mother's Day and on Saturday, May 7th, they invite you (and your mom) to their store to sample treats from A&J King, a bake shop located in Salem, MA and to chat with the folks from Ocean Spray and sample some of their delicious juices!  Staffers of all involved will be on hand to give you tips and tricks to make this Mother's Day a success!!

To keep the spirit of giving going, the Wine ConneXtion will also be accepting donations (not required but lovingly appreciated) for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.

As a way of tempting your palate a bit, the folks at A&J King and Ocean Spray have sent a long a couple of recipes- more of these for sure at the event!

The Details:

WHEN:
Saturday, May 7th, 2011 wine tasting from 12:00PM to 5:00PM
Mother’s Day treats served from 2:00PM to 5:00PM

WHERE:
The Wine ConneXtion, 117 Main Street in North Andover, MA

COST: Free. Donations are encouraged and will be donated to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. 
 
Now for the fun recipes!
 
A&J King Artisan Pancakes

Makes 8-10 pancakes
Heat griddle or large pan to medium high.
1.5 cups milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt


1. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
2. In a larger bowl, mix the remaining ingredients. Stir the dry into the wet, using a whisk, until just barely smooth. Add more milk if necessary to achieve desired consistency.
3. Butter or grease the griddle and scoop your pancakes, making sure that they do not spread into each other. When the pancakes are golden on the bottom and the small bubbles rising to the surface to not fill back in when popped, carefully flip. Serve immediately, or reserve in a warmed oven until all are cooked.
4. Serve as you like – Andy and Jackie just use soft butter and real maple syrup.






Wine ConneXtion Ocean Spray Pomegranate and Cranberry Bellini's


1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup ice
1 1/2 cups simple syrup
2 1/4 cups Ocean Spray Ocean Spray® Cran•Pomegranate™ Juice, chilled
1 750 ml bottle Prosecco, chilled
2 limes thinly sliced
1 bunch fresh mint for garnish
1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) pomegranate seeds for garnish




1. Place ice in a 6- to 8-cup capacity punch bowl.
2. Add simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and cranberry juice. Stir well.
3. Slowly pour in Prosecco.
4. Garnish with lime slices, mint sprigs, and pomegranate seeds, and serve.
5. As an alternative to serving in a punch bowl, make Bellini mixture in a 6- to 8-cup pitcher. Divide pomegranate seeds between 12 champagne flutes, add 1 slice of lime and 1 sprig of mint to each glass, and pour Bellini mixture into each.  

No comments:

Restaurant Reviews: A dead art?

Last December I declared 2023 the year I would return to food writing.  It was a bold statement (even now as I look at my last published dat...