December’s 1st Snow

In big broadcast markets like Baltimore and Washington, DC the TV weather personalities typically make 6 figures. Who wouldn’t love that job! When it comes to forecasting bad weather they are wrong somewhere between 50-65% of the time yet still make that money.

The reason we are even discussing this is because yesterday’s forecast in the Baltimore-DC area initially called for light snow showers late in the day and during the evening with no accumulation. Instead, the snow began around 9:30 am and didn’t end for most of the day – a veritable winter wonderland with a 3-4 inch accumulation.

Our deck railing last night

Our favorite thing to do during a snowstorm is hunker down at home with the fireplace roaring and a gorgeous smelling dinner permeating the house. Yesterday’s choice: 3-bean chili and mâche salad with a creamy red wine vinaigrette and 2007 Altovinum Evodia Garnacha from Calatayud,Spain – just the way we like it…berries and spice and very little tannin and at a very inexpensive price. We recommend you check it out.

Our 3-bean chili

Mâche salad with cucumber, tomato & feta cheese with our Creamy Red Wine Vinaigrette

We love to vary our chili – sometimes we use 6 beans, sometimes we use turkey, or pork, or even the famous meatloaf combo (1/3 beef, 1/3 veal, 1/3 pork). Sometimes we top it with sour cream, sometimes grated cheddar. It all depends on our mood. Eric and the kids are experts at cooking chili in a big cast iron dutch oven in the fire while camping. It’s a cold weather fave in our house.

Sunday’s choice: Cornish hens with gluten free cornbread stuffing, Becky's potatoes au gratin (recipe from our friend) and garlicky green beans & tomatoes accompanied by 2007 Villa Sparina Gavi from Piedmonte, Italy (we were in the mood for white). It’s a fruit forward crisp, clean wine with a hint of honey. Another affordable wine you should check out.

Cornish hen with cornbread stuffing on a bed of onions