Visit To Idaho Winery

This weekend Chris and I didn't have any set plans so we decided to go wine tasting.  Ok, ok, I decided I wanted to go wine tasting but Chris was up for it as well.   After some quick Googling, we found our place - Ste Chapelle.  It is a well known winery in Southwestern Idaho atop a valley running along the Snake River.  From the pictures I saw online, I knew that was the place I wanted to go.

I have to say, we were was not disappointed.  It was a lovely (and humorous) drive getting out there especially when we stumbled across a uniquely named road.  

Driving up to the winery made us suddenly imagine that we were in France or Italy.  The landscaping was immaculate and the building was very old world style with a large, yet quaint deck adjoining it.  Even as we parked we noticed off to the side, a shaded grassy field that was set up with pretty tables and chairs that were probably for a wedding reception.

After passing under the archway covered with grape vines, which had small clusters of grapes on them, we entered the large, heavy wooden doors and into the wine tasting room.  

The inside was rustic yet sophisticated and beautiful.  I was too excited that I forgot to take pictures unfortunately.  With it being a Saturday and perfect weather outside, they were a little bit busy, however one of the ladies behind the bar tended to us quickly and courteously.  It was $5 per person to taste 5 wines of our choice and we could keep our wine glasses.  Not a bad deal at all.  I have always liked collecting wine glasses from all over after doing wine tastings, but over the years, my collection has slowly dwindled through multiple moves and slippery fingers.  So I was happy to add some new additions.

After we finished our tasting, we headed outside to sit on the deck.  The view from the bottom was pretty, but the view from the top was absolutely beautiful!  The day was clear and you could see the hills and valley out in the distance.  

Even though we liked a lot of the wines, we didn't purchase any wine that day.  It didn't really matter because we still sat and talked, ate, enjoyed the view and people around us.  We generally just absorbed the perfectness of the day.  

A very nice lady even offered to take several pictures of us with the hills and valley behind us.  

There are other wineries in that specific area as well as some scenic driving routes that Chris and I will go back to explore on another day in the near future.  And maybe next we will be lucky enough to have some family or friends join us!

Hugs and Love,

Christal

My "Go To" Green Smoothie

Hi Everyone!

One of my favorite things to eat is a green smoothie.  It's sweet, delicious, packed with nutrients and really quick to make.   Most often I make this as my breakfast but I sometimes swap it out as my lunch, snack or even dinner for work.  It's versatile because you can use different types of greens and fruit to suit your liking.  I'm going to show you my normal "go to" green smoothie.  This recipe is tried and true for me so I can make it in about 5 minutes.  I always have the ingredients on hand so I never have to worry about whether or not I can make it.  This recipe makes roughly 30 ounces of smoothie which is a full meal for me but it can made bigger or smaller - whatever you like.

Ingredients:

Kefir Water, 1- 1.5 Cups

Spinach,  2-3 Large Handfuls

Stevia, 1/4 tsp

Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp

Apple, 1

Frozen Banana, 1

Frozen Berries, 1/4 -1/2 Cup

I use a high speed blender which I highly recommend if you plan on making a lot of smoothies.  They are an investment but there are countless uses for them if you make use of it.  I make smoothies, almond milk, nut butters, flours, cookies, soups, etc. which I wouldn't be able to do with a less expensive blender without burning out the motor.  I love my blender and use it constantly.

When adding the ingredients, you want to start with the softest ingredients first and end with the hardest.  So add your ingredients in the order I have them listed.

Liquids first, then pack in the spinach.

 Peel, core and chop up the apple into chunks.

 The smaller the pieces you cut up, the less work your blender will have to do.  Especially with frozen items!

 Add the apples and banana.

 Top with the frozen berries.

            

         Blend, blend, blend!

I blend for about 45-60 seconds (my blender has a preset smoothie button for convenience and consistency).  If you are using a less expensive blender, you may need to go a little longer to help really make it smooth.  You can also cut your ingredients into smaller pieces and that will also help with the blending.  Do not go too long though or else your blender will start to heat the ingredients because of the friction from the blade.  If you use frozen ingredients like bananas and  berries, it will help keep your smoothie cold without the need for ice.

Once it is smooth, I pour mine into a glass and drink it with my beautiful glass straws.  I typically make and drink it right away, but you can save any leftover in the fridge for up to 24 hours.  It will begin to settle and separate as it sits but that is fine, just shake it up before you drink it.  If you keep it any longer than 24 hours, it will start to oxidize and the flavor will change as it loses its freshness.

You can use whatever combination of flavors you like, especially during the summer when there is a lot of fresh fruit in season.  I will swap out spinach for baby kale too and I sometimes use 2 pitted medjool dates in place of the Stevia.  If you want to make it, just get creative and use whatever you like!   

Hugs and Love!

Christal