Tasty Tuesday: Red Wine Chocolate Cupcakes

 

Today’s recipe is from Susan Popok of Traveling Vineyards.  These yummy cupcakes will pair perfectly, I’m sure with one of their wines…Great for that upcoming party or barbecue.

Servings: 24  

INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• ¾ cup dry red wine
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup dark chocolate, melted

Icing

• 1 cup softened butter
• 3 ½-4 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup dry red wine
• 2 tablespoons sugar

PREPARATION

1. Combine cake mix, eggs, olive oil, and chocolate in a mixing bowl.
2. Bake according to package directions in lined mini muffin tins. Allow to cool completely.
3. In a small saucepan, dissolve the sugar in ½ cup red wine, until dissolved.
4. Allow to simmer until reduced enough to coat the back of a spoon. This will yield a few tablespoons of red wine syrup.
5. Combine powdered sugar and butter until fluffy, using a hand mixer. Slowly add the wine syrup and blend to combine.
6. Using a piping bag or plastic storage bag, frost the cupcakes.
7. Enjoy!

So what happens  at a Traveling Vineyard Wine Tasting?

Susan, your Sommelier, will bring 5 FREE bottles of wine, worth approximately $100 to the party.  You and your friends will get to try the wine before you buy it!   This is a great idea because I don’t know about you BUT I am pretty fussy about my wine.  You will get to enjoy perfectly crafted food pairings selected by your Sommelier and then provided by the host to enhance the experience.  Not just the “wine and cheese” kind of thing either.  Chocolate and wine.  Fruit and wine.  You will also learn basic wine education in addition to playing fun games.    Lastly, your guests will learn many solutions for their wine needs! We have a wine for everyone, every occasion, and every moment you can think of. So, who is ready for a girl’s night out while you sample some amazing wines?  Be sure to connect with Susan to set the date…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Tasty Tuesday: Salisbury Steak

 

Today’s recipe is from Susan Popok of Traveling Vineyard.

This is one of her family go-to recipes….

Ingredients:

1 lb of ground turkey or ground beef

1 package. of dried onion soup mix

1 egg

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

3 TBSP butter (split in recipe)

1 TBSP olive oil

1 onion, sliced thinly

1 TBSP minced garlic

1/2 pound mushrooms

2 TBPS flour

14 oz beef broth (1 can)

1/4 cup white wine

Instructions:

1. Form 4 oval patties with first 4 ingredients
2. Brown in pan with 1 tbs each butter & olive oil, remove, to pan
3. Add 2 tbsp. butter with thinly sliced onion, minced garlic & mushrooms
4. Add flour
5. Add beef broth and wine
6. Return patties to pan, cover & simmer for 15 minutes

NOTE: You can substitute Brown Gravy mix for beef broth and wine.

Susan Popok is with Traveling Vineyard.  Here is a little bit about this awesome company:

Traveling Vineyard began with an idea back in 2001: it is hard to know if you like a wine unless you try it first. That thought launched our entire in-home wine tasting concept. Since then we have launched hundreds of Wine Guides into successful work at home jobs. Because unlike other direct selling concepts, everybody likes to relax, enjoy and taste some free wine.

Whatever the reason, our story is still only beginning to unfold. But since the very first day our mission has been crystal clear.  By making tastings less stuffy, we hope more people will get the chance to see the possibilities in every bottle. Our Wine Guides are committed to bringing joy through a relaxed home experience that educates and demystifies wine. By going out in our communities and sharing our love and passion, we seek to build friendships and great memories along the way. Together we’ll sip, savor and change the way the world sees, tastes and shops for wine.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!