Garden-Fresh Summer Sides

Garden-Fresh Summer Sides

Purple Cowboy Barbecue

An end-of-summer cookout just isn’t complete without a few delicious sides to pile on next to your grilled fare. We found some delicious summer sides to round out the season. And don’t forget the best barbecue pairings: Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red and Trail Boss Cabernet.

Cheers!

Grilled Corn Recipe

Olé Olathe Grilled Corn 

Get the most out of the end-of-summer sweet corn with this tasty side dish that pairs beautifully with barbecued ribs and burgers.

Ingredients

  • 4 ears olathe corn, shucked, and silks removed
  • 1/3 cup olive oil mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • cayenne pepper

Black Bean Corn Salsa

Black Bean Corn Salsa

  • ½ cup cooked black beans
  • ½ cup corn kernels
  • 1/4 cup red salsa (choose which spiciness works best for you)
  • 1 red tomato, seeds removed and chopped
  • ½ bunch cilantro, stems removed and chopped fine
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl. Salt and pepper to taste.

Vegan Pasta Salad Recipe

Vegan Pasta Salad Paired with Girl & Dragon Pinot Grigio

Don’t knock it ’till you try it! This vegan pasta salad recipe creates its creaminess from a dressing made of silken tofu instead of mayonnaise. We found that a little extra salt makes it all the more tasty. Bonus: you don’t have to worry about this one going bad in the heat so quickly!

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces small pasta shapes like bow ties, shells, elbows or Rotini
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 cup silken tofu
  • 4-5 Tbsp fresh dill
  • 3-4 Tbsp agave nectar or cane sugar (or honey if not vegan)
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp dijon  mustard

Instructions

Cook the pasta noodles according to package instructions, drain, rinse with cool water and set aside.

Chop red pepper, celery and onion. Set aside.

Make the dressing by adding silken tofu, dill, salt, pepper garlic salt, agave nectar (or sugar or honey), vinegar, olive oil, and mustard to a blender. Blend until well combined. If it’s not blending properly, feel free to add water one tablespoon at a time until it becomes creamy.

Taste the dressing – adjust seasonings as needed. We added more salt and mustard.

Mix the noodles, veggies and dressing in a large bowl. Chill in the refrigerator. This pasta salad becomes even more delicious the longer it chills.

Cold Outside? Bring the Barbecue Inside!

Cold Outside? Bring the Barbecue Inside!

Barbecue with Purple Cowboy Wines

It’s brutal out there! What’s a barbecue lover to do when the grill outside is covered in snow? Simple, bring the party inside!

We’ve gathered some delicious barbecue ideas that will have you hosting a summertime or Super Bowl barbecue, whatever the weather looks like outside. All of these recipes would make mouth-watering pairings with both Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red and Purple Cowboy Trail Boss Cabernet.

Speaking of Super Bowl… Remember to stock up on Purple Cowboy Wines today in the Wine Sisterhood Wine Shop! And bonus: order a case or more, shipping is only $.01 – just one penny!

Here are some of our favorite ideas for bringing the BBQ right to your kitchen:

OvenBakedRibs-Kitchn

How about a classic rack of ribs? We’re loving this recipe for Oven-Baked Barbecue Ribs from the Kitchn. When you can’t wait for Spring to arrive, turn on the oven and prepare a meal that will have you forgetting all about those frigid temperatures outside.

BBQ Chicken in the Oven

Or try your hand at a batch of barbecue chicken, baked to moist, juicy perfection. This recipe from Heather Likes Food is simple: marinate, season, bake and enjoy!

Then take a trip to the South with pulled pork topped with an Eastern North Carolina-style barbecue sauce with this step-by-step recipe from Taste of Southern. And here’s a recipe perfect for Super Bowl entertaining: Corky’s Oven Barbecue Short Ribs from Tori’s Kitchen. Be warned: they have a serious kick!

24 Hours in Texas Wine Country

24 Hours in Texas Wine Country

WS_TX_Roadtrip_watercolor

The Wine Sisterhood team recently headed down to Texas for two big events: Around the World in 80 Sips Austin and Houston. They took their time between events and didn’t miss the opportunity to explore Texas wine country.

What they discovered were some exciting hidden treasures and not-to-miss eating and drinking establishments. If you’ve got 24 hours (or more) to spend in Texas Wine Country, here’s where we recommend stopping:

In and around Austin

NobleSandwich

Noble Sandwich Company – our favorite “destination” sandwich joint. Gotta try the Smoked Duck Pastrami Rueben, the Red Chile Braised Pork Cheek Sandwich and the Jalapeño Slaw. Next time we’re in town, we’re ordering the Fried Bologna Sandwich.

Friends and Neighbors – the coolest little vintage shop ever, featuring carefully curated vintage wear for ladies and kids, unique jewelry made by local artists, AND a coffee bar with tasty little treats and local wines and brews.

PleasantStorageRoom

Pleasant Storage Company – tasty craft cocktail and rum bar. Named after a popular 1940s Havana joint, the menu features rum punch, rum-centric cocktails and Caribbean-inspired street food. Recommendations: the Chicharron de Pollo (rum-spiced chicken skin), Fried Conch Hush Puppies and Empanadas.

Texas Hill Country/Wine Country

Coopers

Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-b-que – where “It’s all about the meat.” Here, meat is not priced by the serving, but by the pound. Order your meat outdoors and sides inside, then dig into your order on long picnic tables with shared condiments including extra-thin sliced white bread, squirtable margarine, hot sauce and a giant tub of jalapeños.

beckervineyards

Becker Vineyards – one of the most well-known wineries of the region, featured in Wine Spectator and Food and Wine Magazine. Their Rhone-style wines hit the spot.

Grape Creek Vineyards – aka. “Tuscany in Texas.” This estate has won over 100 medals from San Francisco to New York. Our favorites were the Cabernet/Syrah and “Bellissimo” a Super-Tuscan style wine.

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Herb Farm – relax in charming cottages patterned after the historic Sunday house cottages unique to the area. These quaint cottages have all the amenities of the 21st century — including flat screen HD TV, high speed internet and sleep-in worthy beds.

Headed to Texas soon? Check out the Wine Sisterhood’s “Texas Forever” board for travel ideas.