The OpMom Blog

Choosing Wines for Thanksgiving

Picking out wine for Thanksgiving can be tricky.

The table is full of robust and sweet flavors. So let’s take a look at our options for a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner.

Champagne or Sparkling Wine Pick a Champagne or sparkling that is not completely dry. Look for the label “extra dry,” which is just a little softer than a “brut”, with fuller fruit flavors that will pair wonderfully with your holiday meal. A brut, which is what I prefer doesn’t serve this type of meal well. It’s a bit like drinking orange juice after you brushed your teeth. I would go with a Piper Heidsieck Extra Dry Champagne, Moet Chandon White Star Extra Dry, or a Sparkling Chandon Extra Dry

White Wines I believe that Chardonnay is one of the BEST to pair with a turkey and sides. I would choose a full-bodied, ripe, fruity Chardonnay from France, California, or Australia. These wine will serve well from the appetizers through the meal. Now if you aren’t a fan then of Chardonnay and prefer something lighter then go for a Riesling from Washington State.

Rosé Wines
It’s true that dry rosé wines go well with almost any dish, and with so many flavors on the table at Thanksgiving, rosé can be a great choice. If your taste runs to drier wines (mine certainly do), a rosé from the Cotes du Rhone or Provence regions in France will be light, crisp, and flavorful, but won’t overpower the meal.I’m personally not a fan of Californina Rosé BUT the the ones from Cotes du Rhone or Provence or simply amazing and you should definitely give it shot. It isn’t sweet and cheap, it is a classy bottle of wine.

Red Wines For red you have a couple of options. A Beaujolais Nouveau from the Burgundy region of France complements Thanksgiving fare and it can be enjoyed slightly chilled and work for those who favor white wines. An aged version of Beaujolais will be smoother and more aromatic.
One of my favorites is a Red Cotes du Rhone from France’s Rhone Valley. My favorite and popular choice from this area is by *Châteauneuf-du-Pape*.

*Hostess Notes* When hosting I always start off with a Sparkling or Champagne. Then I move to both red and white understanding that some people prefer one or the other. For Thanksgiving I like to offer a dry French Rosé as an option instead of white or red since it seems to pair so nicely with a Traditional Thanksgiving Meal.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Blessings to you all and Happy Entertaining!
P.S. come back and let us know what wines you enjoyed with your Thanksgiving Dinner!
 

Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

I can’t believe November is here! My mom and I have already started planning the menu for Thanksgiving.

This year we are using a combination of Family Recipes and OpMom Recipes! 

We alwahys start off with some olives, mixed nuts,  Endive with Gorgonzola and Walnuts and Prosciutto with Figs.

I have to confess that my  favorite part of Thanksgiving are the side dishes and I *Love* my mother’s recipes.  They were handed down to her verbally and most of her recipes are from memory. For example this dressing recipe is honestly the best Thanksgiving Dressing that I ever had.  

Her sweet potatoes are extremely addictive. I will also make a side of my Mashed Potatoes (w/ Caramelized Onion and Gorgonzola), mandarin salad and Roasted Brussel Sprouts. 

We are trying to keep it simple this year and not end up with a bazillion side dishes which is what happened last year. We also have great dessert recipes but that is a seperate post. I think pies deserve their own post. And also stay tuned for wine recommendations to go with that Turkey!

Easter is here! Small colorful outfits needed.

As I found myself dumpster-diving the clearance sale on Valentine’s candy last week, I noticed the pastel displays popping up where red & pink had occupied since New Year’s. Easter is upon us, my friends.

For parents, that means it’s time to figure out which colorful little outfits will make it into the Easter fashion repertoire this year. Like miniature Kentucky Derby socialites, there will be no shortage of tiny suits, pastel dresses and floppy hats. But where to start? Put away the Mint Julep and fear not, here is a short list of our favorite online boutiques. Some may be familiar, some not, but they’re all pretty cool. Have another idea or a favorite boutique? Submit it in our comments.

Here’s our starter list:

Best Dressed Child – This is a nice source for “traditional” Easter Clothes. They have everything from Smoked dresses to Eton suits for boys.

A Childs Closet – Has most hip brands under the sun like “Room Seven”, Gregory Girl, Indygo and much more!

Forget Me Knot Kids – Is a great store for Baby LuLu and Baby Nay.

Cute Little Clothes has great stuff for boys up to 7 years from cool brands like Tea.

And… a few other non-Easter finds:

Moochie Moo, our cool-but-impractical find of the month. This Australian boutique has amazing stuff… the best in unique toys, cool clothes, kids furniture and Red Envelope-like personalized items. And their service is beyond awesome. I ordered gifts for friends in Brisbane (the Charlie and Lola doll set was a hit), and the owner sent me no less than 4 personal emails confirming the order status, gift wrapping selection, shipping, and receipt. And then sent me a paper credit card receipt via regular mail to the US, with a little ID bracelet gift for my daughter. Obviously this exact business practice can’t sustain huge sales growth, but I really like the concern for detail and quality control. Love it!

LuvCharlie – forget the kids, this one’s for you. Cool, hip fashions at pretty reasonable prices. One of my favorite, most unique blouses came from here, and the service is pretty good too.

10 Family Holiday Ideas

1. Take your children to see holiday lights!
   Taking the family to see holiday lights is easy, affordable fun! Grab some holiday music and set the mood in the car. I like Putumayo’s New Orleans Christmas. For an AWESOME holiday drink try our White Hot Chocolate Recipe. like to take this drink with us so everyone gets a thermos.
2. Adopt a child or a family for the holidays
   My husband and I do this and involve our children in the process: reviewing the family’s wish list, picking up their wished-for items, and delivering them to the charity. We usually try to add in a really special surprise gift for the family, which always excites the kids and ignites their giving spirit. You can also visit “My Two Front Teeth” online to do some Holiday giving (visit My Two Front Teeth)
3. Take some time in the kitchen with your family
   This is a great time to bring some of your cultural heritage into the fold! Every year we set aside an afternoon to bake Italian Christmas Cookies, and the kids really look forward to it! Try this Italian Cookie Recipe
4. Attend a Tree Lighting Ceremony!
   Nothing kicks off the season better and is a fun way to start or end an evening. Note: if you do this, expect daily countdowns and re-inactments at home with the family tree!
5. Order a family ornament
   This site has so many to chose from! The Ornament Shop
   What’s also great about this site is that you can browse and select the ornaments by the number of people in your family, then customize them with family members’ names.
   
6. Take the video camera out and start filming!
   There is no better time to record the moments of your family during the holidays. There are also tons of online tools that you can take advantage of to make your film debut! Have an older video camera? Let the kids have it and record the holiday experience and memories from their perspective - if the camera survives, the memories will be priceless!
7. Buy festive pajamas for the family to wear
   On Christmas Eve my brother’s family exchanges pajamas with each other, and then they all wear them that night to bed. It’s part special holiday memory, part comical, and 100% fun. Check out Pajama Gram
8. Create a Family Time Capsule
   Get your kids thinking about their goals for next year. Get a box and write down, collect pictures and otherwise catalog the things each person wants to accomplish during the coming year. Then put it away until the next year, when the opening ceremony will become its own new tradition.
9. Declare a “family day” during the holidays
   If you have older kids, try to find time to hang out - go see a movie, get some shopping done together, or grab a memorable weekday lunch! For families with the little ones, make a meal together and play some board games or the Nintendo Wii!
10. Read traditional holiday stories
    I love the Strega Nona Series - Merry Christmas Strega Nona
    This is such a great Italian Christmas legend about a “grandma witch” named Strega Nona. Strega Nona is also known in Italy as La Befana. I make a point to read it every year to the kids, and they make it a point to remind me!