WINTER 2024

Greetings from my Winter Kitchen, Everyone!

Today I’m writing to help lift your palate up and away from heavy winter recipes.

I start to look forward to each season long before I really should, but it can’t be helped—it’s the curse of being a chef!  Just when I think I couldn’t possibly make another batch of mashed potatoes I look at the calendar and realize….it’s still winter.  So, I often make recipes that help me get past the seasonal blahs. I rely on my pantry, too, because I’ve always got yummy, interesting things in there- like wild rice, and dried fruit!

Which brings me to my newest salad recipe- a “Basmati and Wild Rice Salad”. This salad, for one, is a great way to get past the monotony of winter at a time when the fruits of spring and summer aren’t quite here yet.  This recipe really looks like a winter salad, lots of earthy brown colors, but its surprisingly fruity taste has been a hit with everyone I’ve served it to.

All of the ingredients can be found on a year-round basis, too.  Versatility is another plus with a recipe like this, since it goes so nicely with pork and poultry.  Try it for a luncheon or as a bit of substance at a cocktail party like I do.  It shows nicely with both our Chardonnay and our Sauvignon Blanc.

Here’s the link for my recipe:

https://recipes.schugwinery.com/recipes/basmati-and-wild-rice-salad/

And, so you can be sure to enjoy a beautiful wine pairing, here are links for our Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc:

https://schugwinery.com/collection/chardonnay

https://schugwinery.com/product/2022-sauvignon-blanc-

Enjoy and be healthy! Bon Appetit!

Kristine Schug, Winery Chef