McMinnville Groupons for Guests

I have talked to several of our guests and since the wedding is essentially a local destination wedding for most, many couples/families are making it a little weekend get-away. I came across a couple groupons from the area that I thought I would share with everyone, just in case one of these wine tastings are of interest. I'll keep a look out for any other groupons from this area to take advantage of.

Embrace Oregon Tours—McMinnville
Four hour wine tour for one or two (up to 55% off)

 













Sample wines from three vineyards, feast on gourmet snacks, and learn about the region's viticultural history.

Amity Vineyards—Dayton-Amity
Wine tasting for two or four with logo glasses and $15 store credit for wine purchase (up to 55% off)

 

Well-established winery crafts crisp, food-friendly whites and approachable pinot noirs with estate-grown grapes.

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A Cold, Wet Evening in the Northwest

After a very wet and windy afternoon, we hunkered down for the evening. While Thomasina slept by the fire, I made a chicken pot pie casserole.

Per request of my BFF, here is the recipe. Give yourself an hour to an hour and a half to prepare and cook. The recipe requires white wine, so make sure you pick one you enjoy, so you can pour yourself some while you are cooking.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 roasted chicken, shredded
• 1/4 cup chopped red sweet pepper
• 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1 1/2 cups peas, blanched
• 1 1/2 cups carrots, blanched
• 2 potatoes, peeled, diced, and boiled
• 1 egg plus 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash

Directions

Thaw puff pastry according to package directions.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet melt butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken, sweet pepper, and shallots and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in flour, salt, tarragon, and black pepper. Add milk and cream all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in wine, peas, carrots and potatoes; heat thoroughly. Transfer the hot chicken mixture to a 1 1/2-quart casserole. Place pastry over the hot chicken mixture in casserole dish. Brush puff pastry with egg wash then cut slits in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes. 

Pour yourself another glass, make a little salad, and enjoy being warm inside while the wind howls, while catching up on DVR-ed shows.

Wine Tasting Uncorked

Last Thursday with some dear friends of mine, and the mama, I went to an initial consultation with a caterer, Cafe Uncorked. We discussed our wants, likes, dislikes, and what would work for our wedding and our budget. We stayed for lunch and had delicious fresh salads, sandwiches, and soup. We are a step closer on our search for the right wedding caterer.

After lunch I took the ladies up to the wedding site, Youngberg Hill Vineyard, to tour the grounds and to taste some wine. It was a beautiful fall day—possibly our last before the wet, cold weather hits the Northwest (hitting today 11/16).

Allie (congratulations! she is also getting married next summer!), Caitlin (who was visiting from the far off land of Nashville), and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening wine tasting in the McMinnville area, and even had a good ol' fashion slumber party—complete with pasta, wine, bridal mags, and great trashy reality TV. (Our thoughts and wishes were with our absent friend Mrs. Meagan Golden—we included a video chat in our evening.)

A toast to great friendships and an exciting year ahead of us!