Wine Launch! Forest Feast x Sandar & Hem

Today is Wine Launch Day and I’M SO EXCITED! This has been in the works for quite some time and I’m happy to finally share my wine collaboration with Sandar & Hem, a family wine label rooted in the mountains where I live. I LOVE this Sauvignon Blanc and hope you will, too!

Just in time for Mother’s Day, I’m releasing this wine alongside my new spring Eucalyptus Cheese Board! Together they make the perfect gift. This board was inspired by the magenta blooming eucalyptus I am seeing everywhere lately. Who doesn’t love wine & cheese? This mama sure does.

Click Here to Shop! —>

Use code FORESTFEAST10 at checkout for 10% off!

Two moms collaborate!  Perfectly timed for Mother’s Day 💕

Recha and I met through our kids’ school and we dreamt up this partnership one afternoon on her deck over a glass of her family’s amazing wine. I LOVE this wine — it’s rooted in place, my place — and I wanted to be a small part of its story. Recha and her husband, Rob, created their boutique family wine label Sandar & Hem a few years ago which is inspired by and grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains where we live. We share a passion for local food and wine and the mission to build community around the table, so it was a perfect match.

Inspired by the soft shades of spring, I watercolor-painted grapes and wild flowers for the label. It will make your spring table a little prettier and a lot more delicious.

This 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is light and crisp with a clean, citrusy finish. It’s available in bundles of 3 for about $26/bottle if you use the coupon code below.

Visit the Sandar & Hem website to order this wine in 3-packs, 6-packs and 12-packs— it ships throughout the US.

***If you live outside California, click here.

Use code FORESTFEAST10 for 10% off

Cheers!

This product can only be sold to those 21 and over via the Sandar and Hem website. Please drink responsibly. #21andover #partnership

Blackberry Shrub Mocktail

During the past few years (and three kids later!), I have been experimenting more and more with mocktails. I love the way a mocktail can make happy hour or aperitif hour still feel special without the alcohol. Perfect during pregnancy, dry January, or really any time you want to leave out the alcohol. This one uses blackberries although you could easily sub in a different kind of fruit to change it up. Cheers!

BLACKBERRY SHRUB MOCKTAIL

(*makes a pitcher that serves 4-6, but see note below)

1 c fresh blackberries

6 sprigs fresh mint

1 liter seltzer

several drops bitter

1/3 c blackberry-flavored shrub (a non-alcoholic “drinking vinegar” often mixed into drinks. Here’s a suggested brand.)

ice

Finely chop leaves from 2 mint sprigs and combine in a small bowl with 1/2 c blackberries. Mash the berries and mint together until a jam forms.

Add 1/2 c water to the jam bowl and stir. Pour the mixture over a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing the remaining pulp with a spoon to remove as much moisture as possible. Add the the bitters and shrub to the pitcher and lastly the seltzer.

Stir with ice and serve in glasses garnished with the remaining mint leaves and berries. Use agave to sweeten, if desired.

***

*Since we aren’t really gathering these days, you can make this ahead for yourself (minus the seltzer) and keep it in the fridge for a couple days. Add a couple spoonfuls of the jam/shrub/bitters mixture to your glass then top off with seltzer, ice and garnish just before enjoying.

Cozy Drink RoundUp

Today marks the Winter solstice — the shortest day of the year. It gives me hope to think that each day that follows will be lighter and brighter and soon it will be Spring again. I know 2020 has been a tough year for so many people around the world and as we are in lock down again, I thought it would be nice to do a COZY DRINK ROUNDUP for these cold & wintery nights.

Tonight’s solstice is special because it coincides with the Great Conjunction. Shortly after sunset, look southwest, toward the horizon — you should see Saturn and Jupiter pass in the night sky. They will appear the closest they've been since 1226!

As for the cozy drinks, I plan to enjoy one in front of the fire once the kids are asleep. Spiking optional!

+++

Hot Chai-Nog

Hot Chai Cider

Holiday Hot Cider

XX

Erin

Hot Chai-Nog

Hot Chai Cider

Holiday Hot Cider

Peanut Butter-Avocado Shake

It’s the New Year (Happy 2020!) so I thought I would share some lighter ideas for those who are looking for clean, fresh, and healthy recipes. This avocado shake from my first book is filling and delicious and it is really quick to make for mornings when you need to head out the door!

Peanut Butter-Avocado Shake

PEANUT BUTTER-AVOCADO SHAKE

recipe from The Forest Feast

1/2 ripe avocado

1 1/4 c (300 ml almond milk or your milk of choice)

2 frozen bananas (peel & cut in chunks before freezing)

1 T peanut butter (or any nut butter)

3 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth!

Serves 2.

* * *

For more light recipes, check out:

Pumpkin Smoothies

Kale Tacos

Cheers to the New Year!

xx

Erin

Holiday Party: Cava Sangria Punch

I love how pretty this punch bowl recipe looks for a party. It was inspired by our favorite neighborhood cafe in Barcelona while researching The Forest Feast Mediterranean. In Spain, it is typically served in a pitcher but it’s perfect for a party to make it in a bowl

Note: Double the recipe for a mixing bowl or simply add equal parts juice and prosecco (or, like the recipe, add slightly less juice for a less sweet version). You can use any type of fruits that are in season. I used figs, cranberries, persimmons, apples, pomegranates, clementines, star fruit and edible flowers. Slice them thinly so they’ll float. (Tip: the pom seeds only float on top of larger items.)

Check out the video demonstration here.

Cava Sangria

1 bottle Cava or any dry sparkling white wine (750 ml)

2 c white grape juice (480 ml)

Mix in a pitcher with:

1 c raspberries (165 g)

1/2 grapefruit cut into triangles (peel on)

Serve chilled or over ice.

* * *

For more holiday-centric party ideas, you might like:

Green Kale Dip

Holiday Appetizer: The Cheese Ball (video)

Holiday Cocktail Party