MacLeod Family Vineyard - Food Pairings

Avocado, Hearts of Palm, Seafood Salad

The freshly made herbal dressing compliments the sweet shrimp (or crab) and round smooth flavors and textures of the avocado and hearts of palm. The key is the fresh dressing! I have made a variety of salads with the common denominator being the avocado, hearts of palm, shrimp or fresh crab. I have even experimented with adding fresh tomatoes (in season) and artichoke hearts. Have fun with this.

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Beef Bourguignon, Classic. Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

Classic recipe adapted from Julia Child. Unique in Lance calls for sous vide to really tenderize beef prior to browning. Carrots are also added late in the process to keep them from being mushy. Submitted by Lance of Colorado Springs.

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Berry Wine Cake, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

A delicious tea cake featuring fresh black berries and raspberries. Perfect for making with children.

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Braised Short Ribs with Gorgonzola Polenta, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

Wonderfully rich and decadent short rib recipe. Serving over polenta is perfect to mop up the merlot infused pan sauce. Submitted by Bill of Salinas.

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Bucatini with Meat Sauce, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

The meat sauce surprises with the warm spice combination of cinnamon, red pepper and fennel. Submitted by Kay of San Ramon.

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Burgundy Style Beef Stew, Honorable Mention, A Merlot Cook Off Recipe

Adapted from classic bourgiugnon recipes. Unique spices of cinnamon and cayenne made this special. Pungent, savory and rich. Judges commented the house smelled "like Christmas" while this was simmering. Submitted by Kay of San Ramon.

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Coq Au Vin for Dummies, Top 3, Merlot Cook Off

"Inspired by Miss Piggy, in agreement with Herbert Hoover: "there should be a chicken in every pot". Surprisingly simple but excellent flavors. Merlot flavors chicken perfectly. Bacon is a must, despite Miss Piggy. Criisped chicken skins creative, but not necessary.

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Dark Chocolate-Merlot Truffles, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

Wow! Chocolate truffles with Merlot. Submitted by Kay of San Ramon. Easy to make and decadent.

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Lamb Shanks Braised in Red Wine, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

Who doesn't love osso bucco, especially with lamb shanks. Rich and succulent. Submitted by Greta of Carmel Valley.

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Merlot "Manfashion", A Merlot Cocktail Recipe

A bourbon "Manfashion" crafted by Rich. This was not a formal cook off entry, but needed to be included for you merlot recipe hounds. A cocktail crafted after the Manhantten and Old Fashion cocktails.

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Merlot Beef with Egg Noodles, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

A family favorite, this is a hearty beef stroganoff good anytime of year. Submitted by Heather of Crystal Lake, Il.

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Merlot Blackberry Spritzer, A Merlot Cook Off Recipe

A summer time refresher, sparkling and ready to dance! (Or you will be after a few of these). Submitted by Janet of Kenwood, CA.

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Merlot Drunken Grapes, A Merlot Cook Off Recipe

A sweet start of finish for any summer evening. Submitted by Janet of Kenwood, CA.

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Merlot Simmered Mushrooms, A Merlot Cook Off Recipe

Sauteed mushrooms in merlot make for a classic side dish with steak or chicken. Submitted by Fran of Kenwood.

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Merlot, 5 Spice BBQ Chicken Thighs, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

Five spice chicken marinade excellent. Submitted by Daphnia of Salinas.

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Poached Pears in Red Wine and Lemon Curd, Top 3, Merlot Cook Off

"Peras al vino"...A classic Spanish dessert. This is really a sophisticated way to use fresh pears. The wine poached pears are simply delicious swimming in a merlot syrup and fresh lemon curd. Submitted by Lance of Colorado Springs.

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Pomegranate Sangria, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

I truly refreshing Sangria. Careful as this goes down really easily. Submitted by Greta of Carmel Valley.

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Quaker Oats Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies (Karen's)

Wow, did we discover a perfect Zinfandel cookie pairing. Yes, oatmeal cookies with our 2008 Zinfandel are to die for. Well, it took a bit, but I got my neighbor, Karen, to cough up the recipe after about 4 weeks of nagging. She told me to look under the top of my Quaker Oats cereal box!! Sure enough. We substitute chopped walnuts for the raisins.

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Ranch Brownies

For you chocolate lovers! A luscious brownie recipe from the kitchen of Susan (MacLeod) Murphy. We pair these brownies with either the Merlot or Zinfandel. Also one of the favorite food items at the Sonoma Passport Weekends.

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Red Wine Chocolate Cake, A Merlot Cook Off Recipe

A dense red wine chocolate cake, the mascarpone whipped cream really makes the difference. Submitted by Michelle of Santa Cruz, CA.

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Sangria, Peters Style, A Merlot Cook Off Recipe

Perfect quaffing on a warm summer afternoon at the ranch. Goes down way to easily. Be careful!

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Savory Blueberry Steak Sauce

Our Merlot typically shows some blueberry nuances. I wanted to try a blueberry sauce with a rich filet or rib eye steak. Searching the internet resulted in this one recipe that has its roots in Italy. It was outstanding with the filet I BBQ'd for some of the MacLeod Family. I rubbed the steak with salt and a chipolte based seasoning to ad a bit of spice. I plan to ad a bit of chipolte to the sauce next time I cook this. In addition to a steak, this sauce would compliment pork dishes very well.

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Smokey Charred Short Ribs, Top 3 Merlot Cook Off

This recipe is unique as it calls for browning the ribs on a hot grill. Smoky rich flavors and textures, excellent! Rich merlot sauce makes the dish. Submitted by Matt of Prunedale.

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Very Berry Merlot Sorbet, Honorable Mention, Merlot Cook Off

A Top 3 Merlot Cook Off Recipe. Simply delightful. Fresh berries pair with merlot to create a delicious, refreshing dessert or intermezzo. Submitted by Chris of Prunedale.

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Wild Boar (pork) Pie, A Merlot Cook Off Recipe

A wild boar or pork pie. Lots of meat! Submitted by Mike of Salinas, CA.

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