Happy Hallo-WINE!!

Just in time for Halloween, The Harris Sisters have yet another Covid-19-friendly Halloween option for you to try.  How about a virtual or socially distanced wine and Halloween candy pairing this year?- for the over-21 crowd, that is...  On our recent Girls' Weekend getaway trip, we did just that.  We sampled a mix of five wines with an even bigger selection of popular Halloween candy, and we offer our feedback on the pairings below.    Read on for all the details on these surprising and sometimes frightful combinations.  

Getting Started

Whether you are looking to pair a few candies with one good bottle of wine, or like we did, try several different combinations, your first step is finding a good list to provide you with great wine and candy matches.  Use our notes below to try the pairs that we tried and see how you like them.  

We paired 5 wines with 11 different types of candy. Here's the full list of supplies you'll need. (Substitutions for wines are listed with each review.):

Wines We Used 

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chardonnay
• Moscato
• Prosecco
• Red Table Wine

Candy We Used

• Almond Joy
• Butterfingers
• Candy Corn
• Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars
• Kit Kat
• Nerds 
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• Skittles
• Snickers
• Starburst
• Twix

Sweet White Wine Pairings

For this pairing, we chose to use Moscato as our wine, but you could also choose a varietal like Malvasia or Riesling, depending on your preference.   This wine is said to pair well with Candy Corn, Skittles, Starburst, and Hershey's Milk Chocolate.   After sampling all these pairings, we all agreed that Starburst and Moscato, as well as Hershey's Milk Chocolate and Moscato, make excellent pairs.  We agreed less on the other two pairings.  Misty liked the Candy Corn when paired with Moscato.  Donna did not, and I was completely undecided after the tasting, so the jury is still out on that one. And both Donna and I agreed that Skittles and Moscato make a tasty pair.  Misty was less sold on this combination, but we all agreed that it could definitely depend on which flavor(s) of Skittles you are pairing with your wine. 

Rich White Wine Pairings

We chose to use Chardonnay for the rich white wine pairing, but you could also use Marsanne or Viognier instead.  This time, we sampled Candy Corn, Hershey's Milk Chocolate, and Butterfinger with our Chardonnay.   And this time we were completely in agreement.  The Harris Sisters give both the Butterfinger and Hershey's Milk Chocolate a thumb's up when paired with Chardonnay.  And we gave the Candy Corn pairing a resounding MEH- this was neither great nor awful- just somewhere in between.

Sparkling Wine Pairings

For these pairings, we used Prosecco, but you could certainly also choose a Sparkling Rose or Champagne instead.  I should preface this particular review by saying that Harris Sister Misty is not a fan of sparkling wine in general.  Having said that, she was also not a fan of any of these pairings.  We sampled the Prosecco with Candy Corn, Nerds, Kit Kat, and Almond Joy.  And both Donna and I enjoyed all of those pairings.  But the pair of Almond Joy and Prosecco was a surprise in that it topped both of our lists, and I personally would not have predicted that one.  Trust me though, it was a winner!  

Medium Red Wine Pairings

We chose a Red Table Wine for this pairing, but most Red Blends or a Merlot would work here as well.  The medium reds are said to pair well with Kit Kat, Snickers, and Hershey's Milk Chocolate.  We all agreed that Snickers and Kit Kat paired extremely well with the Red Table Wine.  We were more divided on the Hershey's Milk Chocolate pair.  While Donna and I enjoyed it together, Misty did not.  But both Donna and Misty pointed out that I eat Kit Kat wrong.  I didn't know there was a right way.  They both break off one bar and eat from that.  I don't break it.  I just bite it across the top.  Let me tell you, they were deeply disturbed.  

Bold Red Wine Pairings

For this final set of pairings, we used Cabernet Sauvignon, but you could also try a Malbec or Syrah if you prefer.  We paired the Cab with Snickers, Reese's, and Twix.  Harris Sister Misty did not enjoy any of these pairings, but she also typically does not enjoy bold red wines.  Both Donna and I agreed that the Snickers and Reese's paired with the Cab were among the best pairings of the night.  However, the Twix definitely did not measure up.  On a related note, Misty and Donna were once again disturbed to learn that I don't love Reese's.  In fact, I would say I really don't like it at all.  I would never seek out a Reese's; however, when paired with the Cab, it was off the charts good.  Maybe that's what it's been missing for me all this time.  

So there you have it.  The Harris Sisters are nothing if not committed to in-depth research involving wine and candy.  Feel free to call on us if you decide to host your own pairing, and from all of us to all of you, Happy Hallo-WINE! 

Tipsy Grasshopper Cocktail

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, so we thought we'd share with you a green cocktail recipe that's THE one you'll want to have in your hand when you're celebrating. (It's THAT good.)

This St. Patrick's Day, we are mixing up Tipsy Grasshoppers in the Harris Sisters' kitchen. We love a sweet drink with a little kick to it, so we thought this festive green one would be just the ticket for the occasion. And if you're a fan of mint and chocolate together, then this drink is for you!

We gathered our ingredients together (and sprinkled a little confetti for good measure). Here's what you'll need to make each drink:

Tipsy Grasshopper

1/2 oz creme de menthe
2 oz white chocolate liqueur
1 oz vodka
gold sugar crystals (to rim glasses)
light corn syrup (to rim glasses)

1. Rim glasses with gold sugar crystals if desired (directions follow).
2. Mix creme de menthe, white chocolate liqueur, and vodka in a shaker with ice and strain into the decorated glass. 

What St. Paddy's Day celebration can be complete without a little gold? If you really want to be fancy, you can rim your glasses with gold sugar crystals like we did. Decorated rims are easier to make than you might think.

How to Rim a Glass

1. Cover the bottom of a medium plate with light corn syrup.
2. Cover the bottom of a different medium-sized plate with gold sugar crystals (or other garnish).
3. Flip your glass upside-down and dip the rim into the syrup on the first plate.
4. Then, dip the sticky rim into the garnish on the second plate to coat.

Cheers! And Happy St. Patrick's Day from The Harris Sisters!

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The Perfect Mai Tai Recipe

A Mai Tai is a classic summer cocktail. Rum combines with amaretto and pineapple and orange juices for the ultimate tiki bar treat! If this little concoction doesn't put you in a Hawaii state of mind, then nothing will.

We first fell in love with Mai Tais back in 2011 when we were married on the island of Kauai. We bummed around the island for our honeymoon too, and found the best little tiki bar on the north shore that served killer Mai Tais.  Here I am from way back then at that little tiki bar.  Notice the two Mai Tais on the table in front of me.  I'm sure they didn't last too long after this photo was taken.  :)

Mai Tai

1.5 oz spiced rum

1.5 oz. coconut rum

1 oz. amaretto

6 oz. pineapple juice

4 oz. orange juice

splash of grenadine

maraschino cherries/ pineapple wedges for garnish

1. Combine rums, amaretto, and juices in an ice-filled shaker and shake. 
2. Pour into a large ice-filled glass. 
3. Slowly pour a splash of grenadine into the glass and allow it to fall to the bottom. 
4. Garnish with maraschino cherries and/or pineapple wedges. 

So, there you have it.  Such a simple cocktail to mix up.  Cold, fruity, yummy.  Ummm, now that's summertime treat.  Enjoy!

How to Make the Perfect Wine Spritzer

If wine is your thing, but you like to change it up sometimes OR if you prefer a sweeter and colder beverage, then maybe you should consider a wine spritzer. It's the easiest drink to prepare and will have you wondering why you never gave this a try before. 

The key to a wine spritzer is to start with super-chilled wine and then add either club soda, lemon lime soda, or ginger ale.  Any one of those will do- just whatever suits your taste, but be sure to super chill them too before adding them to the mix.   Finish off with a wedge of lime to garnish a white wine spritzer or a slice of orange or a handful of frozen berries to garnish a red wine spritzer. 

The ratio is 3/4 part wine to 1/4 part mixer. 

Note: Super chilled ingredients are the key here.  Your glass should frost up on you.  That's how you know you've done it right!  Using extra COLD liquids will prevent you from having to add ice to your wine.  That's a no-no for this wine lover. You can certainly also freeze your fruit if you have the time and use it like ice cubes as well. 

Cheers!

Hpnotiq Breeze

The Harris Sisters tested and wholeheartedly approved this simple drink over our Girls' Weekend this year. It comes together quickly and goes down easily. This is the kind of drink you should mix up for your lazy poolside days. Or at least when you are dreaming of being poolside. It's the perfect summertime drink!

Hpnotiq Breeze Drink

1 1/2 oz Hpnotiq

1 oz Coconut Rum

2 oz Pineapple Juice

1. Fill a shaker halfway with ice and pour in all ingredients. 
2. Drop some ice into a whiskey sour glass and strain mixture into it.

Enjoy!!

Notes:

There is no real substitute for Hpnotiq. It is a premium blend of exotic fruit juices, french vodka, and a touch of cognac. It is easily spotted in your liquor store as the bright Caribbean blue liquor in a frosted champagne bottle.

It will cost you about $20 for a bottle but it goes a long way and mixes up the perfect summertime concoction.

Caribbean Rum Punch

This is such a tasty treat.  We made up a batch of this Caribbean Rum Punch recently for our Memorial Day Weekend, and we liked it so much we made it again!  It's such an easy recipe to make, and it makes an entire pitcher so there's plenty to enjoy (or share, if you are feeling generous). 

Caribbean Rum Punch

1 cup fresh lime juice

2 cups grenadine syrup

2 cups rum

2 cups coconut rum

2 cups pineapple juice

2 cups orange juice

10-15 drops Angostura bitters

1. Slice and squeeze limes.  You will need at least 8 limes to reach the cup of lime juice that you need. This is the only real work involved in making this drink.  :)

2.  Pour all ingredients into a large pitcher, and stir well.

3. Refrigerate before serving.  

Notes:

You may substitute a simple syrup for the grenadine, but it won't have the pretty red color.  I have seen rum punch prepared both ways, but my personal preference is to use grenadine.

The bitters are the secret (and key) ingredient here.  And despite what the name might suggest, it isn't bitter at all.  It is spicy and delicious, and you can tell a huge difference if you mistakenly leave it out.  We like to add a little extra.  Prepare to your taste. 

Champagne Punch

This recipe is such a winner; it combines two of my favorite flavors- orange and cranberry.  If you have any bubbly left over from New Year's, here's the best possible way to use it up.  Guaranteed!

Champagne Punch

2 oranges, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices

3 cups cranberry juice, chilled

3/4 cup orange liqueur

2 bottles champagne or sparkling white wine, chilled

2/3 cup frozen cranberries, plus additional for garnish

1. Freeze orange slices and cranberries for about an hour, or until frozen solid.  
2. Meanwhile, chill punch bowl in refrigerator or freezer. 
3. When ready to serve, combine cranberry juice with orange liqueur. 
4. Add champagne, and float frozen oranges and cranberries in the punch.

Notes:

This recipe goes fast, so double it for much festive goodness.  I actually halved it for a small group, and we ran out pretty quickly.  

Garnish your glasses with some of those frozen cranberries, and enjoy!

The BEST Ever Homemade Margarita Recipe

Fridays around these parts are usually Fiesta Fridays, meaning we hit our favorite Mexican dive to start the weekend.  And now that we have found the perfect margarita recipe, weekends are suddenly even better!

The BEST Ever Homemade Margaritas

• 12 oz limeaid concentrate

• 3/4 can of tequila (fill the limeaid can 3/4 way with tequila)

• 3/4 can of triplesec (same measurement here)

• 2 cap fulls (not cup fulls) Rose's sweetened lime juice

1. Shake all ingredients together and serve over ice, or blend with ice for a frozen drink.

Notes:

You can play with the ingredients here, but this is a great base recipe.   We have added orange juice to this recipe, and it is equally fantastic.  

If you plan to drink these on the rocks, I would add some water to the recipe as well.  Frozen margaritas already get a little extra water because they are blended with ice.  

This one is definitely Harris Sisters approved!  And just in time for the weekend.  Enjoy!!

Cranberry Pomegranate Sangria

This was quite tasty if I do say so myself (and I do say so - Hiccup!) :-) I'll definitely be putting this one into rotation for holidays. Hey, it's red, which means it goes with Valentine's Day AS WELL AS Memorial Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! How often do you find a drink that will cover all of those bases?

Cranberry Pomegranate Sangria

1 750 mL bottle of red wine of choice

4 cups cranberry pomegranate juice

2 cups POM Wonderful pomegranate juice

1 cup orange juice

3/4 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)

1 pineapple, sliced, juice reserved

1 orange, sliced

Sprite for serving

1. Combine all ingredients (including juice reserved from pineapple) in a large pitcher.
2. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
3. To serve, add ice to glasses. Use tongs to remove fruit from pitcher for each glass. Pour sangria and top off each glass with Sprite.

Simple Syrup

1 part sugar

1 part water

1. In a saucepan, boil sugar and water over medium-high heat until sugar has dissolved. 
2. Remove from heat and let cool completely before using.
3. To store, refrigerate, up to 2 months.

Notes: 

Because of the red juices in this recipe, if you happen to have or even prefer white wine, you can use that instead and the recipe will still turn out the same pretty red color. I've made it once with white and once with red and it has been great both times.

You can substitute cranberry juice for the cranberry pomegranate juice if you can't find it.