The weather is changing and the days just got shorter. This time of year we are relentless about
getting out and soaking up every minute of daylight. We are also craving warm comfort foods at
the end of an active day. Our recipe for balsamic roast beef lets you have both: warm, tender
roast beef with little effort or time, so you can spend your extra time sneaking in a hike or
popping in to an impromptu happy hour. For best results, pair with our Prospector’s Proof
Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Balsamic Roast Beef

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. boneless beef chuck roast
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tamari
• 2 tablespoon maple syrup
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
• 2 portobello mushroom caps, sliced lengthwise
• 4 cups kale leaves, chopped
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Place roast in the slow cooker. In a bowl, mix together the chicken broth, balsamic vinegar,tamari, maple syrup and minced garlic. Mix well and pour over the roast beef. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Baste the roast periodically.
2. Before serving, heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and mushrooms and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes or until softened. Add in the kale leaves and continue to sauté just until wilted. Turn off the heat, stir in the apple cider vinegar and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
3. Once roast is cooked through and you are ready to eat, remove it from the slow cooker into a large mixing bowl. Trim off any large pieces of fat and shred with two forks. Put it back into the slow cooker and let it soak in the juices for 5 to 10 minutes. When ready to eat, use a slotted spoon to lift the beef out of the slow cooker onto a plate. Transfer the leftover juices into a jar to use as gravy or for a future roast.
4. Plate roast beef with a side of sauteed kale and mushrooms. Enjoy!

We have two words for your Friendsgiving guests: Crispy Prosciutto.

This holiday season we are embracing the unexpected and putting our own spin on traditional side dishes, and traditional Chardonnay. Imagine a creamy fall risotto, topped with salty, crisp prosciutto and fresh herbs and paired with our newly-released Chardonnay, aged in American oak barrels, a new bold take on a California classic.

This recipe is perfect for a dinner party in, but it also travels well, an excellent solution when you’ve been assigned a “side dish.” To transport, make or transfer risotto to a dutch oven or casserole dish with lid that can be reheated at your destination. Keep crispy prosciutto and sage separate to add just before serving. Enjoy!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO

Serves 8

ingredients:

• 8 cups vegetable broth, low sodium
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 4 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, cubed
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, divided
• 2 cups arborio rice
• 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
• 4 1/4 ounces Prosciutto, sliced into small pieces
• Fresh sage leaves
• Salt/pepper to taste

directions:

1. In a saucepan, bring the broth to a gentle simmer, then leave on low heat to keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onions for five minutes. Stir in the squash, garlic, and half the salt. Cook for about six minutes, or until the edges begin to soften.
3. Stir in the rice and remaining salt. Cook for two minutes, or until the rice is fragrant.
4. Add the warm broth one cup at a time, stirring often and allowing time for the liquid to absorb before adding more. Cook until the risotto is al dente and the squash is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a small sauté pan, over medium heat, add the prosciutto. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until cooked through and slightly crispy. Remove and set aside.
6. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil to the prosciutto pan and heat. Add the sage leaves and sprinkle with sea salt. Cook the sage leaves over medium-high heat until crispy and remove from pan.
7. Before serving, stir in the parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Divide into bowls, top with sage leaves and crispy prosciutto. Enjoy!

What’s better than flavorful chicken and fresh veggies? Giving them a good char on the grill to bring out their boldest flavors. Today, we have a recipe for you that is both delicious and perfect for sharing at your fall gatherings. We recommend grabbing a bottle of our 2020 Pinot Noir to share alongside these sizzling kabobs.

Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 lb chicken breast (boneless, skinless, diced into cubes)
• 1 large zucchini
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 cup red onion
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 8 Barbecue Skewers
• Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Combine the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, oregano and 1/2 of the olive oil in a mixing bowl. Add in the cubed chicken breast and mix well. Place in the fridge and let marinate while you prep the vegetables.
2. Dice the zucchini, yellow bell pepper, and red onion into large chunks. Toss in the remaining olive oil.
3. Slide the marinated cubed chicken, zucchini, yellow bell pepper, red onion and cherry tomatoes onto the skewers.
4. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
5. Grill the kabobs for 8 to 10 minutes per side or until chicken is cooked through.
6. Remove the kabobs from the grill and divide onto plates. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

Leftovers: Store covered in an airtight container in the fridge up to three days.
Serving Size: One serving is equal to approximately two kabobs.
Serve Them With: Rice, quinoa, grilled potatoes and/or tzatziki sauce. Add to leafy greens to make a salad.
Vegan & Vegetarian: Omit the chicken and use marinated tofu or whole mushrooms instead.
Wooden Skewers: If grilling with wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water before using to avoid them catching fire on the grill.

Let’s just draw a line in the sand now and boldly state that there is no “grilling season.” Spring, summer, fall (winter?) you should get out and grill any time you crave the outdoors and the delicious, smokey flavors of freshly barbecued meats and veggies.

Exploring new ways to grill your favorite dishes is part of the experience.  Recently, we’ve been throwing a whole chicken on the grill and enjoying the juicy flavors alongside crispy, spicy skin. Grilling an entire chicken is easy, but there are tips and tricks to help you get the best result. Check out this basic grilled chicken recipe and our recommendations for getting it just right, then grab a bottle of American Barrel Aged Chardonnay and dinner al fresco is served!

Grilled Chicken:

The method for grilling a chicken is fairly simple: Light the grill (or coals), heat to approximately 400 degree F. Place the bird on the middle of the grill, skin-side up, close the lid and allow to cook for approximately 45 minutes to one hour (depending on size).  Then, check the bird every 5-10 minutes until done.

As they say, the devil is in the details. Below, a few tips:

Spatchcock – This is the method of butterflying (or flattening) the chicken before grilling. If you grill the chicken whole without flattening it, you may get some uneven cooking and dry out the breast. To do this, remove the backbone and then break the breastbone by pressing down on the legs. Some supermarkets sell whole chickens already spatchcocked, and a butcher can usually do this for you.

Oil! – The secret to crispy, delicious chicken skin is oiling it well. We recommend using an oil-based marinade or brushing on a generous amount of olive oil before cooking. You can also soak a paper towel in olive oil and then, using a pair of long metal tongs, brush it directly on the almost-ready grill before adding the chicken.

Go Bold – We’ve already mentioned the chicken skin in this dish, but it really is the star of the show. Your chicken will be even more flavorful if you add bold seasonings, rubs or sauces to the skin prior to cooking. You can add a spicy dry rub after brushing olive oil onto the skin, create a marinade and add a little liquid smoke, or brush on your favorite barbecue sauce a few minutes prior to removing from the grill. The bolder the better!

Use indirect heat – Juicy chicken takes time to roast, so you don’t want it placed directly over a heat source. If you have a gas grill, turn on all burners except the one directly under the bird. On a charcoal grill, you can either use a water bath in the center and arrange coals around it (this also helps keep the bird moist) or layer more coals on one side of the grill than the other, creating a “hot” side and a “cool” side. Place the chicken breast-down on the hot side first, removing after a few minutes and then place skin-side up on the cooler side to cook through.

A meat thermometer is always a good idea so you can check doneness without over-cooking.