And then came “Sideways,” the film that punted the wine over a cliff. Poor little Merlot. Compared to the cool kids on the block, Syrah and Zinfandel, Merlot was weak sauce. And yet. Here I am (well, not here as in right now ’causes it’s barely 10 a.m., but here as in lately) enjoying Merlot most evenings.

I stumbled upon the Bonterra Merlot at my supermarket a few weeks back. Yes. I liked the label. And that it is made from organic grapes. The price seemed right, too. Quite honestly, if I’d been perusing the shelves at my favorite wine store I would have skipped over the Merlot. But, the pickings were slim at best so I said to myself, “what the hell? Let’s give it a go.”

Is is big? Is it bold? Would I serve with a strong, smelly blue? No. No. And no. But it is nice. And you know what I’ve come to learn? Sometimes nice is good. Nice is easy. Nice is perfect for that one little glass with dinner mid-week when I’m not looking to have my world rocked. Nice makes the transition from sleep to work fairly seamless. Who can knock that?

What about you? Have you found your way (back) to Merlot? Be honest. I promise not to judge you.

Ingredients:

1 lb shredded or chopped cooked chicken

2 cups purchased tomato salsa

2 cups shredded Mexican cheese

1 cup low-fat lemon yogurt

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon chile powder (though taste first. You may not need if using a medium to hot salsa)

6 to 8 flour tortillas

To Make:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In large bowl, combine chicken, 1 cup salsa, 1 cup cheese, yogurt, cilantro, cumin and chile powder.

3. Spoon mixture into center of tortilla, roll to close. Lay filled tortillas, seam side down, in an oiled baking dish. Top enchiladas with remaining 1 cup salsa and 1 cup cheese.

4. Bake until cheese is bubbly and enchiladas are heated through, about 25 minutes.

Serve with a side of chile beans, Mexican rice and guacamole.

This one is ideal for those busy weeknights when you absolutely have to get something on the table fast.  Serve with cheese quesadillas topped with salsa for a fast, yummy and kid-approved meal. Enjoy.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 onion, chopped

4 cups chicken broth

2 gloves garlic, chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon cumin (more to taste)

Two 15 oz cans hominy, drained and rinsed

1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 inch pieces

1 lime

Fresh Cilantro

Salt and Pepper to taste (check flavor first. Some cans of hominy are saltier than others)

TO MAKE:

Saute onions in 1/4 olive oil until translucent, about 3 minutes

Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute

Add oregano, chile powder and cumin and cook for 1 minute

Add hominy and remaining chicken broth, bring to simmer and cook for 5 minutes

Add black beans and chicken and simmer for another 5 or 8 minutes (until chicken is no longer pink in the middle)

While simmering, quarter the lime. Squeeze lime juice from one quarter lime into soup.

While simmering, add 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

Serve topped with Mexican cheese, crumbled tortilla chips and a sprinkling of chopped cilantro.

If my son wants to invite a friend over after school, he’s welcome to do so and I’m happy to coordinate. But (and here’s the rub) it needs to come from him. I’m not interested in making sure he’s best buds with my friends’ or colleagues’ kids. I feel strongly he needs and deserves to forge his own relationships.

The need to micro-manage each and every moment of our kids’ time is beyond annoying. It’s damaging. How can we expect our kids to fend for themselves if we never allow them to do so? And, yes, I can hear your arguments. It’s a dangerous world out there, we can’t just set our kids loose with no supervision, they could get abducted or worse. Phooey. I don’t buy it. Our 24-hour media cycle and immediate access to all things news means we’re more aware than our parents were. It doesn’t mean the world is a less safe place.

I was thrilled this weekend when my husband, in response to our son’s whines of boredom, told him to get on his bike, ride around the neighborhood, and find something to do. My son thought about it for a minute, came up with a plan, shared said plan (I’m riding to Ethan’s house to see if he wants to play. If not, then I’m going to the school to see who’s on the playground), then left. And stayed. Was it terrifying not knowing exactly where he was? Sure. It was also super peaceful. My husband is good at reminding me that at his age, we both ventured long and far from home and  … everything was okay.

A while later I jumped on my bike and found him in Ethan’s backyard, happily engaged in a game of obstacle football that involved moving swiftly around piles of dog poop. I had to smile. All the pre-planning and play date arranging in the world couldn’t have come up with something so wonderfully fun for two young boys.

As well as tasting great, it’s super fast and easy to make. If you’re ever in a jam, wondering what to make for a last-minute potluck, this is the dish.

I’m posting the original recipe, with my own modifications in parentheses. Enjoy.

2 lbs. small red potatoes, cut into quarters

2 stalks celery, thinly sliced

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (if you aren’t a fan of raw onions, soak the slices in cold water for 10 minutes or so. It will take out some of the bite)

1/4 cup cider vinegar (I much prefer using 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar. I think the slightly “bigger” flavor pairs better with the Dijon mustard)

1/4 cup Dijon Mustard

1/4 cup loosely packed parsley leaves, coarsely chopped (I’ve used cilantro in a pinch and actually preferred it)

1. Place potatoes in saucepan with just enough water to cover. Add a pinch of salt. Heat to boiling on high.

2. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover saucepan and simmer potatoes for about 8 minutes or until just fork tender.

3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine celery, onion, vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.

4. Drain potatoes. then add to bowl with celery/Dijon mixture. Using a rubber spatula, toss to coat.

5. Sprinkle with chopped parsley (or cilantro).

Serve warm and enjoy.

You go into a restaurant in a super cute tunic and skinny jeans. The AC is broken. So … You go to the restroom, take off your pants and call the tunic a super cute, super short dress. And no one blinks an eye.

Without question, LA moves to a different beat. But it’s one I get. I like the city and its vibe. Yes, it’s huge. It spans the horizon, running every which way, never ending, never stopping. The traffic is horrendous. It is a pulsating madness all wrapped up in an industry of crazy. But, if you take the time and look closely, you’ll find pockets of pure bliss. Expansive parks. Challenging hiking trails with phenomenal views (right in the city), beautiful beaches, amazing restaurants, an arts scene rivaled by few and a cultural diversity that is comforting.

Below are a few of my favorite places to visit in LA:

1. Griffith Observatory. Here, you’ll find great city views, plenty of hiking trails, and a selection of planetarium shows. Plus, it’s nice to see such a lovely swath of green in the city. We arrived just in time to catch, Time’s Up, a program examining “the fundamental nature of time through the prism of false claims regarding the end of the world in late 2012.” Cool show that has you reclining in chairs so as to catch the full experience of the overhead screen. It’s also narrated by a live person.

Be sure to look through Zeiss Telescope. Tip: we were there just before dusk, so views through Zeiss were fairly limited. You’ll see much more detail if you do your telescope viewing after sunset.

Post-Observatory, head down the hill to Mexico City in Los Feliz for what was the best Mexican meal we’d had in ages. Weeks later, my family is still raving about our dinnerl there. We must have inhaled 2 baskets of chips with the restaurants spicy red salsa and salsa verde. For my entree, I chose the Pollo en Mole Verde, a chicken breast in pumpkin seed mole sauce. Divine. Seriously, I might fly back to LA simply to eat this again. The restaurant has a laid-back, casual vibe which perfectly captures the essence of  the hip Los Feliz neighborhood.

2. Santa Monica. Yep, it’s a bit of a tourist trap. Embrace it and you’ll be fine. I used to live here and just adore the energy and excitement that seems to run through everything 24-hours a day, seven-days-a-week.

Parking can be tough, so best to head into one of the city parking structures, located on 4th or 2nd Streets, between Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue. This sets you up for a walking tour of the Third Street Promenade, a seemingly endless outdoor shopping mecca with stores, bars, restaurants and a whole range of street performers – you’ll see it all here. It’s also within close proximity of the walking paths along Ocean Avenue and the Santa Monica Pier. Tip: Head north along the walking path if you need a break from the crowds.

Speaking of the pier, it’s a mob scene. But, my kid absolutely loves it because it has an arcade (and at 10-years-old, he is completely obsessed – OBSESSED – with the games and the tickets you can win when playing. Anyone else experience this?). You can also get down to the beach from here.

For dinner, go Italian at Trastevere. I’ve eaten here a few times and it’s always good. I’ve had the pizza, antipasto and, most recently, the Penne Arrabbiata with sausage. It’s spicy, but not in a oh-my-God-I’m-dying kind of way. That and a glass of wine were the perfect way to unwind after an evening full of walking, people watching and arcade-game playing.

3. Manhattan Beach. When I lived in LA (the second time, not the first time), Manhattan Beach was my little getaway. Living in the city is loud (at one point, I was right off Wilshire Blvd, close to LACMA and the Beverly Center). Car alarms, music, voices, traffic, helicopters, police sirens whir, whine and alert nonstop. Awesome. And yet. Sometimes you need a break. Manhattan Beach delivered then and continues to deliver now.

Back then, I would walk the beach, stroll the shopping district, and eat sushi (lots of sushi). This trip was different. Yes, there were morning beach walks and a teeny-weeny bit of shopping, but mostly there was boogie boarding. With a ten-year-old. And let me tell you. Manhattan Beach has an amazing surf. Big. Rough. Unforgiving. The waves come from the left, they come from the right, and they slam you from behind (or in front, depending on which way you are facing). The undertoe is determined, to say the least. It pulled me down more than once. It ripped off my board shorts. It stole my sun glasses, grabbed a book from the beach, and basically did as it pleased. And we loved it. You must, must, must play here. And the water temperature? I’m from Maine, where the waters are icy. Manhattan Beach was perfect. Not too warm. Not too cold. Just right.

If you can pull yourself away from the water (we couldn’t), there’s a pier, bike rentals and plenty of little boutiques in which to kill the time.

Where to eat. We had three amazing meals while in Manhattan Beach. Our first lunch was at the Strand House, a great spot just steps from the Pier. With ocean views and an outdoor patio, it really lends itself to the vacation feel. I had the kale salad and it was fabulous. My son swears his burger was the best one he’s ever eaten (“how do they make food this good, Mom?”).

Dinner was at my old haunt, Fusion Sushi. And, yes, it was as good as I remembered. I’m still thinking of the Spider Roll we inhaled. My son so liked the miso soup, he had three bowls (who does that?). On our last day, before heading to the airport, we stopped at Thai Dishes for a quick lunch. Wow. Just great. I had the Scallops and Shrimp with onions, bell peppers and Thai basil in a spicy garlic sauce. My husband thought we would share this, plus the dish he ordered. He thought wrong. I ate it ALL. If I could have carried it on the plane, I would have taken another order to go.

I feel as though I’m just touching the tip of the iceberg here. LA offers so much. The Getty Museum, Universal Studios, Runyon Canyon, Sunset Boulevard… the list goes on and on. Bottom line: Los Angeles is worth a visit. Go. And have fun.

Our other dishes were old. Really old. I bought them right after college at a Dansk outlet in Kittery, Maine. I worked at the store that summer and spent weeks deciding which of the various patterns, colors and styles were to become mine. I remember how grown-up I felt when buying them (sure, they sat for months in their box at my parent’s house as I was still living at home, but …. whatever. I had dishware).

Those dishes were well traveled. They moved with me from New Hampshire; to Washington, D.C.; to Denver, Colorado; to Santa Fe, New Mexico; to Southern California; and finally to Montana. That’s a lot of miles. And meals.  Old dishes mean something. They tell a story. Of me. Of us. Of our life. The places we lived, the people we fed.

As I pulled them out of the cupboard to make room for something new, I thought of all the homes I’ve lived in. The apartment in Virgina that sat so close to a highway, it sounded as though cars were driving through our living room. The condo in Colorado that would swelter to 100-plus degrees every day, every summer. The home in Ojai, California that boasted orange, lemon, and lime trees in the back and front yards. And here. In Montana. The home that welcomed my son from Ethiopia.

And, I remembered my dog, Junction. A big yellow lab who traveled and lived with us for nearly 15 years. He liked those dishes. Not that he got to eat off of them (yuck), but he certainly had his share of scraps scraped from them into his own dish. I think it’s fair to say my old dishes were packed with good memories. Unfortunately, they were also covered in scratches and chips.

I knew it was time to say good-bye when, just recently, I chose to serve dinner to my friend, Toni, on plastic, patio dishware rather than on their indoor counterparts.

So I said goodbye. And made room for something new. My new dishes came from Target and cost all of $40 for two sets. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy. Rather, I was looking for something upon which to build a new lifetime of memories. I think the new dishes are up for the challenge.

2. Avoid, at all costs, the term, “Play Date.” Rather, send your kids outside to find their own playmates.

3. Get comfortable saying “No.”

4. Stop thinking of the television as an alternate babysitter.

5. When asked, ‘what do I do now,” don’t immediately organize a new activity. Rather, tell your kids to figure it out.

6. Don’t have a selection of snacks always packed and available in your SUV or mini-van. You know your kid will be fine for a minute or two without “snack time.”

7. Occasionally leave your children home alone (that’s right, home ALONE – it’s movie, and it’s pretty darn funny).

8. Stop saying the world is so much more dangerous today than it was when you were a kid. You’re wise enough to recognize that our 24-hour, around-the-world-in-ten-seconds news cycle just makes it seem that way.

9. Hire a babysitter and feel a-okay about leaving little Johnny home while you enjoy a night out (and, make everyone else at the restaurant feel a-okay about not having to spend their date night with your screaming child).

10. Finally, if you do take your child with you to a restaurant, play by the rules. Set ground rules up front: The kid behaves. He (or, she) wears clean clothes and brushes his hair. He sits in a chair, not on the floor, under the table. He never throws food, sugar packets, or silverware, on the floor, at you, or at other diners. He engages in conversation (as in, don’t set his mini-DVD player on the table or allow him to stick his face in his DSi). And, when it’s time to leave, he will know to thank not only the server, but also you. ‘Cause you’re picking up the tab.

The ability to turn on a faucet and pour oneself a glass of cool, fresh water is truly remarkable. Imagine not being able to do so. For many people around the world, this is the hard, sad truth.

So go ahead, pour a glass, and be thankful. It really is a gift.

Like any true Zin, it has lots of fruit, but it’s not so sweet as to be “jammy.” Rather, it layers its sweetness with hints of smoke, mocha, and plenty of spice. We’ve had it with burgers and steak and it pairs well. I’m already envisioning myself enjoying it this winter with my homemade bolognese sauce.

And, if you’re wondering about the ladybug on the label, here’s the deal (from the Rutherford Ranch Winery web site):

The ladybug is a natural predator that feeds on insects harmful to plants.  “Natural predation” is just one of the many sustainable vineyard practices that eliminates the need for synthetic pesticides.

Nice. A red wine that’s green. Bottom line? About $22.

(In Missoula, you can pick up a bottle at Rattlesnake Gardens)