With temperatures dropping and the holidays approaching, it’s the perfect time for a great mulled wine recipe. What is mulled wine? Mulled wine is simply wine that has been spiced, sweetened, and served warm, often with a shot of hard liquor. In the USA, that liquor is often Brandy. In […]

February 26th recognizes all things pistachio. It’s National Pistachio Day! It is a day that has been set aside for all pistachio lovers to eat their favorite nut all day long. For those who do not eat pistachios, buy some and give them to someone who does. Crack them open […]

Southern New Mexico offers epic blue skies, snowy mountain peaks, incredible vistas at White Sands National Monument, and the irresistible spectacle of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. These are Billy the Kid’s former stomping grounds, but that Wild West past has led to a refined present, with fine art, music, and […]

Wine grapes are not native to New Mexico. They were brought to the state in the 1600’s by Monks needing wine for Catholic ceremonies. They grew well, but endured a difficult journey through rough winters, Pueblo revolts, Prohibition and major flooding, essentially demolishing wine making in the region. A resurgence […]

Merlot, in French, means “the little blackbird”. In America, it is the second most popular red grape, just behind Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is known for being soft, ripe and elegant. Most are easy drinking reds that pair well with foods and are pleasurable to enjoy on their own. Merlot is […]

The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is filled with parades, flags flying, barbecues, fireworks, and impromptu baseball games. Families, friends, and neighbors often get together to enjoy eating, talking, and lighting colorful fireworks. But where did it all start? History of Independence Day Celebrations: The holiday was […]

Father’s Day didn’t become a national holiday until 1972 when President Nixon made it so. 1972! Most of the readers of this blog were probably alive then. The writer certainly was. That’s fascinating, considering Mother’s Day became official in 1914. History of Father’s Day There are two stories regarding when […]

There is always some confusion about Veteran’s Day, Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day. Just to set the record straight, Memorial Day commemorates those that have fallen in the line of duty serving the United States military. They gave it all to help protect our freedom and it is a […]

Easter, Easter, Easter…like many holidays, Easter is a blend of Christian and Pagan traditions, but there is no clear path of where each element came from. What is known for sure: Easter occurs on the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. That is why it moves around and falls […]

There is a lot of mystery about Valentine’s Day. How did start? Who was St. Valentine and how did he become associated with romance? History shows that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that Valentine’s Day as we know it, contains both Christian and ancient […]