This is a home run - grand slam - one for the record books recipe. A chili sauce that is easy and a huge hit with my family. If you have an immersion blender it is easy to get the perfect consistency - that is always the best part of a chili dog - a thick, hearty sauce that can also hold all the onions on top and not run off the dog and bun. This is it - you're going to love it. Grill some dogs this weekend and enjoy a chili dog and a great game! Cheers to Chili Dogs!

Soup season is here and we're celebrating the 12 Saturdays in Autumn with a soup each Saturday. Come to my blog each Saturday in Autumn and I'll share a favorite soup recipe to help make your soup season extra warm and cozy. As Noted By Me :: Soup's on Saturday Week Three: Enjoy my Slow Cooker Hamburger and Vegetable Soup. I am always looking for a broth based, veggie loaded, slow cooker soup. I used leftover farmers market vegetables and added just the right amount of savory spices and a kiss of parmesan cheese to make this one perfect.

Soup season is here and we're celebrating the 12 Saturdays in Autumn with a soup each Saturday. Each of the next 12 weeks I'll share a favorite soup recipe to help make your soup season extra warm and cozy. As Noted By Me :: Soup's on Saturday Week Two: Enjoy my Sausage and Gnocchi Soup. This one has been a labor of love. I have spent many weekends trying to get this one perfect. If you cannot find mini gnocchi, the regular size will work just fine. I like to get the spicy sausage from the meat counter at the grocery store- and more specifically find Graziano's if you're in Iowa.

Soup season is here and we're celebrating the 12 Saturdays in Autumn with a soup each Saturday. Each of the next 12 weeks I'll share a favorite soup recipe to help make your soup season extra warm and cozy. As Noted By Me :: Soup's on Saturday Week One: Enjoy my Chicken Tortilla Soup . It's a favorite in my family (and with my friends) - so much that I can make this soup in my sleep! Enjoy!

Wine Pinot Noir -The history of Pinot Noir- (pee-noh nwhahr) Serve at 55-60 Pinot Noir is the product of patience within the process. The finicky, hard to grow, thin skinned, high maintenance grape rewards you greatly if it produces. Pinot Noir is nearly 1000 years older than Cabernet Sauvignon and is grown, for the most part, in the Burgundy region of France and has earned the nickname "the noble grape of Burgundy" . Several winemakers in other regions have tried (and failed) to grow the " heartbreak grape" and in terms of other regional Pinot Noir success, the Willamette Valley of Oregon has seen the greatest. Pinot Noir grapes take up a mere 5-10% of grapes grown in California proving this grape is indeed a challenge to winemakers. American Pinot tends to be a bit more fruity (often jammy) and sippable than it's French companion. Germany and Austria have been making some waves in the Pinot Noir production game too. They tend to be a little more earthy and smoky - with a softer acidity - they are a great option and tend to be a bit more affordable. My Sweet Spot selection this month is a STEAL from the Burgundy region of France and my Special Day selection is from the Russian River Valley region of Sonoma County California and I highly recommend this for your Thanksgiving table in November! You will love both - I Pinot promise! Sweet Spot Pinot Noir - Domaine St Germain Bourgogne Rouge Vieilles Vignes Pinot Noir - $19.99 Are you looking for a bottle for under $20 that tastes like it's $50? This is for you. It isn't easy to find a higher quality Pinot Noir from France that brings this much complexity. You'll find this medium body sip to be filled with hints of black cherry and berries, yet not sweet. I love it with a tomato pasta dish and you'll find it quite easy to pair with many foods. Special Day Pinot Noir- Amici Pinot Noir 2022 - $44.99 This is one of the best Pinot Noir's I've ever tasted. I'm thankful the expert at Total Wine led me here :) It is a legit sexy sip and feels balanced with berries, a hint of spice, and a velvety finish. This will be on my Thanksgiving table - it is made for that "big time" meal. I hope you love it just as much! Food Pairing If a lovely glass of your favorite Pinot Noir was searching for the perfect mate, here is what should be on that list. Meats: filet mignon, roast turkey, bbq ribs, duck Seafood: tuna, salmon Veggies/Fruits: mushrooms, dried fruits, strawberries Spices/Herbs: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg Cheeses : brie, gouda, herbed goat Sauces: teriyaki, tomato Dessert: chocolate covered strawberries, salted caramel The perfect dish to pair with this month's Sweet Spot wine is my Tomato, Basil & Brie Linguine . It's light, summery and showcases tomatoes and basil from your garden or seasonal farmer's market. You can add some grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein. Cocktail Raspberry Mojito Mocktail Raspberry Mojito Mocktail Please drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive. This information is for people over the age of 21. Pregnant women should not drink alcohol. -As Noted by Me-

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters September's selection is The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. Read with me! This is a powerful and emotionally challenging read. Trust me, you need to read this one! July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come. "A stunning debut about love, race, brutality, and the balm of forgiveness." —People Magazine, A Best New Book HAPPY READING!   Book Review Questions for August The Last Love Note What is it about death and grief that we find so difficult to talk about? Kate worries that widows are always judged when they fall in love again. What do you think drives this judgement? Do you think Hugh did the right thing, keeping the secret from Kate? What would you have done? What was the saddest moment in the novel for you?  What dreams have you been deferring that you’d most regret if time ran out?

This is a favorite at our house with the boys and their buddies. It is very easy to double and it fits perfectly in a 9x13 dish if you choose to do that. I've made this with the blue cheese (and is it bleu or blue??) dressing and without. I LOVE blue cheese. If you aren't a fan, just omit it and add a little pasta water for added moisture. I hope you enjoy this one! It's a "regular" around here! Let's eat!

The Last Love Note by Emma Grey Read with me! August's selection is The Last Love Note by Emma Grey. This one is a rewarding, challenging, hard on your heart read. Be aware it deals with tough topics like miscarriage, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and being widowed at a young age. Two years after losing her young husband Cameron, Kate is grieving, solo parenting, working like mad at her university fundraising job, always dropping the balls—and yet clinging to her sense of humor. When an in-flight problem leaves Kate and her boss, Hugh, stranded for a weekend on the east coast of Australia, she finally has a chance, away from her son, to really process her grief and see what’s right in front of her. Can she let go of the love of her life and risk her heart a second time? Will Cam's last love note set Kate free? HAPPY READING!   Book Review Questions for July The Friendship Club How does Marni’s relationship with her daughter, Bella, shape her perspectives on romance? Explore the significance of self-love and acceptance in finding a healthy and satisfying romantic relationship. Explore the dynamics of Marni’s friendship with Ellen. How do both support and influence each other’s lives what are the implications of this relationship? What message do you feel is intended from this novel in terms of resilience, recovery and discovering optimism in the face of adversity?

Happy Summer! For a few weeks I've been working on making the perfect summer cocktail. I've narrowed it down to my top two favorites. The herbed sugar rim on both of these is inspired by my favorite martini in Las Vegas, the Lavender Basil Lemon Drop at the Bellagio in the Petrossian Bar. Enjoy!!! Please drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive. This information is for people over the age of 21. Pregnant women should not drink alcohol. -As Noted by Me-

Wine Sauvignon Blanc -The history of Sauvignon Blanc- Serve at 44-54° When I think of SUMMER, I think of Sauvignon Blanc. A cool pour of a bright "Blanc" with the condensation of the summer's warm air growing on the glass. The acidity makes it ultra refreshing...think lemonade on a hot day. The roots of Sauvignon Blanc are thought to be born in the Loire Valley in France. It is now widely grown in many regions of the world and each region produces it's own unique characteristics in their pour. Sauvignon Blanc is second in popularity amongst white wines with Chardonnay being the most popular. You'll immediatly notice the slight green tint of a Sauvignon Blanc when compared to the more golden tint in a glass of Chardonnay. Most California Sauvignon Blancs will give you that touch of oak that Chardonnay can bring, while most from New Zealand, Australia, Chile or South Africa bring the crisp acidity consistent with a Sauvignon Blanc. Sweet Spot Sauvignon Blanc - Kia Ora Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - $13.99 This New Zealand (Marlborough) born wine will get you hooked on Sauvignon Blanc with it's bright taste but balance in a light body. It's summer in a glass with the fruit you taste with the first sip. Serve this with a charcuterie spread or shrimp cocktail! Special Day Sauvignon Blanc - Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc - $51.99 A long time favorite of mine, Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc is the literal star of the show (even when the "Big Reds" show up). For a special occasion, my friends reach for this bottle again and again. This Sonoma County wine is fruity yet has more body than your average Sauvignon Blanc. I get a taste of honey within a glass of this, depending on what I'm eating while sipping. For your friends who don't think they like Sauvignon Blanc (or prefer Chardonnay) try this one! It offers the bright, acidic taste of a fruity Sauvignon Blanc while having an almost creamy Chardonnay balance, too. Serve this with strawberry shortcake for a perfect combination. Food Pairing If a lovely glass of your favorite Sauvignon Blanc was searching for the perfect mate, here is what should be on that list. Meats: chicken, turkey Seafood: scallops, oysters Veggies/Fruits: green apples, asparagus Spices/Herbs: chives, cilantro, tarragon Cheeses : gruyere, plain goat cheese Sauces: citrus, briny sauces Dessert: key lime pie, lemon bars/cake, strawberry shortcake Cocktail Gin & Tonic The drink of the summer :: The Classic G&T Be creative and try different gins, different tonics, and different garnishes. I'm loving the "Indigo or Empress Gin" for a gorgeous, colorful cocktail. Mocktail Free AF Brand G & T I found this brand on Amazon and it came in a sleeve, one of several N/A cocktails. This one is GOOD and a very close representation of a "Classic Gin & Tonic". Give it a try, you won't even miss the gin. Please drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive. This information is for people over the age of 21. Pregnant women should not drink alcohol. -As Noted by Me-

The Friendship Club by Robin Carr Read with me! July's selection is The Friendship Club by Robin Carr. "Four women come together at a tumultuous time in their lives, forging an unbreakable bond that will leave them all forever changed." This is the tag line you will see if you search the book online. We all need that group of friends that will be there when the sh*t hits the fan. Four women stare down the crossroads of their lives and lean on each other to move on. They are all unique but similar, strong yet needy, and successful yet venerable. I found a few of the characters to be a bit annoying, but that imitates real life, I suppose. While The Friendship Club  isn't my favorite novel written by Robin Carr, it is a good, fast summer read and a lovely "women's fiction" title for you to enjoy. It leaves you thankful for those bonds you have built in your life to lean on when in need. Robin Carr is the famed author of the series Virgin River  (I highly suggest the books if you're a fan of the Netflix series). HAPPY READING! Book Review Questions for June First Lie Wins What are your thoughts about Evie (real name Lucca) as a protagonist? Did you feel she made growth from the beginning of the novel to the end? Of all the jobs Evie has performed, why did Ryan get under her skin? Do you see Evie and Ryan lasting? Why or why not? The story jumps back and forth and switches timelines in a way to give a clearer picture of Evie’s past and work with Mr. Smith. Did you like the various timelines or did you find it confusing at times? What does Evie mean by “first lie wins?”

This is the perfect way to use your ripe avocados! Breakfast!!! You'll find this recipe is super flexible to use what you have in your refrigerator. The most important thing is to use a ripe (not even slightly hard) avocado to get the warm, soft texture you need to take these to the next level. YUM!!! My son loves them with salsa verde and I love them with hot sauce and a drizzle of honey!