Refreshing Summer Appetizer, Fall Lamb Stew and Anytime Wine

It is still very HOT in Key West and will continue to be that way for a bit yet. I know a few of you who are up north are starting to enjoy a few of those nice cool fall days, but I am still in the heat of summer. So a nice light refreshing appetizer was on my mind. You know, one of those that has all the elements - sight appeal, color, texture and must be light in the tummy! OK, what sounds good!

So Chris, our son chef, was here the other afternoon and we decided to hit the store and he would fix dinner. Cool! It is such a treat when he cooks. Actually it is a fun day because we will go to the supermarket together and pick up all the goodies we will need to make a fabulous dinner. So I was in the mood for light fare and he was in the mood for a nice fall dish, as it was raining outside and he decided we were having a snow day!

I decided on something light with smoked salmon and he decided on lamb stew. I knew I had a white wine at home to go with the appetizer, but needed a bottle of red to go with the lamb stew.

My eyes caught the sight of a Red Bicyclette Syrah. I have had the Rose' and Chardonnay of this wine, but not the Syrah. So into the basket it went. The Red Bicyclette Syrah is a nice inexpensive red wine made with 100% Syrah grapes sourced from the Gard, Herault and Aude regions located in the south of France. It had an alcohol volume of 13%. The Syrah was a nice full bodied, soft tannin wine with lots of deep, dark, rich fruit flavors of black cherries. It paired well with the lamb stew with its smooth full taste.

We started our evening with an appetizer that anyone can whip up in a hurry, but has a nice presentation and awesome flavor!

Sliced Cucumbers With Yogurt Sauce, Dill, Capers and Smoked Salmon

Cucumber - sliced

1/2 of a small container of Greek Yogurt

Chopped Dill - about a good tablespoon and springs for the top

1-1/2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard

Whole capers

Smoked Salmon thinly sliced

Make your sauce of yogurt, dill and mustard

Assemble - cucumber slice, topped with a bit of sauce, slice of salmon, a caper and a small sprig of dill. Done! So easy and very handsome!

This was followed by Chris' Lamb Stew, which I will have to try to get the recipe from as there were so many ingredients that I lost track during preparation. I know, I know, pay attention Deb.

So, all in all, I got my cool summer appetizer, Chris got his fall Lamb Stew fix and Mike enjoyed all, as he is happy to have whatever we serve him as long a he has his glass of red wine to accompany!

Cheers!