Deck the Halls Weekend

And finally, the one I keep talking about but never actually put up 'til now. I misplaced my recipe book so I couldn't finish it until today! (Mi madre let me borrow hers.)

This is not a recipe post--but could turn into one!

I have gone on the Deck the Halls wine tour on Seneca Lake with my parents for a number of years. At the beginning of the tour, you get a vine wreath, and at every winery you get an ornament to put on it. Of course, free wine samples are included, and so is a different food sample per winery, and a mini cookbook to show all* of the recipes! (*Or at least the wineries that got their recipes in on time. A lot didn't this year!)

Last year and this year, Hubby came along also. I don't drink, so I go for the food, the wreath and the festivities.

And most wineries had fun and pretty non-alcoholic drinks for us non-drinkers.

Hubby doesn't drink often, so he goes for the rare chance to try expensive wines he would never buy himself, and for the food, the wreath and the festivities. And of course, it's a fun time out with family.

There's lot of critters at the different wineries, surprisingly. As I've mentioned before, I'm an animal person, so that always makes me happy.

Okay, so that last one isn't a real critter. Most years my mom gets me a little souvenir from Fox Run Vineyards because it's one of my favorites--and I love foxes!

Speaking of things I love, here's a cactus that was at one of the vineyards also.

So cute! I resisted getting one, though.

Ahem.

My favorite part of the wine tour, as you can imagine, is usually the chance to try fun new foods.

Often the samples have meat, but there are enough vegetarian ones to get me through the day. And, since there is a recipe book along with the samples, I can try the meaty ones on my own time without the meat!

Like this one. It just looked so pretty, I had to take a photo even if I couldn't have it.

(Hubby got all of my meat samples. He was a happy man.)

So, that leads me to the part where this could turn into a recipe post: I'd like to know which of these recipes you guys would like to see! I've tried most of them so I have my favorites, but it doesn't hurt to have a little input now and then, eh?

Here are several options:

-Anthony Road Wine Company's Christmas Corn Chowder

-Atwater Estate Vineyards' Baked Ziti & Roasted Garlic Bread

-Earle Estates Winery & Meadery's Holiday Fudge

-Fox Run Vineyards' Christmas Casserole

-Lakewood Vineyards' Holiday Pea Pesto (pictured above with the tomatoes on top)

-Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars' Ricotta Gnocchi

-Standing Stone Vineyards' Georgian Cheese Bread (also pictured above, somewhat burnt)

-[Unknown!]'s Coconut Macaroons (not in the recipe book, but we did have them!)

-Ventosa Vineyards' Pizza Toscana

-Wagner Vineyards' Tarragon Turkey Salad with cranberry relish

-Zugibe Vineyards' Hummus with Toasted Pine Nuts

What do you think? Leave a comment here or on Facebook with which recipes you'd like to see! I'll probably make at least a few of these for the blog, whichever way it goes.