Lauren Bessette

The Beauty of the Gap Year(s)

The Beauty of the Gap Year(s)

A "gap year" is the time between the end of undergrad and beginning of med school. Whether you plan on taking a year or more off, or you don't get in your first time applying, make the most of your gap year. Of course, it can be hard watching your peers go through school ahead of you and watching your non-med school friends start their careers, but everyone has a different path in life ----and this is yours. Taking a gap year wasn't ever part of my original plan, but when I d

Halloween Mini Pizzas

Halloween Mini Pizzas

Sometimes, you just have to be little ridiculous. Whether that means making silly Halloween themed foods for girls' night or getting matching costumes for you and your dog, life isn't meant to be taken too seriously ;-) If you are looking for a fun and easy appetizer for the upcoming Halloween weekend, I have got you covered! You can really make these however you want, with whatever pizza toppings you like, but we decided on spiders, vampires, jack-o-lanterns, and mummies. Si

Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir

Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir

Name Raptor Ridge Varietal Pinot Noir Region Chehalem Mountains,Oregon Country USA Year 2012 Price $50.00 Now, I know this is "The Broke Sommelier's Guide to Wine," but sometimes you just gotta treat yourself...right? I love love love a good Oregon Pinot Noir. Oregon has made a name for itself by producing some amazing Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and sparkling wines. Where else do we know of that creates those same wines? You guessed it --- Burgundy, France. With a similar cool

Old-Fashion Pumpkin Pie

Old-Fashion Pumpkin Pie

Long before the PSL, there was the OG, the pumpkin pie. Just the smell of cinnamon and clove in the air makes me ready for the fast approaching holiday season. Every year, I make more pumpkin pies than I can count (it is Baxter's favorite!), but I had never made my own crust. By now, I think it is pretty apparent that I like taking the easier route when it comes to cooking. I am a big fan of cake mixes, frozen cookie dough, and pre-made guacamole...all staples in the house. B

Clean Slate Riesling

Clean Slate Riesling

Name Clean Slate Varietal Riesling Region Mosel Country Germany Year 2014 Price $8.99 I will admit, I did some serious unnecessary hating on Riesling for quite some time. I will be the first to say I was wrong...real wrong. This beautiful grape is far from the sweet wine, one-step up from Boones Farm, that I once thought it was. The perfect balance of tart and sweet. So versatile. So great with so many foods. I could go on and on. Now, not all Rieslings are made equally. Ther

Becoming a Sommelier

Becoming a Sommelier

I never in a million years thought I would become a sommelier. I have long been a fan of wine, but it wasn't until working in the restaurant industry that I really fell in love with everything about it. There are a few questions I frequently get, so I thought I would answer them here. Somme-WHAT?! Simply put, a sommelier is a wine steward. But for many, this definition does not do the job justice. A sommelier is someone who has gone through extensive training in service, f

One-Pot Bacon Cheddar Pasta

One-Pot Bacon Cheddar Pasta

There are three things you need to know about this dish: one-pot, cheese, and bacon. Sold yet? But seriously, this stuff is goooood. After coming home from 9 hours of lecture, I just wanted something easy and delicious. This recipe fit the bill. I started off by cooking the bacon. I cut 5 slices of thick bacon into 1 inch pieces and added them to a hot pan. I cooked until crispy and scooped the pieces onto a paper towel-lined plate. I left about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease

Spellbound Petite Sirah

Spellbound Petite Sirah

Name Spellbound Varietal Petite Sirah Region California Country USA Year 2013 Price $11.99 Y'all, I love a good theme. And with Halloween right around the corner, I could not pass up a wine called Spellbound! The last few Halloween nights, I have celebrated by having girlfriends over and passing out candy to the kids in my neighborhood. We watch fun Halloween movies, dress Rosie in ridiculous costumes, make snacks, and, of course, there is wine. I think I know which wine I wi

Cookie Dough Brownies

Cookie Dough Brownies

[I would like to preface this post with, have you ever read "If You Give A Mouse a Cookie"? If you haven't, it is about a boy who gives a mouse a cookie, then he wants milk, then a straw, and he keeps wanting more and more. Well, in this story, Rosie is the mouse. When she was little, I gave her a cookie, and just like her mama, that sweet-tooth gene is strong! So when she smelled sugar in the air, there was no getting her out of the kitchen for this post, so we just rolled w

Sauvage Blanc de Blancs

Sauvage Blanc de Blancs

Name Gruet Sauvage Blanc Varietal Chardonnay Region New Mexico Country USA Year 2014 Price $16.78 Who doesn't love a little bubbly? I don't think it is possible to be in a bad mood after you hear a cork pop! Before we dive into the awesomeness that is the Sauvage, I want to throw down a little knowledge on sparkling wine. 1. Champagne vs. sparkling wine Before you hop on the "Champagne Campaign," are you really popping champs? In order to call it Champagne, it must come from

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