Wine tasting. Gotta love it.
Taylor and I spent the afternoon sipping on some lovely reds and reminiscing the good old days when we first met. We have been married for two years but have been together for nine. A lot has happened in that time!
Wine tasting was a lot of fun. We drove through the beautiful Gorge and took in all the sights.
I love syrah!
Of course two farmers can only take so much wine. We ended our afternoon at a brew pub.
A few coldies to end a lovely afternoon together.
Cheers to my husband, best friend, and favorite farmer.
I will leave you all with this lovely black bean and sweet potato stew. It really hits the spot on a cold February evening! Happy Friday everyone. 
Spicy Black bean and Sweet Potato Stew (serves 6)
2 tbs olive oil
2 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 inch pieces
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 large bell pepper, diced
2 (15 oz) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes, in juice
3-4 cups veggie stock (more or less depending on how thick you like it)
2 tbs chili powder
1 tbs ground cumin
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
dash of red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil in a large soup pot. Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, sweet potato and bell pepper. Cook for about 5 more minutes. Add spices, beans, and tomatoes. Bring to a slight simmer. Add veggie stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Enjoy!
Yum! Maryhill is such a great winery and such a fun venue for concerts too. So glad you guys had a nice time together!
we can’t wait to check out the concerts this summer!
Wine tasting is one of my favorite activities! You two look like you had a wonderful time celebrating your anniversary.
Anytime you want to come out for wine tasting let me know 🙂
happy anniversary!
Looks delicious! Sweet potatoes + black beans is one of my favorite combos.
Hey Andrew – So a teaspoon a cocoa powder?? Very interesting! Is that to balance out some of the spicy? Good stuff though, been thinking about a black bean soup lately.
It adds a bit of richness to the chili that I LOVE! Think spicy chocolate! It is very subtle but I never make chili without it! give it a try!
Sold! And apologies for calling you Andrew in that comment!
haha!!! I have actually signed emails with a W instead of an A when I am in a hurry!! 🙂
I want to cozy up to a big ol’ bowl of this stew right about now… yum!
Also, that sweater dress (? long shirt?) you’re wearing in these photos is ADORABLE.
thanks!!! It is a wool dress and I love it!!!
What a fabulous afternoon! Jealous!
Hi Andrea! I’m craving this stew right now; so hearty and rich! It would be perfect for these chilly days we’re facing:)
It really hits the spot!
Aww happy anniversary you two!! This stew sounds amazing. I’m a sweet potato fiend lately!
What a fun day!! You two are too cute. p.s. love your sweater. p.p.s. this stew looks amazing.
hehe, thanks!
Looks like a great way to celebrate, especially ending with a nice tall glass of beer, haha! Love this stew too, perfect with all the snow we have outside right now!
Cocoa powder in chili is one of my favorite “secret” ingredients. I bet that just rounds out everything just perfectly. This stew looks so warm and comforting. And wineries in the Gorge – so good! Maryhill is a favorite of ours both as a gorgeous place (that view) and the wines are fab. Their Rose of Sangiovese is a favorite of ours come summer. I just love that area.
We may have to meet you guys there this summer for wine and a concert! I am a sucker for rose’ in the summertime!
You guys are the absolute cutest. I wish we did wine trips more often. We have a few nice local breweries only a few hours drive away that we like to visit too.
You are too sweet! beer tasting is just as fun!
I love this post – and that you guys seem to have the most awesome relationship. Your love and BFF-ness for each other just comes thru every time you talk about him…and that is so awesome 🙂
Thanks for such a lovely comment!
You two are adorable! I really want to be a person who loves sweet potatoes (my husband already does) and I think this stew is a great place to give it another try, thanks!
You two look really cool & i also love Syrah! Your stew looks fabulous!! Tasty too! x
yum!! hey I have those same exact earrings!!
I love these earrings! Glad to know you are rocking them as well!
I’m a bit late finding this, but I had to tell you, this soup has saved me! I’m down with a rotten cold and forced myself to make it yesterday. I nearly flopped onto the sofa to order a takeaway instead, but I’m so glad I didn’t. It was nice and easy to make, even when I was feeling like crap. It’s so delicious and I feel like it’s giving those evil cold germs what for! I’m writing this one down in my little recipe book. It’s better than the soup recipe I’ve used since the 90’s for blasting out colds. THANK YOU!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup as much as we do! Way to kick that cold in the butt!!!