Wine Pairing: Girl Scout Cookies

On my honor, I will try… to not spend my entire paycheck on Girl Scout cookies.

I came across this article by Thrillist which paired wine with Girl Scout cookies, so I decided to come up with Missouri wine pairings for my favorite cookies to share. I was a Girl Scout when I was growing up, so I’m a traditionalist when it comes to which cookies I eat. We limited our pairings to 5 cookies that have been around for years. (Really though, who wants Rah-Rah Raisin??)

Let’s begin with my favorite cookies, the Samoas! These bursts of caramel covered in coconut and chocolate also go by the name of Caramel deLites in some parts of the country. I suggest pairing these cookies with dry Missouri red wines, such as Chambourcin or Norton. I particularly enjoy them with Montelle’s Winery’s Chambourcin.

Likely the most popular Girl Scout cookie is the mint-flavored patty covered in chocolate, the Thin Mints. Pair this cookie with a smooth, semi-dry red, such as wines made with St. Vincent grapes that won’t overpower the mint. West Winery’s Little Red Caboose is a perfect pairing for your next cookie binge.

Peanut butter dipped in chocolate could only mean one cookie, Tagalongs (or Peanut Butter Patties)! I find that if you pair these cookies with a semi-sweet red, it creates a peanut butter and jelly flavor that is exquisite. One of my favorite semi-sweet blends is Ladoga Ridge Winery’s Toad-A-Lope Red. This light, fruity wine compliments this rich, flavorful cookie well.

Classic and sophisticated. Trefoils/Shortbread Cookies are the traditionalist of all the cookies. This perfectly simple, yet delicious cookie can only be made better by a glass of Missouri sparkling wine. Try my all-time favorite sparkling, Les Bourgeois Vineyard’s Brut! If you can’t get your hands on a sparkling, go for a semi-sweet white such as River Ridge Winery’s Nooner which is a blend of Vignoles and Seyval.

Last but not least, we have Do-Si-Dos/Peanut Butter Sandwiches. Grab a rosé or blush when you indulge in these crisp and crunchy oatmeal cookies with creamy peanut butter. Edg-Clif Farms Winery has an excellent semi-sweet blush, Sunset Chambourcin wine, full of strawberry and watermelon fragrances that enhance the peanutty goodness of Do-Si-Dos.

While you’re stocking up on Girl Scout Cookies this year, make sure you grab a couple bottles of Missouri wine to pair with your delicious treats!

Autumn Recipe: Soft Pumpkin Cookies - Paired w/ Cynthiana

Looking for a quick, easy way to please the pallets of loved ones (especially the kiddos) while at the same time your own?  These soft, pumpkin cookies are simply wonderful!!  

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Prep: 10 min.

Cooking: 18 min.

Level: easy (peasy)

Cooling: 15 min.

Yields: about 36 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  1 teaspoon baking powder
  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
  1 cup 100% Pure Pumpkin
  1 large egg
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  
  
  Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.

Wine Review - St. James Winery: Pioneer Red

St. James Winery's - 2012 Pioneer Red

St. James Winery's  Pioneer Red is a blend of Norton, Chambourcin and Rougeon with 12% alcohol and .03% residual sugar.

The color could be best described as a deep crimson plum. The aroma is full of berries, plum and a hint of yeast. When tasting the wine, you start with a tart burst that makes your lips pucker, quickly followed  by a smooth, peppery finish.

Neither of us are huge Norton fans, so this wine provided a mellower option that was very easy to drink. I would love to pair it with salami or lasagna, but it would also be a nice wine to drink by a fireplace on a romantic night. Overall, we are big fans of the Pioneer Red and will need to stock up to ensure we always have some to serve guests.

Side Note: This wine was created to honor Missouri wine pioneers, St. James Winery founders Jim and Pat Hofherr.   CHEERS TO THEM BOTH!