No matter what the weather is, a nice glass of wine combined with delectable appetizers would be wonderful! With summer in full flow, many people are taking advantage of the beautiful weather by grilling and relaxing on their patios or garden.

Pairing a refreshing glass of wine with a delicious dish of food can be the combination that satisfy your taste buds! But how do you pair it perfectly? We have the ultimate guide for you, with a few delectable dishes to try! (Make sure to follow the below guide when preparing the food!)

All about Food and Wine Pairing

Yes, wine goes well with every meal, but for an incredible experience, pair specific dishes with specific wines. Consider this your wine pairing guide. In case you’ve never thought of tasty wine pairings here are a few suggestions as per The Wine Cellar Group:

• Cabernet and Red Meat
• Pinot Noir and Earthy Flavors (mushroom dishes and hearty pizzas)
• Pinot Grigio and Seafood
• Sauvignon Blanc and Tart Flavors
• Rosé and Cheesy Dishes
• Sparkling and Salty Flavors
• Riesling and Sweet, Spicy Flavors
• Syrah and Spiced Dishes
• Zinfandel and Rich Plates (mousses, terrines, pâtés)

Meal suggestions to enjoy with your favorite wine during summer

Watercress and Orange Salad by Sugar and Spice

Total time: 30 min

Try it out with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or an Albariño.

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 2 bunches of watercress
• 1 can of mandarin oranges drained
• ½ small red onion chopped small or sliced thinly
• ½ cup almond slivers toasted

For the dressing

• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 lemon juiced
• 2 tbsp greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp spicy brown mustard
• Saltto taste
• Cracked black pepperto taste 

Instructions:

For the salad

1. Remove the watercress leaves from their stalks. (This takes the most amount of time. If you're running short on time, just remove the larger stems and leave the leaves attached to the smaller stalks.)
2. Drain the mandarin oranges.
3. Place the almond slivers on a cookie sheet and toast in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. They go from toasty to burned quickly, so keep an eye out and set a timer. This can also be done in advance.
4. Mince your red onion.
5. Combine all watercress, almonds, and red onion into a serving dish. Mix and arrange.

For the dressing:

1. Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, yogurt, honey, salt, pepper, mustard, and poppy seeds in a bowl. Whisk thoroughly until fully integrated.
2. Serve immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container for one week.

Creamy Crab Stuffed Mushroom by Sugar with Spice

Total time: 35 min – Servings: 6 people

Try it out with either a Viognier or a bubbly Champagne

Ingredients:

1. 12 button or baby Portobello Mushrooms(or 6 large Portobello Mushrooms)
2. 1 tbsp olive oil
3. 1 clove garlic minced
4. 1 can white or pink crab meatdrained
5. 1 Scallion sliced
6. 4 oz. cream cheese softened
7. ¼ cup bread crumbs
8. ¼ cup cheddar cheese grated
9. ½ tsp paprika
10. ½ tsp dried tarragon
11. Dash of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet with tin foil.
2. Remove the stems from your mushrooms.
3. Toss mushrooms in olive oil. Set upside down on the baking sheet about 1/2 inch apart.
4. In a small sauté pan, combine 1 tsp of butter, your minced garlic clove, and your bread crumbs. Sauté over medium high heat for about 5 minutes until the fat has been absorbed and the garlic and crumbs are golden and aromatic.
5. In a bowl, combine the canned (and drained) crab meat, softened cream cheese, minced garlic, sliced scallions, grated cheddar, bread crumbs, tarragon, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix with a fork until well combined.
6. Spoon the cream cheese mixture into each mushroom, making sure to fill the cavity. For button or baby bella mushrooms, use about 3 tbsp per mushroom. Larger mushrooms can take up to 1/4 cup each. It's okay if the topping is heaped up on top!
7. Top with a bit of extra grated cheddar and bread crumbs.
8. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes until golden and crispy.

Tortilla Pinwheels by Food Meanderings

Total time: 1 hour 30 min - Serves: 16 pinwheels