Heidelberg, Germany

Photo Credit -Wikipedia

The town of Heidelberg, sits along the Nekar River south of Frankfurt, and is known for the stunning pink castle upon the hill.

We arrived by train from Tres-Karden, on the Mosel River after visiting Burg Eltz  The train ride was 2 1/2 hours and did not require a reservation with our rail pass.  The train station in Heidelberg is not near the historic part of town, so we took a taxi to reach our pub hotel in the pedestrian only area near the cathedral.  During this European adventure we wanted to stay in unique places that were close to the action.

We missed our pub at home so we stayed above one.

The Dubliner Hotel and Pub has eight rooms and is in the historic center walking distance to all the main sights.  We could not hear the pub from our room, but it was a Tuesday night... Our room was a suite with an attached bathroom for 80 euro a night.  There are not many places to stay in this area and we would totally recommend it.

Vetter is a restaurant brew pub in Heidelberg and is known for the Strongest Beer in the World!   I visited this restaurant with my family the first time I was in Germany and knew that Kirk and I would eat dinner here during our trip.  The Vetter 33 is super strong and is worth a taste, but the other beers under 10% were more my speed.  The place was packed for a Tuesday and we finally got a table after 45 minutes.  Good beer, brats and potatoes were worth the wait.

Now on to the Castle!

Photo Credit

 How to get there:  If you are super sporty you can climb hundreds of step to the castle (not in this tunnel but in the open air.)  Or if you are like us who are not that sporty and who do not particularly care to be out in the rain we took the funicular: a special tram engineered to go up and down steep grades.

Heidelberg's gardens were once described as the eighth wonder of the world and can be accessed free of charge.

Most of the castle is still in ruins after many wars pummeled the pink stone walls.  The only areas that you can go inside to see is the vat, or barrel room, and the pharmacy museum.  Both areas are worth visiting - especially to see the largest barrel in the world at 55,345 gallons. The barrel room is also said to be haunted.

After viewing the castle courtyard you must go out to the viewing platforms to see the vista of the town and river below.

The castle does not take that long to see since many areas are not open to visitors but we still recommend a visit.  The town is quaint and offers a Christmas market from November 25th until December 23.

Have you visited Heidelberg?  Would you recommend it?  Have you tried the Vetter 33?

Cheers,

Amy

Our other stops in Germany: Cologne, The Rhine River by ferry and train, Burg Rheinfels - traveling the Rhine, Marksburg Castle, Burg Eltz

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Thirsty Thursday: The Bellini

If you follow me on Instagram you saw that we enjoyed Bellinis in our garden on Sunday afternoon. 

The Bellini is a champagne cocktail that features peach flavors and is divine. 

The first time I tasted this delicious drink was at Harry's Bar in Venice, where it was invented.

This is recipe is inspired by Harry's bar but is not a copy.

All ingredients can be found at our local liquor or grocery store.

The Bellini

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients

5 oz Brut Champagne or sparkling wine

3 oz Peach nectar - Kerns or Peach Pureed Juice

1 oz Peach Schnapps

goblet or wine glass

Step 1. Pour 3 oz of peach juice in the glass.

Step 2. Pour 1 oz of Peach Schnapps over the nectar.

Step 3. Top off with at least 5 oz of brut champagne.

Note: I use a goblet so you are not making refills constantly but could also be adapted to be made by the pitcher.  Prosecco or spumante champagne will make this drink too sweet.

Cheers,

Amy

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Spiced Apple Cider and Halloween recap

One of my favorite things about Fall is warming up with a hot beverage. Mulled wine, hot tea, apple cider, coffee, etc.  I like my apple cider spiced with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and the like.  Trader Joe's Spiced Apple Cider has been my go to cider for years, and it is only $2.99 for 2 qts.  It has the perfect flavor right out of the jug but it also pairs well with rum or bourbon.  For our annual Halloween party I heat it up in a crock pot and float shrunken apple heads in it. We have fun putting spooky labels on different spirits for our guests try.

This year we decorated our front and side yard for trick-or-treaters and had a blast.  We had a snack bar of nachos, popcorn, and apple cider - and candy for the neighborhood to enjoy.  I gave the parents a shot a rum in their cider too.  We are planning a haunted maze for next year! 

Photo by Tyler Wiest

I hope you all had a safe and spooky Halloween.  Here are few photos from our Halloween party the Saturday before Halloween.  You can see more on our Facebook Group Page.

Maid Marion and Robin Hood with dueling banjos

Our guests really out did themselves this year at our Halloween party.  This seemed to be the year of comic book characters!

Super Man, The Hulk, Bat Woman, Iron Man, Wolverine

The Joker and Harley Quinn

Cheers,

Amy

Thirsty Thursday: Super Easy Rum Punch

 We like to have a signature drink at our Tipsy Terrier Pub parties in addition to draft beer, sangria, soft drinks etc.  I made a version of this for our Woodstock Party and called it Purple Haze because it had Grape and Hawaiian Punch Kool Aid.  For our Halloween party this weekend I will be making a Vampire Punch using Cherry Kool Aid.

Easiest Party Punch by amynicoleruffo on Polyvore

This recipe is made specifically for a 3 gallon beverage dispenser

Ingredients
1.75 liter bottle of rum (Kirkland spiced rum was around $16 and tasted like Captain Morgans)
6 liters of Sprite, chilled if you have the fridge space
3 packets of unsweetened Kool Aid - choose your favorite flavor
sugar optional

1. Add ice to the base if there is a reservoir.  If not, no problem.  I put an ice bucket next to the punch so guest can add ice to their cup - and the punch does not get watered down.
2. Pour in bottle of rum.
3. Add packets of Kool Aid
4. Pour in all the Sprite.
5. Stir and taste if you need sugar.

I made two batches of this for the last party, one with added sugar one with none.  People seemed to like it better without sugar but that could be because it was the second batch and people were feeling pretty groovy : )  This is so simple because there is no measuring and easy to make a second one mid party.

Cheers,

Amy

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Thirsty Thursdays: Bourbon Sour

Yesterday I was looking for an autumnal cocktail that included bourbon and apple cider to try.  My first thoughts were of a toasty drink in a mug that would be great on a brisk evening.  It is 80 degrees here in sunny California so we were toasty enough.  I settled on a Southern classic - a Bourbon Sour!

We seem to be on a bourbon Kick, and as you can see we have drank our way through the Woodford Reserve and are now on to Jim Beam.  I would suggest Jim Beam for this recipe since this is a mixed drink and you would lose all the flavor of the oak aging with the other ingredients.
 

Bourbon Sour

Ingredients

3/4 cup of bourbon

3/4 cup apple cider

1/2 cup of orange juice

1/4 cup of sugar

an apple for garnish

crushed ice

1. Combine the firs 4 ingredients and stir until all the sugar is dissolved.  I suggest a clear container so you can see the bottom.

2. Pour over crushed ice and garnish with thinly sliced apples.

Enjoy! 

    Belle would love a taste.

Cheers,

Amy

Barware - my new favorite cup

This year we celebrated our seventh anniversary and I actually wanted to find a gift per one of the suggested anniversary present charts. On one chart I found copper listed as the traditional gift for the seventh year of marriage and I immediately knew what I was going to purchase.
Earlier this summer we were were window shopping in Los Gatos, while our pup Belle was being groomed, and we found this great shop, Napa Style.  They have a rustic vibe and sell mostly table top items designed or curated by chef Michael Chiarello.   We were both drawn to the hammered copper collection, especially the cups. They were pricey so we just drooled over them a while before moving on to the next stop. So,  when copper was the gift prompt this year I knew I needed a pair of these.
They are hammered copper on the outside with stainless steel on the inside which is perfect for our signature drink of the summer - Mint Juleps

Mint Julep
makes one very strong drink

Ingredients and supplies

• The best Bourbon you have, we have been using Woodford Reserve, a Christmas gift from my parents, but Jim Beam works too.
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• a bunch of mint sprigs
• crushed ice
• simple syrup is optional but we use it because we like ours a little sweeter
• mint julep cups or handsome copper cups or a high ball glass
• muddler

1. Fill cup with crushed ice while you gather the other listed ingredients.
2. Empty cup and add 5 or so mint leaves, a tsp of sugar and a few pieces of crushed ice.  Muddle together for 15 to 30 seconds until the mint is bruised and you can smell the wonderful aroma.
3. Fill cup almost to the brim with crushed ice.
4. Pour 3 ozs of Bourbon and stir.  The first sip is a dozy! At this point you can add about 1/2 to 1 oz of simple syrup if you want it sweeter.
5. Add more ice if the Bourbon melted the ice and a mint sprig as a garnish if you are feeling fancy.

Now it is time to sit back and sip your drink.  The metal cups keep the drink extra cold and you will not find that much ice will melt which is especially nice in the heat.  Now if Bourbon is not your thing you can substitute it for a strong rum like Sailor Jerry - I am not sure what that is called but it is also tasty I've tried it.

 Cooper, The Tipsy Terrier approves!

Cheers,

Amy

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