friends coming into town, so i'm going to make them a drink i had in spain: tinto de verano. it's a simpler version of sangria (apparently preferred by the locals). it's a spritzer of red wine and a semisweet lemon-lime soda (like sprite with half the sugar). i'm making mine with red wine and a not-too-sweet lemon italian soda. i was going to garnish with limes, but i forgot to get them. :)

I've had this exact same drink!!!!

Remember to use a dry red, not a sweet one.

Looking for recommendations for replacing my worn out 5/8 qt. Crate & Barrel non-stick miniature pot. This is a pot I use every day for poaching eggs (1 at a time in this small pot), heating up leftovers, etc. I'd like to go with a 1 or 2 qt. non-non-stick pot that will lasts for many years despite heavy use, but know nothing about three-ply vs. five-ply and such. My stove is an electric range. Thanks.

Does anyone know of a gadget I could buy just to steam milk? Or of a way I could do it without a gadget? I know you can buy like an espresso maker that has the little steaming wand or whatever, but I don't drink espresso, I'd just be interested in the little steaming wand. I've looked and looked, and asked in several stores and I just can't believe that there's no way to do it at home! I'm dying to make my own tea lattes at home to save money but I really want the milk steamed (not just heated and frothed or something like that). Thanks!!

Hi bluestar, Bodum makes a gadget that looks like a coffee french press but foams the milk that you previously have to heat up. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bodum-1466-Latteo-Milk-Frother/dp/B00008WU9Q

bluestar
have you looked in specialty Italian places? My pal used to have a stove top steamer - you put water in it, heated it on the stove, and then opened the little valve into your milk, to froth/steam it just like on an expresso machine . . .

To steam milk, my brother microwaves it until it's warm enough and then wisks the heck out of it to create foam. Also, Amazon.com has a little battery operated gadget called an Aerolatte Frother that's $20-$30. It looks like it gets good reviews, although I've never tried it myself.

That aerolatte frother is the secret to making utterly perfect salad dressings.
My mom bought me one years ago when i went through a coffee phase (followed closely by a martini phase) and i discovered when i got into my foodie phase that it rocks for concocting perfectly emulsified vinagrettes.
It may be a unitasker (once it's been up to its neck in vinegar i'd never let it near milk again) but in my kitchen it's considered near indispensable.