From at-home happy hour wine and food pairings to full-flavored dinners, getting creative in the kitchen can be a fun, delicious act of kindness for yourself and for loved ones. We chatted with Far Niente Executive Chef Sarah Walz to talk about the at-home food recipes that have her currently inspired, along with the spring wines pairings she's enjoying with them.

“Now is the time to remember that cooking an elegant, special menu doesn’t require five trips to the store," she says. "You can create something mouthwatering and memorable with high-quality pantry staples. "

In the coming weeks, Chef Sarah will be sharing some of the dishes she's been cooking at home, along with the Napa Valley wines she's pouring alongside them. To kick off this food and wine recipe series, she's offering one of her favorite at-home happy hour appetizer combos: creamy white bean dip and Napa Valley Chardonnay.

"It's prepped in minutes, requires four to five essential ingredients and is a dream with a chilled glass of Far Niente Chardonnay and a porch sunset."

Chef Sarah's At Home Happy Hour Wine Pairing: White Bean Dip and Napa Valley Chardonnay

Ingredients:

14 ounces cooked white beans

3 cloves of roasted garlic

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Optional: 2 tablespoons piment d’ Espelette

Pinch paprika (to garnish)

To Prepare:

First, it truly is dealer's choice with the white beans. Navy, Cannelini or Great Northern are all great options. Drain your beans, place in the bowl of your Cuisanart, and add roasted garlic, lemon juice, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper. Turn your Cuisinart to puree and add your olive oil while mixing. Pause appliance to scrape down sides, then mix again until a creamy consistency is achieved. As you mix, add olive oil and lemon juice to taste.

To Serve:

Drizzle it with olive oil, pile your plate with fresh vegetables, pickled crudités and toasted sourdough, and the dipping opportunities abound! While we've successfully paired this creamy appetizer dip with several of our Napa Valley wines, Far Niente Chardonnay's classic elegance and creamy texture makes it a happy hour wine favorite.

We’d love hear how you’re maximizing flavor in your kitchens, whether you’re making mountains of pizza dough with kitchen sink toppings or slow-roasting whole chickens and uncorking your favorite Napa Valley Chardonnay.