Weekends in the Kitchen and Beyond
The history behind American Christmas traditions is an eye opener. So far, I’ve learned that in Colonial America at least, Christmas celebrations were even punishable if you lived in Puritan New England. Traditions in general varied from colony to colony, depending on who settled there. They were definitely not the colorful, over the top celebrations […]
Poinsettias Are Here! One thing I love about the weeks leading up to Christmas is that grocery stores like Giant and Safeway (if you’re from Northern Virginia!), stores like Walmart, mega stores like Costco, and home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes start selling loads of poinsettias. Large or small, they are such a […]
Iced Christmas Spritz Cookies are bit-sized cookies that take a bit of time and patience–because the recipe makes so many of them–but they are delicious and so very cute! These cookies are a nice break from traditional, spicy gingerbread or those deliciously decadent desserts that usually top the Christmas list. The special equipment you’ll need […]
The taste combination of chocolate and mint is a weakness of mine! Costco sells tubs of superb dark chocolate peppermint bark. So does Trader Joe’s. If I had my way, I’d eat all of it in one sitting. Not so good for blood sugar levels, so I usually end up convincing myself to stick to […]
It’s back to basics. Choux pastry, cream puffs, or puff shells, or whatever name you want to give it (like the true French name: pâte à choux), is a basic pastry that should be part of your repetoire. It’s used as the base for elegant desserts and savory appetizers and so has that sought after […]