Tre Re DayTreats

 Today is the day when the Magi arrived in Bethlehem., bringing gifts for the Christ Child. The day isa holy day and and a fun extension of Christmas. Many countries celebrate the day and you can do.

Europe and South America celebrate the day as do the islands. Some immigrant communities do so here too. For us , its a special meal, varying from year to year. Tonight we had LIdl's veggie spring rolls that come with a sweet chili sauce.It's fun festive and finger food. I also bought Stewart's root beer to go with it. It's a party dinner with a frosty drink. Any party dish could do, from chicken wings to individual pizzas.The day, also called Epiphany or Dias de Reys centers around tasty foods and drinks.It's not too late to celebrate the Mexican way with turkey or chicken posole. You can buy a turkey breast or chicken parts from your local grocery store and mix the meat with already cooked chopped onions and poblano chiles. Chili powder, cumin and oregano is added for zing and flavor.Chicken broth, cannellini beans , chili peppers and hominy are added and simmered together for an hour. Celebrate with cold bottles of Corona beer or Mexican hot chocolate. This is hot cocoa with the kick of cinnamon,and sometimes chili and even a pinch of cayenne.

The day is also a day of sweet treats. Rosca de sReyes or Kings Cake,, which is sort of similar to the Mardi Gras staple King cake is also baked.(you can also buy it at Wal-Mart too). This is sort of like panettone too.It's an eggy bread, flavored with orange blossom water , and like panettone has candied fruit such a as citron in it along with slivered almonds.Unlike the famed Italian bread it has quince and guava paste,.It has a crackly glaze icing called craquelin and a baby Jesus figurine that goes into eh cake. Whoever finds the Christ Child has to make tamales for Candeleria Day or Candlemas on February 2nd. It's a wonder treat, perfect with hot cocoa or just a good cup of coffee or tea. there is also a  rich abuelita rice pudding made with Abuelita chocolate. It's melting g that with milk and adding  cooked white rice.A plain rice pudding studded with raisins and dusted with cinnamon is another Three Kings Day dessert that also makes for a nice snack.

There Kings Day is another Christmas. It's full of treats and gifts Enjoy it with savory or sweet foods.

 

Tasty And Good For You

 We hear it all our lives. Eat more veggies. Yet there are many who just hate the site of a broccoli florets or a Brussels sprouts. However there's a delicious and somewhat sneaky way y to incorporate the good stuff into every savory and sweet dish. A new cookbook shows home chefs howl

Author Heidi Herman who has written popular  fiction and non fiction has come up with such a book . Her Hidden Vegetable Cookbook (Hekla Publishing 2025)  has endless recipes that bring vital veggies into a variety of yummy dishes. The cookbook starts with a guide for all vegetables from their description to their flavor, along with how t store then for both long and short periods of time. Another section that I liked is her guide to the gadgets used, from graters to mesh strainers. This is perfect for any home chef planning on incorporating more veggies in their diet.A big 0plus is how tos on how to chop ,mince and puree because this is the easiest way to incorporate vegetables in any  recipe.Some of these , liked riced cauliflower are perfect on their own ,sauteed in olive oil and garlic. There are also recipes for juices which can be good on their own or in snoothies. Ms. Herman also encourages home chefs to add their notes and observations in the books as well. She gives advice about dealing with flatulence from cruciferous or "gassy" vegetables.

The recipes actually start off with sauces jellies and condiments that can be used for meats and tofu.The carrot and beet root jellies sound intriguing, especially the carrots because it's made with brandy.Ms. Herman has some very fun appetizers such as the savory cauliflower cheese ball made with pepperjack and Parmesan cheese. There is also ginger and paprika for heat. The tangy meat balls, perfect appetizers have the added ingredients of carrots and broccoli. Yes there are soups and they are chock full of the good stuff. The main courses are interesting too. She includes a recipe for pumpkin beef stew .its a classic stew recipe but with two cups of pumpkin puree , along with rutebega and a  stew must have carrots. Her chicken pit pie also has a good dose of peas and carrots to add to this classic recipe. What I found fascinating are the dessert recipes. There are beet doughnuts, with a  delicate  pink hue thanks to beets added (keep in  mind beet sugar was long used before cane sugar processing was invented).There is a  beet crazy chocolate cake made with beets .It also has a dash of apple cider vinegar in it as well.Riced kohlrabi gives much needed nutrients in a glazed loaf cake.Another chocolate cake recipe has zucchini in it. Both would be perfect cakes for birthdays.

We all need to eat more veggies. The Hidden Vegetable Cookbook will give really good recipes loaded with much needed vegetables. Buy it for healthier cooking and baking.

Celtic Libations

 Saint Patrick;s Day brings a host of traditional Irish  foods and drink. People do know and love lamb stew and boxty yet Irish stouts and ales. flummox them. What's the best to drink? How is stout different from ale? There are so many aspects to decipher.

St Patrick's Day is a day to try a big pint of stout - namely  Guinness . This iconic ale was first created in 1759 by Arthur Guinness in Dublin. He had a 9,000 (!!!!!) year old lease on Saint James Brewery. It first produced many beers but then concentrated on a dark one first called porter then stout. Now there is a difference between the two. Porters use malted barley while the other uses just barley. This give stout  a roasted coffee like, almost bitter flavor. The taste does make it excellent for baking. Many use it ,combined with chocolate to create rich cakes and cupcakes.Porter's taste is also good, with a chocolate-y caramel or even a light coffee taste.Many porter cakes usually have brown sugar to balance this out as well as complementing the flavor. Keep in mind if you;re on a pub crawl on Monday, go easy on the stout.It has a higher alcohol content than porter. You can simply nurse one for an evening. You could also go for a pint of porter which is lighter and won;t leave you with a hangover on Tuesday morning.

Of course there's no avoiding a good dream of Irish whiskey on St Patrick's day. Yet which one is the best along with should you of with Irish or Scottish whisky.The different spellings can tell you something. whiskey with an e is the drink being distilled  three times while the one without an e is distilled only twice. The triple distilling give the finished product a lighter flavor. It can also be produced with both unmalted and malted barley.Malted just means the grains are allowed to ferment in water until sprouts appear.They're then dried and this process gives the sugars needed for fermentation. There are many Celtic themed cocktails to make with whiskey, namely the famed Irish coffee. This is coming a good whiskey such as Bailey's with hot coffee and sugar.A  thick layer of cream is put on top of the cup and you sip through that.THis can end a wonderful evening meal of lamb stew or a roast leg of lamb. There is also Irish cider a  blend of whiskey and hard cider for an extra kick.if you;re a light drinker than stick with a whiskey sour, a mix of whiskey, lemon or lime juice and simple or maple syrup. You can tell the bartender to go light on the whiskey so it kind of resembles a shandy.

Monday is a day for having fun and drinking. Just pick the drink that bests suit you.It could be a gorgeous dark stout or a light whiskey cocktail. Either way celebrate with a toast and Slainte

Throw Anything Together

 There are days when you can;t go to the grocery and get everything you want. What to do when meal time rolls around? Use what you can to create a tasty meal.

In those times it;s good to rely on a semi stocked pantry  fridge or freezer. Beans can be used hot or cold in a variety of dishes.add them in a tomato sauce with garlic and chili powder and you have a quick chili. Any leftover onions can be chopped and add to it. A tasty hot dish is beans and rice,This makes for a good side or even a main course.In warmer weather a bean salad is always a nice side for a lunch or dinner. You could even make a cold beans and rice salad for a barbecue when the weather warms up. Serve it on toast for a British take.It makes for a quick lunch especially on a busy weekend. Another staple rice can be blended with anything. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken shred it and cook it with some butter and rosemary for a satisfying dinner. To jazz it up a bit add some saffron if you have it. If not try any spice from garam masala to adobo for more flavor. RIce can also be used to stuff peppers if you have them. Mix it with such chopped vegetables as cherry tomatoes, corm and even chickpeas.

Leftover are always great  for repurposing. Those left over burger patties can be broken up and stuffed into peppers or onions. mix them with breadcrumbs - which everyone has. Another ground beef dish -  leftover meat loaf can be sliced and made into hot sandwiches just by putting the slices on bread and then covered in gravy . If there's no gravy  you could use  barbecue sauce on it. Any leftover fowl can be mixed with noodles for a hardy dinner. Take turkey or chicken and chop. Add cooked egg noodles , mix and bake. Those slices of cheese? Shred them and use those as a topping.Can dessert be done this way? Yes!Mix in cereal with your ice cream for a fun twist. Add syrup for a sundae. Surprisingly melted ice cream can be used for milk in a cake. It will have a denser crumb than the average cake and a much more flavorful taste. It doesn't have to be vanilla, You could try chocolate .butter pecan or anything Dust with confectioners sugar if you have it.If you have milk then make a glaze to drizzle over it.

Ingredients can be put together to make a tasty and interesting meal or dessert. See what you have. Be creative . It'll make for a fun cook or bake.

The Rustic Baking Of Autumn

 The temps are starting to drops. The kitchen is inviting again.It's time to bake yet nothing fancy.That'll come in the new couple of months. Fall baking is simple baking. There's no fancy frosting or shiny decorations. It's the flavors that stand out - not the bells and whistles.

Surprisingly pizza is considered rustic baking. It's symbolizes a summer of harvesting tomatoes and basil, perfect for fall cooking. It can be made with just a simple crust made from flour olive oil, water yeast and sugar .The sugar activates the yeast and makes it rise. As for the topping ,again think a simple rustic one. Sliced tomatoes olive oil and little rounds of mozzarella. Do add basil and oregano from your garden if you have it. Another rustic bread is focaccia.Like pizza dough it's an easy bake.The dough is a mix of yeast, all purpose flour and warm water.Olive oil is added to create a silky crumb and rich flavor. Usually rosemary and sea salt is sprinkled on it and dimples made with fingers are on the top.These dimples serve as wells for olive oil added right before putting into the oven. The bread is a good accompaniment with a hot rustic soup like minestrone. It;'s also good as a base for salame and mortadella too There are other rustic breads too. A sourdough boule is easy to make and great to eat. What makes it stand out is the rough, crispy crust and the tender inside.

Sweet rustic baking is also a great treat during these upcoming cold days. Try a French apple cake, loaded with the gems of the season.It is rich with not only apples but also egg and butter too. It's not a fancy cake with just a simple dusting of confectioners sugar. An apple pie is another simple pie popular with home bakers right now. Try baking it in a cast iron skillet for a homey , old fashioned feel.There are no fancy ingredients here. Just Granny Smith apples, brown sugar and cinnamon mixed together. As for the crust try a butter one, rich with two sticks of butter. Simple cakes are also perfect for a snack or following a Sunday roast.A walnut espresso one is an easy bake and its' loaded with that much loved autumn nut - the walnut. This is an Italian recipe, redolent with espresso and the chopped nuts. Think of making this after a Sunday roast chicken or beef.Another fall flavor is pears. They're in season right now and the smaller Bosc pears would be perfect in a cake like this. Add warming spices of cinnamon and ginger to bring out the pear's flavor and give heat to each slice.

The cooler weather means baking. Create a rustic savory or sweet treat to warm up your family and yourself.These are the perfect recipes for autumn

It's All Peachy

 This is still peach season. Those golden gems are out there and they are a versatile fruit. You can eat them any way - cook them any way  - bake them any way.They are perfect for meals and snacks.

Peaches first appeared in China and is a deciduous tree, meaning the fruit falls off when they're ripe.Surprisingly nectarines are also peaches but without the peach's characteristic fuzz.They arrived in England and France in the 1600's Most peaches come from China, Greece,Spain,Italy and Turkey,The Spanish brought the fruit to Latin a nd South America They came to the US thanks to Thomas Jefferson.They're now in Marylsnd, Delaware Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey.Many states such as New Jersey have farms where visitors can pick bushels of them.There are hundreds of peach and nectarine cultivars.There are two type,s the freestone where the pit easily comes out. These should be eaten fresh, The second category is the clingstone where the pit clings to the flesh.These are good for canning but also for eating too. These golden gems are loaded with all sorts of vitamins from A to K. Eat them for their vitamin C content too. Even the peach skin is an antioxidant, loaded with cancer fighting antioxidants.

Of course the best way to have a peach is after it's been chilled in fridge for a few hours. Yet chilled sliced peaches are also good in salad too. Add  sliced chicken breasts along with feta and grapes along with a simple white wine vinaigrette for an elegant lunch or dinner. Most home chefs love baking with the fruit. Wednesday's New York Times Food section had a recipe for peach cobbler - the summer dessert of choice.Regular contributor Melissa Clark gives two versions, one an easy buttermilk one while the other is an upside down one, made in much the same way as a pineapple upside down cake.If you're making these she recommends using brown sugar as opposed to white to give the peaches a caramel note. Another amazingly good peach dessert is pesche ripiene. These are stuffed peaches made with crumbled amaretto biscuits. chopped peach pits and butter. My family has always added peach schnappes to these for more flavor and kick but you can also use peach juice too after they're baked and cooled. of course peach muffins are a nice way to start the day or a perfect snack.These scratch muffins are packed with flavor from the fruit to cinnamon. Peach cake is also a great summer treat.The simple cake is loaded with peaches and makes for a wonderful afternoon snack with iced tea or served with ice cream for a tasty dessert.

Peaches are in abundance right now. Pick a bushel and use them in cakes, pies,muffins and even salads. Have them stuffed and drizzled with a peach liqueur . Enjoy them anyway  for their flavor and benefits.

Valentine's Day All Year Round

 It may be Valentine's  Day today but there's no reason that the feeling can't be carried throughout the year. A favorite dish can be cooked, A surprise of homemade candy can end a meal ot start the day. Food means love so bring on the delicious recipes made from the heart.

Yes, tonight is the night of candlelight suppers and dinners. However it can be spread throughout the twelve months. In fact it gets better as we approach Spring and summer.Think a dinner out by the fire pit.Have a bottle of wine or even champagne in a nearby bucket and pretty flutes to toast.Fire up the grill for delicious steaks . To make those cuts even more special serve them with a fileto Piemontese, This is a creamy sauce made from anchovy filets cooked with Marsala or sherry and cream. The steaks, usually filet mignons are placed on quickly pan fried buttered bread and them the sauce is poured over them. Filet mignon burgers are another tasty and lush way of showing your love. Omaha Steaks sell them and you can easily grill them the way you do regular burgers. Another lush romantic dinner is shrimp cocktail. Already cooked and deveined shrimp can be bought at your local grovery. Serve these on crushed ice whether at a candlelit dinihg room table our outdoors in a romantically lit grotto. Think romantic picnics as the temps rise. Some parks and beaches will let you stay until the stars come out. It's then easy to plan a starry date night nibbling on pate and toast , njoying fresh air and a full moon.

This is also a day for sweets. Nothing says love than baking your beloved' favorite cake, pie or cookie. It doesn;t even have to be a special day to whip up an old fashioned scratch cake complete with butter cream frosting. The same goes for cupcakes too. You can even write sweet messages in the icing too, just to show your affection. As we approach fruit season, then think of pies and crumbles. These make for a lovely way of expressing yourself to even family members and friends. Everyone appreciates a good fresh from the oven peach or strawberry pie. Serve it with vanilla ice cream for an even more sweet way of saying "I Love You". Making candy together  is always fun and romantic . Surprisingly enough those rich tasting truffles are simple enough to whip up in a home kitchen. There are only four ingredients - dark chocolate chips, heavy cream , butter and vanilla extract. The chips are chopped and placed into a bowl where gently warmed cream is poured over them. The butter is then added as is the vanilla extract. Stir until the chocolate has compeltely melted and then have it set in the fridge for two hours. Roll the ganache into balls then roll a second time in choped nuts, sprinkles ro mini chocolate chips.

Carry this romantic day though the year. Enjoy a romantic night in midsummer. Make candy for a fun fall weekned. Let it be Valentine's Day all year long.

Sweets From The Grill

 You may feel that it';s time to pack up the grill now that labor Day is just around the corner. Don't. You can still grill. In fact you can use it for baking some treats with fall's fruits.

Anything you can bake in an oven you can bake on a grill.It's just a matter of geting the right temp for baking batter and dough. This usually means putting down the lid to get the desired temp, usually 350 degrees Farenheit. Separate the ashed briquettes from the others.what would make a good dessert? Depends on what you want to serve after the dinner. You can try cupcakes using a scratch recipe or a box mix. Some home bakers add pudding to keep the crumb extra moist.Instead of topping themwith buttercream frosting think whipped cream with soem berries Yes you cna still get strawberries and it's the start of the second raspberry season). You could also top chocolate ones with toasted marshmallow for a take on s'mores.Cakes can also bake on the grill,Indirect heat creates the best ones.To get airier layers, bake the pans on the different tiers, like the  warming tray and the actual grill. You can also bake over a pan of water placed on the briquettes. This works well with upside down cakes like pineapple upside down as it it infuses the cake siwth a smoky flavor and keeps the fruit incredibly moist.

Of course you can also bake pizza on the grill.It does help to have a stone but you can place the pie directly on the grill plate. Just brush the grill with olive oil or a mox of garlic and oil for more flavor. Toppings can be wihatever you want. Try fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden. You cna also add diced peppers and broccoli if yo want or turn it into a meat lover's treat.  Close the lid and cook until the cheese melts . You can also make individual pies too.  A savory galette is also a great treat treat. Try one with tomatoes and onions or leeks and mushrooms. This rustic pie is also known for beinga sweet dessert filled with fruit. Since we 're coming into apple season, think a galette filled with Granny Smiths , mixed with cinnamon and sugar. You could also grill bake a raspberry one, regular pies can also be baked on hot coals. You can use what's known as fire bricks for even baking. Any Lowe's or Home Depot sell them. They/'re usually wrapped in tin foil before using,

Try your grill for baking. It's a fun way to cook up cakes and pies. You can create anything with dough , batter and hot coals.

It's Just You And The Kitchen

 This is the time of year when the nest empties out. The kids have either gone back to college or flown the nest in their first post graduate apartment. That means  the kitchen is yours again. It's time to have fun.

Many couples may feel that loneliness yet it's also a time to celebrate and discover. Remember the time when it was just you two, newly together. You had fun. You cooked for each other. If yo want to splurge and have lobster for dinner you did. if you wanted a candleight supper with champagne you arranged it. Now you can do it again. Treat youselves to a lush seafood dinner. Think shrimp kabobs on the grill or steaming crab legs. If you're into beef then then a juicy and buttery filet mignon on the barbecue. Serve with Hasselback potatoes which are those fancy sliced potatoes. with the kids away you can also put out all those stinky cheeses you loved and they hated. Imagine a charcuterie board full of Limburger and Camembert wedges. Now you can even experiment with Pont l"Eveque which smells like a mix fo barnyard and bacon and Robiola , an cheese with a strongly unique aroma.Kinds are also picky when it comes to unusual foods like escargot  or smails. Yet if you loved them when you first had your kitchen then get them again.

Having the kids around meant seeing homemade treats get gobbled up in seconds. Now with just two you can easily bake and have a batch of cookies or even a cake last for a week. Again, like with savory food, indulge youselves now. Bake a scratch chocolate cake with homemade fudge frosting. If a whole cake is rtoo much then think of a mini cake. It's easy to get the pan for it. You can also make all those 'icky" desserts thant the kids turned upt heir noses at . Try your hand at a pear galette or aquafaba meringues. Another plus about havinmg the kitchen to yourself is less clean up. There's not the big crowd anymore .There are no friends staying for dinner or coming over for snacks and games. You can leave  dinner dishes in the sink overnight and don't have to go crazy mopping the floor. (because those muddy feet are dirtying up their dorm rooms or apartment)There will be night when you'll be cooking for one or ordering in. Forgo the plates . Use them when the kids come or friends come over. Use the aurfryer and microwave more too.

It's just you and your kitchen, Enjoy this alone time. Celebrate it. Have fun cooking old recipes again and just baking for two.

In Praise of The Cone

 It's almost summer and that means one thing - ice creamed scooped and piled into all sorts of cones. Yet where would the icy treat without its' sturdy base? The cone is just as important as the treat itself as the Joy Baking Company knows

Regular contributor,cookbook writer and chef, Priya Krishna wrote about this amazing company in today's New York Times Food section.Joy Cones have been around since 1918 when two Lebanese immigrants,Albert George and his brother-in-law Thomas J. Thomas, started the company in Brookfield, Ohio.It nearly went bankrupt in 1943 thanks to a fire breaking out in the factory.. Joe George, father of the current owner,David  took over that year and focused on building proprietary or commercial ovens to bake thousands of cones. Within five years the company became profitable. Now Joy handles all the big companies from Dairy Queen to Mister Softee. Even local, privately owned ice cream shops use Joy. The company sells three types, cake , sugar and the ever popular waffle. The recipes for all three are simple. The cake cone is made from batter of water flour and sugar. Tapioca flour is added to give the cone it's sturdiness and absorbent like quality. The sugar and waffle ones have brown sugar added for the rich tan color.

Is there competition? There is from Keebler  but they mostly distribute to stores. Most home chefs use them to create cones. There are some ice cream shop owners like Kristine Tonlonow of the Konery in Brooklyn who have different ideas. When she started her business in 2014  she looked at the cones and their blandness along with their uniformity. She felt that there should be different flavors to match or compliment the creamery's variety of flavors. The cones should be as exciting as the ice cream itself. Her cones come in bright colors and even brighter flavors like orange Creamsicle and salted blue corn along with gingerbread and peppermint.. They do cost three to four times more than Joy's. However stores like Whole Foods and theme parks are buying them along with independent shops like Malai Ice cream in Cobble Hill Brooklyn. Some ice cream shop owners such as  Washington D.C.s Susan Soorenko feels the flavored ones can be a distraction. Customers have enough choices and may not like their eventual option. She'll stick with the classic Joy ones instead which let the flavors shine.

Joy's cones are one of the joys of summer. They're a part of the whole ice cream on a hot day experience. They make those sugar , cake and waffle cones for warm weather memories.

Disaster For Dinner

 It's just a fact of life that there could be a cooking or baking disaster. Every home chef goes through several during a lifetime.What to do? Keep calm and carry on with some quick thinking and amending.

This happened to me the other night, I was all set to try chickpea gnocchi from Aldi. I was st to my my favorite sauce burst tomatoes, anticipating the sweet -savory flavor of this on the potato dumplings. Unfortunately it was not to be. i taste tested two or three gnocchi, discovering that those had an extremely sour taste. These were ditched right away, the consensus was they had been left too long on the store's shelf.What to do with the sauce? Luckily there was sliced semolina bread. This proved to be a life saver. The sauce was spooned over the slices, sort of like a hot bruschetta. It was delicious and a great idea for a quick lunch in the future. Luckily it was a family meal and not meant for guests. Yet suppose there had been guests? What to do? One good and easy solution is subbing in the gnocchi with already cooked pasta. Barilla offers this and it can be made in the microwave. Rice could also work in this situation too. what happens when the sauce gets screwed up? I'f it's too salty, add more tomatoes or a teaspoon of honey to balance it out. As for meats, cut away the burnt part and if it's too dry, get some gravy to moisten it. Melted butter or olive oil also helps.

Baking and frosting has their share of disasters.Again I recently found this out when I made frosting with Melt plant butter. I thought it would be just like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and produce a thick, creamy icing that would stay in place. It didn't. It slid off my Easter lambs, making them look like they had mange.I just arranged the fallen frosting to make it look like a bed the lambs were resting on. Again luckily these were not made for company. Frosting can be thickened and not just with more confectioner's sugar.. You can use cornstarch, flour and even butter  to create a rich paste. What about if your cake or cupcakes burn? Like with meat, cut away the burnt parts and cover with frosting or a dusting of confectioner's sugar.  The cake's top may be dry and crumbly too, thanks to the excessive heat. Pour melted butter over the top. This will ensure a moist crumb.  This can be done to cupcakes too. Homemade puddings and custards can be amended thanks to an immersion blender  whipping away all those lumps. Also adding whipped cream and turning it into an instant mousse is also a dessert saver.

Disaster sometimes comes for dinner and dessert. Be prepared if ti does. It's easy to fix a meal or dessert gone bad.

Easter Savings

 Many home chefs are dreading the holiday.It's not the cooking or creating the perfect meal.It's the price of the ingredients plus the main course that has them freaking out. There are ways to have a less expensive holiday.

One way to combat the high price is varying where you shop. You may find a bargain for your ham or lamb at one store while another may have better buys on veggies.Another idea is heading to more dollar friendly stores like Aldi and Lidl. Right now Aldi has spiral cut ham for only ninety-five cents a pound!! Their lamb leg roast is just $7.49 a pound.Lidl has a whole young chicken for $2.69 a pound.Both stores have excellent pricing on their veggies too. A cheaper alternative to meat is portabella mushrooms which can be prepared a number of ways. Air fried caps are delicious with a sprinkle of salt, pepper and oregano. You can also  grill them if you're planning an outdoor holiday meal. Pasta is another low cost alternative. Think of having a pasta primavera , chock full of veggies,You could also make a carbonera with a bacon laced sauce. This you can have a little splurge with since the eggs and bacon are costly. A veggie lasagna is a great way to go for a crowd. This and a salad can make for a filling holiday meal. As for dessert a home baked cake works well or just cupcakes topped with homemade buttercream icing.

Another idea is having a pot luck dinner. You can provide the main course which means you can spend a little more on getting a bigger cut of meat . Ham would be the best bet. It can feed a lot. As for dishes , you can have people make their signature dishes.  Suppose two guest have the same signature dish?Make a list of who is bringing what otherwise you'll wind up with duplicates. If there are double recipes then persuade the second person to make their second favorite dish.Keep in mind there shouldn't be any dishes left out. Check to see if everything is going to be on the menu, from salads to desserts. Also let the vegetarians and vegan create their dishes while the non vegans bring theirs. That way  everyone is happy with the meal.Also e mail a list of everyone's allergies too to prevent any problems. Suppose it's just a dinner of only three or four people. Condense. A small ham or just a chicken will do  along with  a side of asparagus. Serve the asparagus with butter and cheese for a tasty dish. Also a simple salad is a nice touch. As for dessert you can get a simple small cake at Acme or Stop and Shop. A homemade pound cake also works too.

Don't worry about money this holiday. You can create a low cost yet delicious meal  for very little. It's a memorable feast for a lot less.

Your Easter Treat Selection

 Easter is only less than two weeks away and it's time to start thinking about treats. and dessert. What would be fun for an Easter Egg hunt? What would be the perfect ending to a ham dinner. There are so many choices.

One of the most traditional id the lamb cake or the Osterlamm in German. The American version can be made with any kind of cake mix while the German has a simple vanilla cake recipe. You will need a special mold such as this one.

This was my Mom's that I inherited.it's over forty years old and from Wilton. You can get something similar from Amazon for around twenty three dollars. There is also an Osterlamm mold for $37.98.  You will need to use Dream Whip because this gives the cake body.I've the cake in vanilla and chocolate .each had different icings , from traditional butter cream to chocolate to coffee for the chocolate. Decorating was fun, with colored vanilla buttercream for the outline of the ears and eyes  and the ribbon around the lamb's neck. You can also bake a bunny ro Easter egg Again these are fun to decorate. For a more sophisticated dessert, think a lemon or orange Bundt cake with a lemon or orange glaze. This is perfect with coffee and tea after a big meal.

Smaller Easter egg cakes are a cute handout at Easter egg hunts. You can add M&Ms and jelly beans to the decorations. A fun idea is having the kids decorate them at a trimmings bar and them give a prize out for the best looking one. Easter cookies are also a fun treat any any Easter gathering.Again egg shapes iced and decorated with colored icing, sugars and candies are a highlight to any gathering. Bunny cookies are another sweet treat. You could do a dusting of bright colored sanding sugar to resemble Bunny Peeps.Peeps can also be featured in cookies. Think about wrapping cookie dough around them for a gooey kind of treat.  You can also top plain sugar ones with them as well.Rice Krispy treats can be molded into fun shapes like carrots and chicks. You can also make the traditional squares and then decorate them with melted pastel chocolate, sprinkles and M&Ms. 

There are so many different kinds of goodies to make for Easter. Pick something cute or something sophisticated.Either choice will be a holiday hit.

Sweet Spins On Thanksgiving Desserts

 Thanksgiving demands tradition. Yet more and more home chefs are rethinking sides, and reimagining sides and even the turkey itself. Now that idea is coming to dessert. It's not just the traditional pies. It's taking time honored recipes and spinning them around.

Pie has always been the tried and true way to end the holiday dinner.There had to be  home baked pumpkin pie, and if you were feeling ambitious apple and pecan. You can srill have these but rethink them as tartlets The crust can be either already made dough like Pilsbury's or homemade. Instead of using a pie tin, a muffin tin works the best for this. Another idea is ditching the pie pan completely and making a free form galette.  The crust should be a butter one which complements the filling's richness. Fill it with any of the traditional pie recipes. Most galettes are fruit filled so you could just make an apple one although the other fillings work equally as well. Serve with a dollop of creme fraiche  Instead of the usual Cool Whip or even homemade whipped cream. Its' tanginess is perfect to offset the galette's sweetness. if you still want to make pie, then think alternatives. Pears are another delicious fall fruit that unfairly gets second billing. A pear pie would be an interesting way to end the meal. Use Bartlett or Bosc for the filling.Walnut pie can be a tasty sub in for pecan, Use maple syrup instead of corn syrup though. Walnuts have a bitter taste the others don't have.

You can use relatively the ingredients but in different recipes. What about ending the meal with a pumpkin tiramisu? It has the same pumpkin puree and the same spices of cinnamon and nutmeg.The puree is combined with cream cheese and mascapone to form a creamy filling. Lady fingers are still a vital part of the recipe and , yes, there is espresso used as in traditional mascapone.Yet it's given a new spin with cinnamon and nutmeg for a more pumpkin pie tasting flavor. Pumpkin is also an excellent medium for mousse. You can create an easy one using vanilla pudding mixed with pumpkin puree, and maple syrup.  Top with homemade whipped cream. Apples may be good in a pie but they're fantastic in cake. It's a nice old fashioned cake using shredded apples along with apples and cinnamon. It' also makes a good snack cake too when you just want a slice of cake and a cup of coffee or tea later on. Another fun home baked treat is pecan caramel bars. It has all the gooey nuttiness of pecan pie but on top of a buttery shortbread crust. You can also just candy pecans as an after dinner treat too.

Traditional Thanksgiving desserts can be changed up too. It's easy to sub in a galette for pie or create a mouse , cake or bar. Use a new ingredient like a pear or walnuts  in a classic recipes. These  spins will definitely liven up the holiday dessert table.

Your Own Hot Doughnuts

 One of the best fall treats is a doughnut. It's the perfect snack or even breakfast on a chilly day. Homemade ones are even better.The bite is fresh and deliciously chewy,

Any good home baker can create a doughnut.You can make it with yeast for one with  a chewy bread like crumb or a cakey one that's more like your favorite slice. A basic recipe for the yeast variety has milk and two packets of yeas t mixed with two eggs and a stick of melted butter. You will need flour , usually the all purpose kind,More flour will be needed to roll out the dough into rolls. Keep in mind you will need a deep fryer for this and two quarts of a neutral oil like grapeseed or vegetable oil. Can you air fry doughnuts? You can. Just generously spray the basket with a neutral spray in either vegetable or butter flavor. This may be a bit tedious to do. Only two doughnuts at a time can be fried and  they have to be flipped midway through the baking process. The plus side is that they won't leave a greasy after taste and the texture is crisper on the outside, tender on the inside. Another plus is that you can also air fry cake batter doughnuts too, They come out just as good as their yeast cousins, The air fryer also works for doughnut holes too. The yeast ones take forty five minutes to rise and six to eight minutes to bake at 375 degrees Farenheit.

Cake doughnuts are another treat. The recipes are more varied than the yeast recipe as are the textures. Cake doughnuts can be as dense in crumb as a muffin or as light and fluffy as a birthday cake. You can create more flavors with cake doughnuts. A good cake doughnut recipe is made with flour, and baking powder which gives them lift. Usually one egg is used along with milk. You can fry them but look for an evenness in color and texture. Baked doughnuts are another way to go. Get a doughnut tin which has different shapes, from fluted edges to a regular circle. If you don't have one simply use a muffin or cupcake tin with foil in the middle to create the hole. Apple cider doughnuts are big right now and it's just adding concentrated apple cider. DO NOT add cider straight from the jug. You'll need to reduce it to a thick and potent syrup. This is done by boiling it down for twenty minutes.It's then added to the batter. You can also add an apple pie spice blend of nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamon. After they've been baked brush with melted butter and dredge in a mix of white sugar and cinnamon.

This is the season for doughnuts. Make them at home for a fresh, sweet treat. You can fry , air fry or bake the yeast or cake variety for a tasty bite full of satisfying sweetness.

The Taste of Tamerind

Tamerind is a comforting and exotic  flavor all at once.It's tangy  and sweet, perfect for all sorts of dishes. It's great as an addition for summer dishes and drinks.

Nik Sharma, creator of the award winning  A Brown Table that highlights Indian cuisine  wrote an interesting piece about this fruit(?) in yesterday's New York Times' Food section. Tamarind is actually a hard wood, not unlike teak and it produces pods. Those pods contain a sticky sweet and sour pulp that's made into a syrup. The Italians mix it with either mineral or even tap water for a refreshing cola like drink. It's also used in Worcester sauce for that unique flavor yet it's the Africans and Indians that have made the most use of it. It grows well in hot climates, originating in Africa and migrating over to India. Tamarind is great for any pantry since it lasts for months. Use it now or use it for baking and cooking in the fall and winter. You can make the extract at home by  boiling the pulp, then steeping  and softening it for a few minutes.  Buy the packaging that says "SOUR" which is the best for cooking and baking. You can get the sweet  as Mr. Sharma does but that's just for eating out of the package.There is also the liquid concentrate. This also can be heated up to reduce its' volume but it will lose its' fruity flavor.

There are several different recipes. Try the roasted new potatoes with garlic and tamarind. It's a sweet and savory side that has new yellow potatoes flavored with the pulp along with date syrup (although you can also use honey or maple syrup). This is a syrup poured over the potatoes after they've been oven roasted with olive oil and salt.  Cumin and serrano chiles are added for fire and bite so it's not too tangy. Seafood can also benefit from tamarind. Mr. Sharma gives us shrimp, cilantro and tamarind soup.The last is only a tablespoon so it doesn't over power the briny seafood taste. There's also a yellow onion and tomato paste added along with green chile and black pepper along with cilantro.A sweeter dish is an almond, black pepper and fig cake  drizzled with a tamarind paste glaze. The cake combines these diverse flavors with the figs being dusted with the black pepper. The batter is made from almond flour which has a delicacy that works with the other intense flavors. The glaze is unusual because it combines olive oil the tamarind paste and confectioners sugar. Usually water is added to make a glaze but the olive oil gives it more heft. Water can be added to thin it out of it is too thick.

Tamarind is a wonderful flavor , perfect in a refreshing drink or interesting dish. Try it in a savory side or soup. Use it  to give more flavor to a homemade almond, black pepper and fig cake. It's a great add in for any savory or sweet recipe.

Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook Mayo With Everything

Mayonnaise is a Southern must have and Southern cooks must have Duke's Mayo. This Southern staple has now been incorporated into a cookbook that features everything from breakfast to dessert. It can be used in a variety of different dishes from around the globe. It's an amazing ingredient for a wide range of recipes.

The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook : 75 Recipes Celebrating the Perfect Condiment (Grand Central Publishing 2020) celebrates this century old Southern classic. Ashley Strickland Freeman who has also written Southern Living's Ultimate Book Of BBQ  and 28 Days Of Clean Eating.  Chef Strickland Freeman is also a chef who uses the famed mayo in all of her dishes. The mayonnaise has been around since 1917 , invented by North Carolingian Eugenia Thomas Duke, known for her delicious sandwiches  enhanced with her homemade emulsion of eggs and oil.Of course adding mayo to dishes is a Southern thing but Chef Strickland Freeman uses it in such diverse dishes as Chicken Parmesan , Pork Banh Mi and lamb kabobs. What is fun is the input from other chefs such as the famed Nathalie Dupree and TV personality and chef Carla Hall. The book is not as large as other cookbooks. The sections are Breakfast And Brunch, Lunch, Dinner , Sides and Snacks and Desserts. Extra advice is only two pages long and they include lists on what kind of tools to have to create the dishes along with a small group of tips on greasing and flouring pans and how to measure dry and wet ingredients.

The recipes are truly varied. For those who though mayo was just reserved for lunch  time sandwiches think again. Also Duke's is the recommended mayo but you can use any kind or brand.Mayo is a great sub for butter and it makes for crispy grilled cheese sandwiches in Chef Strickland Freeman's recipe. For a creamier scrambled egg , try her scrambled egg recipe that calls for  a quarter cup of Duke's. Adding it to any batter, makes for a much tender crumb. Biscuit enthusiasts will love the recipe for buttermilk biscuits and Earl Grey scones. It also does wonders to cake mixes as seen in the dessert recipes strawberry rhubarb layer cake and scratch ones such as plum upside down cake and peppermint brownies. The condiment is perfect in locking in moisture for meat which makes it excellent for marinating. Try the herb roasted chicken recipe which promises tender, juicy meat or the rosemary-Dijon pork chops. Of course there are salad and dressing recipes along with the Southern classic - deviled eggs. This comes with three variations that include pesto and bacon.  There is German potato salad that has two kinds of mustard as well and different types of aioli. The tomato one goes with the grilled okra but it would be perfect with the rosemary fries. For a cool treat make up the seafood pasta salad that combines calamari and shrimp. Want hearty? Then whip up the  steak salad with the buttermilk herb dressing. It 's also great in hush puppies too if you want a tasty snack.

The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook : 75 Recipes Celebrating The Perfect Condiment is the must have cookbook for Duke's Mayonnaise lovers. They can create all sorts of recipes for brunch and dinner, lunch and snacks along with desserts. It's a taste of the South that you can use everywhere.

Duke's Mayonnaise can be bought on Amazon if you can't find it in your local grocery.

Easy Comfort Food

This is the time for easy recipes from the pantry. Even if you're new to cooking there are some simple recipes you can whip up like a pro. They're tasty , relying on what you have stocked up. Another plus?   They're not labor intensive so you can spend time home schooling or working from home.

This was the subject of Melissa Clark's article in today's New York Times Food section. She also has some recipes on The Times live blog if you'd like to visit. The dishes, some are riffs on old favorites, keep perishables in mind. Some do ask for fresh ingredients but that's only if you have them handy. Subs are also welcome too.One recipe is pasta with canned tuna, anchovies and capers. Ms. Clark recommends using a twirly kind of pasta like spaghetti, linguini, or the thicker, chewier bucatini but any will do.It's then sauteing the anchovies with oil and garlic. Capers give it a salty tang but you can also use canned olives if you don't have the first or don't like them. Another dish revolves around that perpetual pantry staple. It's dried red beans. Use salted water with enough salt in it that it tastes like a mouthful of the ocean. Another flavoring is  garlic cloves , along with a celery stalk - but you can use celery salt too.  Throw in a Parmesan rind or a hunk of smoked meat. Bacon would be good here or do as Ms Clark does, throw in keilbasa. The base can any grain from rice to polenta. There is also a soup recipe.It uses the sturdy stock of root veggies such as rutabegas, turnips, carrots and even radishes. Toss in any fragrant allium like onions and throw in some herbal sprigs. Add bay leaves and a base of cold water Add some greens such as kale or spinach along with the cubed and peeled root veggies. It's then pureed and garnished with anything from a drizzle of olive oil to red pepper flakes.

Sweet recipes are also represented here. Ms. Clark gives us the ultimate comfort treat - coffee cake. It could be your snack after a work session or breakfast with a big mug of coffee. The topping is the best part and the first part made.It's melted butter, rolled oats and flour, each a quarter cup. Add in brown sugar and cinnamon. You can toss in other spices such as cardamon and allspice for some zing. The batter is a simple one , enhanced with some kinds of fermented dairy product. You can employ anything from sour cream to creme fraiche however there's also milk or non dairy yogurt acidified with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Fruit can be added to the batter such as pineapple or fresh blueberries. For a subtler flavor grate in some lemon or orange. Oatmeal also gets an upgrade. It's baked in a casserole dish with some peanut or almond butter and some cinnamon. Serve with cream and some maple syrup or just with bananas.  There's another pantry dessert, this time by another Food section contributor, Margeaux Laskey. It's a made in a pan chocolate cake that's made from scratch with cocoa powder. It's an easy bake  little chefs will love making in one bowl. Add some chocolate chips and dust with powdered sugar.

The pantry is your best friend these days. Use it to come up with satisfying meals and treats. It'll get you cooking and baking amazing recipes you and your family will love.

Your Best Bake

Now that we're globally quarantined, it's time to bring out your best baking pictures and recipes. We need to show what we have and how we're conquering - yes conquering - this pandemic. We have the time, we have the flour, eggs, and butter, Let's do it. Send me your pix.

It could be a birthday cake.

A cake with fondant decorations

                                     A Greek bread (thanks Eva D.for this lovely pic)

                                                         Cinnamon rolls

                                                                   Loaf breads   

Cupcakes

                                                                       Croissants
                                                                           and

of course cookies.

Show us and this hungry world your best bake. Have fun with it. Now GO to it!

Are You Christmas Ready????

Christmas is a week away. Are you all set for another holiday meal? Do you have enough for your baking extravaganza? Are you Christmas ready?

The most important question is do you have your main meal planned out?  By now you should have your ham if you're planning on serving it. With it should come a good supply of cloves and pineapple. You can always buy the ginger ale for it the day before or use the brown sugar left over from baking for a sweet rub. As for the turkey, you have a few days leeway time. It can be bought as late as the 22nd or 23rd.  Yams can also be bought on the weekend too along with potatoes and onions. Once you have the dinner sorted out , it's time to reevaluate the linens. Are they OK after Thanksgiving? Are there any stains that need to be washed out again. Then use baking soda on them and a good wash and rinse through the washing machine. This also applies to those linen napkins too, Be careful , though, when you're dealing with hand embroidered or heirloom dinner linens. These will have to be presoaked in the tub and then gently wash in either the tub or sink. Try to use something gentle such as  The Laundress' The Baby Detergent,It's meant for baby clothes but it also can be used on delicate vintage fabrics too. Another must is checking the silver and glassware. Make sure everything is polished along with being tarnish and crack free. If you're wine glasses or tumblers aren't up to par, then head to your local store like Target or Macy 's for a new replacement set.

The second big kitchen to-do is the whole holiday baking. Since we're now so close to the holiday, you can buy the ingredients right now when the stores have them on sale. Take advantage of this, especially if you have a lot of baking to do. Buy up the cookie mixes if you don't have the time or experience to create scratch ones. Betty Crocker has some good flavors, like peanut butter and oatmeal.Also  stores like Stop & Shop has sales on cake and brownie mixes, perfect if you want to make more substantial treats like cupcakes and brownies. If you are making scratch cookies and cakes, make sure you're stocked with a variety of flours such as plain flour and gluten free for those with allergies. Flavorings are used a lot during this time. Keep an eye on your vanilla, almond and peppermint extracts. If they're looking a little low , then it's time to bring in new bottles. The same goes for the sprinkles and nuts too. You should also be well stocked when it comes to all the sugars. Not only does granulated sugar go fast during this time, but also confectioner's , light and dark brown sugars. Buy your eggs and butter close to the day you start baking. The fresher they are, the better they'll perform. This is also a good time to assess your cookie sheets, cookie cutters, and cake pans. Make sure you also have parchment paper for some butter cookies and meringues. Do you have enough tins to hold them? If not , buy a few festive holiday ones and even platters to serve them on.

Christmas is a week away, Be ready. Be prepared.  That way it'll make holiday cooking and baking easier - and better.