A Perfect Christmas Breakfast

One of the best things about Christmas morning is a cozy family breakfast together.  There;s nothing like sitting down and sharing a sumptuous and yummy special treat. A breakfast casserole is the perfect dish for this It has the best AM foods like bacon eggs and bread along with some other flavorful ingredients. It is the perfect start to a holy day and holiday.

Melissa Clark gave her recipe for it in her A Good Appetite column today's New York Times  Food section. It's similar to strata with a few tweaks..It's an easy bake for novice home chefs and a break from the usual holiday morning fare for more experienced cooks.There is a ratio of  one egg to one cup of dairy to a cup of cubed bread However there are so many variations, to try any one is a good combo. Start with the bread. As per Ms. Clark, the lighter the loaf, the more ethereal the casserole. A good choice is the airy French brioche, followed by the honey sweetened challah,good white bread (think straight from the bakery or Pepperidge Farm sandwich white) and a light whole wheat bread.Stay away from the ones that are too hearty, seedy or grainy, She uses toasted  croissants that have been oven toasted for only five to ten minutes.Try  to get good croissants if you can at this late date.. Au Bon Pain has the best but Dunkin Donuts and Stop and Shop have good ones too. Just remember that the staler it the the more the read will absorb the custard. Another way of having  crispy bread is toasting it in a very hot oven  (NO toasters ,please). This will dry it out and also give it a deep caramelized flavor.

This recipes calls for a lot of eggs, eight in all. Ms. Clark also suggests just using the yolks for a truly custardy texture, along with three cups of milk and one cup of heavy cream. You could also just add all milk or all cream however the combination of the two adds to the casserole's silkiness.A quarter of a pound of Italian sausage is added however you could also use maple infused breakfast ones , cubed ham or cooked bacon (or if you want all of them) . Gruyere is a must  and if you can get the smoked for the intense flavor. It's grated so it blends in perfectly into the dish. sauteed and roasted vegetables can be added too. Try spinach, mushrooms or cherry tomatoes. If you want potatoes, then serve them on the side as extra crispy hash browns or plank fries.I think they'd be a bit too much in this dish.Ms. Clark even recommends adding bits of dried fruit such as figs or apricots. Have the figs simmered in port or the apricots in white wine first to make them even more tastier.It's a nice shot of boozy sweetness amidst all the savory. The recipe does call for scallions and sage for flavoring, You could also sub in rosemary and oregano if you're tossing in the tomatoes and Italian sausage.Everything is place din a buttered casserole dish and baked the next morning.

Make this yummy and easy breakfast casserole Christmas morning. It's a nice treat after present opening and gift giving. It's warm and cozy , just like the holiday itself.

The Annual Christmas Checklist

 Successful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners begin with well stocked kitchens. These meals are not ones to improvise with or sub in anything last minute.Everything  should be on the ready. There should not be any hiccups or snags. The meal , albeit  sometimes a difficult cook and roast,should go easily without any drama.

By now most home chefs should have the main dish, namely the roast. Make sure that it's enough for your guests. Two servings usually work per person .If you feel you'll come up short then get a second  roast. Also have make sure you have every ingredient for your sides. Have extra cans of faves such as green beans and corn. If you haven't shopped yet, then get larger versions of what you normally buy.After all you'll not only need that olive oil for salad but you 'll need it for sauteing vegetables as well. Not only will you need more olive oil but it also pays to have extra margarine and butter , both for cooking and the table. Keep enough chicken, beef or vegetable stock on hand too It's just as valuable as a stuffing ingredient as it is for gravies. Flour is the backbone of any dinner. It is used in making roues as well as the chief ingredient for baked goods. You may think that eggs are only good for that Christmas breakfast. You're partially right, however they're also needed for binding stuffing  as well along with being those yummy appetizers deviled eggs. Remember that hard boiled eggs are also  part of the stuffing in stuffed celery too and they  make a nice addition to any salad.


What else should you have ? The basic condiments. Salt and pepper are used in almost everything, and salt even more so because of baking. Brown and white sugar is also needed. Brown sugar is needed for  rubbing onto ham as well as for candied yams. It can even be added for color to roast beef gravy. Make sure you also have filled spice jars too. Chive and dried scallions go well  in homemade mashed potatoes along with being good sprinkled on green beans. Keep in ind that you have to have cinnamon too. It 's vital in any sweet potato dish as well as gracing dessert cappuccinos.If you run out of it, don't fret Nutmeg can sub in or it if you're in a pinch. Another inventory to double check is your beverage one. You should have a basement  full of different kinds of soda and flavored waters to suit everyones' tastes.Get the kids Simply Fruit Punch to drink with their holiday dinner.It's a nice alternative to sodas and has a refreshing mixed fruit flavor. Holiday desserts stretch out into two and three hours so have plenty of coffee and tea on hand for sipping. Make sure you have a few different flavors of teas so guest can have a choice. There should be equal amounts of decaf and caf as well as espresso shots for those who have a long drive home. A nice tough is having two or three flavored creamers on hand too.

A well stocked holiday kitchen is key to a successful dinner. Make sure you have everything and you don't run out. Christmas Eve and Christmas are not the times for culinary disasters. Enjoy the holiday and holiday cooking.

Pistahcio Chewy Bites A Healthy Stocking Stuffer

Want a healthy bite to put into everyone''s X-Mas stockings? Then try Setton Farms' Chewy Pistachio Bites. These are a better treat than all those Christmas candies and cookies. They're also a great respite from the rich holiday bites we're all indulging in right now.

Setton Farms is a California based pistachio farm located in the lush farming area northeast of Los Angeles. It is unusual in the sense that it is a Kosher farm where it is not only checked by an onsite rabbi but also must follow the strictest food regulations. The company is known primarily for its' dried fruits and nuts.such as pears, pineapple, almonds and walnuts. Setton also produces several different types of plain and flavored pistachios from unsalted to salted to jalapeno, garlic and chili lemon.Now there;s a brand new treat, pistachio chewy bites. These are a tasty respite from the heavy, sugary holiday fare.They're a mix of heart healthy mix of pistachios and dried cranberries held together with agave syrup.They're gluten and dairy free. Each chew is 105 calories with 60 fat calories and th best part is they're loaded with nuts!.

You'd expect something this good for you to be not so tasty. Wrong ! These are the best tasting chews  I've had in a long time! The pistachio's mild nutty flavor is the perfect foil for the cranberries' tartness and the agave's sweet syrup flavor. The texture is a fun chew too and a quick bite. It'll make a great stocking stuffer , giving those Santa pops and chocolate coins a run for their money. After the holidays  they'd be perfect in gym bags and lunch boxes. The chews are a better alternative  to that three o'clock candy bar or doughnut too. They're also a nice dessert too or a great nibble when you're craving something sweet.Surprisingly they can be turned into savory and sweet recipes, from a spicy Mediterranean couscous to popcorn balls. If you really want decadent party treats then dip them in semisweet chocolate and let them harden. The Chewy Pistachio Bites can be bought at A&Ps ,Shop Rite, King Kullen, Wegman, Lucky's and a few other supermarkets. 

This holiday season give your body a healthy gift of Setton Farms Chewy Pistachio Bites. These are super yummy and super good.Try them now as an alternative to all those sugary cookies and candies.

One Dough , A Million Cookies = Well Almost

We're knee deep in the middle of Christmas cookie season. Family and friends demand a variety worthy of a top bakery. What happens if you don't have the time to get all those ingredients? Not to worry. There a wonder dough that can produce an array of fancy and delicious gems.

Basic cookie dough is a holiday baker's best friend.It's taking two sticks of softened unsalted butter,a cup of sugar, one egg and two teaspoons of vanilla extract. The dry ingredients are flour ,baking soda and salt. It's the usual creaming and beating the moist ingredients first and then adding the dry ingredients .If the dough is a little sticky add a bit more flour to keep it smooth. Form the dough into two balls, wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for two hours. Home bakers can also sub in whole wheat flour for the white for a slightly healthier treat/ Just be warned. The whole wheat cookie won't have the snap that the regular one will. It will be slightly more denser and a bit chewy..You may want to make the icing now too. Again it's a simple recipe of one cup of powdered sugar, two to three tablespoons of milk and one teaspoon vanilla.Combine all ingredients until smooth. There may be some powdered sugar  lumps but theses can be beaten out with a fork. Tint with food coloring or homemade natural food coloring.The last may take some time which is off putting  along with unusual ingredients such as squid ink(!) and matcha powder, also off putting.

After the dough has been thoroughly chilled for one hour it's now time to have fun. One of the prettiest cookies to bake is the stained glass one. Put  a handful of unwrapped Jolly Ranchers - one flavor at a time  - and put between two sheets of wax paper . Smash to bits with a mallet or rolling pin. Use large and smaller versions of a cookie cutter. Cut out the larger forms and then use the smaller ones to cut the middle on baking sheets covered with foil. Spoon the crushed candy in the middles and bake for four or five minutes, until candy centers melt and the cookies' edges brown. Candy cane cookies are another fun treat.It's simply tinting one dough ball pink  while leaving the other ball plain.Roll each color  into four inch ropes and twist to form spirals. Bend the top to resemble a cane and bake until set for nine minutes. Another fun cookie are the chocolate dipped ones. Roll dough into a log and then slice into rounds. After the cookies bake and cool down , either melt semisweet chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave.(the double boiler is the better method.)Dip one end in and place on waxed paper to harden. For more festive treats, do a second dip in red and green sprinkles. These cookies can also be cut into shapes and decorated. Use flaked coconuts for snowmen and the fur on mittens and boots. You can also do a thin white layer of icing and dust with red  and green or silver and gold sanding sugar.

Don't fret if you don't have all the ingredients for cookie baking. Use the basic recipe and then let your creativity go wild. You'll have a variety of different cookies to show off to demanding friends and family.

Gift Yourself

T'is the season to give lush food gifts and fun gadgets.Everyone deserves a culinary treat , whether it's a favorite food or a something that will make cooking and baking easier. That includes yourself a reward just for getting through this harried holiday season.


It was David Tanis piece on strip loin in Wednesday's New York Times Food section that got me thinking and drooling. It's one of the things.that I would love to gift myself with - a tender strip sauteed in a blend of olive oil and Kerrygold butter (another Christmas gift to myself).Mr Tanis serves his infused with herbs such as rosemary and thyme along with roasted potatoes and horseradish along with a bunch of watercress. Mine would be French bistro style, with crispy homemade pomme frites and crusty French bread to sop up the juices. Another treat - lobster at Bahr's in the Atlantic Highlands. This is the ultimate Christmas gift to oneself. It's a plump boiled lobster with butter sauce and a side of rice. Of course their home made biscuits alone are worth the ride down. If you can, you can make your own lush seafood dinner at home.Treat yourself to some scallops in white wine or sole meuniere. If you;re craving simple fare then head to your favorite Wendy's or Jake's Wayback for a burger or dog, fries and a soda/or malted.Need a refueling of sugar? Indulge in Godiva or Rocky Mountain chocolates. Treat yourself to some homemade walnut fudge, or a plate of just from the oven Pilsbury Slice and Bake chocolate chip cookies with a tall glass of cold milk. To destress from the season's craziness, think a hot cup of herbal tea, pajamas and your favorite book. Sometimes the best self gifts are the simplest ones.

Home chefs are always on the cutting edge and front line . There are some interesting gadgets out there that should be in everyone's kitchen. A good set of knives is one of them. If you feel like your old set is getting dull or you don't have the complete set, get a new one .These usually have everything from deboners to filet knives. Many places such as Williams-Sonoma and Target have them on sale right now too..You can also get yourself a fun gadget  such as a Sno-Cone maker or a cotton candy machine.If you have the room then think about a taco shell warmer. This does come in handy for Mexican food lovers.Pizza lovers would swoon at the Cuizen Pizza Box oven which looks exactly like a delivery box with a cheesy cartoon of an Italian chef on it.It has revolving plate that ensures a perfecctly crisp and even hot crust. A fun for yourself gift is the breakfast sandwich maker that cooks everything, meat , egg and English muffin together for a tasty morning nosh.The best thing about it is that the parts disassemble and everything can be thrown into the dishwasher or kitchen sink for easy cleaning.I would love to treat myself to the space age looking Fago Spoutnik microwave. It's a new kind of round quick cooker that looks like that roly poly little robot from the new Star Wars movie.. The lid is a purple see through dome that allows you to watch your food get nuked. It has four cooking modes , a revolving turntable for even cooking and a light that changes from white to blue signalling the food is ready. Heck, forget all that. It just looks so darn I must have it cute. Unfortunately it's only sold in Europe right now but hopefully it'll come to the states soon.

This is the season to give. Give yourself some luxurious food or a fun appliance or gadget. You know what you want. Go for it before it sells out!.

A Lush Slice Of Timpano

The pasta pie timpano is the perfect dish to make for a cozy holiday pary.It's an impressive layering sort of like lasagna and torta rustica all rolled into one. Each slice yields up a melange of meats , veggies and sauces, a filling trio of good flavors and textures.

Melissa Clark decided to try her hand at making this gem of Italian cooking adding tweaks here and there.Timpano should sound familiar to Big Night Fans, the 1996 movie about two brothers running an Italian restaurant at the Jersey shore in the Fifties.It is crown shaped dish, filled with everything good.Its' origin is Neopolitan and it means kettle drum, thanks to its  shape.  The shell has to be made from pasta. Ms Clark recommends using precooked lasagna sheets will will leave a visible seam however purists may want to make their own sheets to have a flawless top. If you do make it via the machine, then think of tinting the dough red and green This can be done by separating the dough into two equal parts and tinting one half with half a cup of beet juice and the juice from.cooked spinach leaves for the green.If you want a lovely  deep golden color use egg yolks only .

The filling can be varied, however Ms/ Clark gives a pretty good mix of ingredients.She uses sausages  and salames or procsciutto for the interior. You can also use chopped meat or meat balls.A true timpano also has eggs in it but she subs it the more colorful and healthier roasted squash. Broccoli rabe is a must, both for its burst of color and flavor. as as one onion for sweetness. Ironically there';s also more pasta in the filling, usually penne regatta, but rotelli , plain or tricolore, could easily be subbed in.Cheese is de rigeur and Ms Clark uses buffalo mozzarella and fresh ricotta. This gives the pie both chewiness and creaminess.It has to be moist too, so you 'll need one 28 ounce can of tomato sauce along with a sprig of basil mixed in..Red wine is added too although if you want you can omit it.Nutmeg and a pinch of red pepper flakes are thrown into the mix to round it out. Keep  in mind this is a labor intensive  recipe. The squash has to be roasted for forty minutes while the broccoli rabe has to be sauteed first in a garlic infused oil. The penne also has to be cooked as well and if you make the pasta sheets extra work too.The finished product is worth it, though.


Timpano is a yummy pie, perfect for a holiday party.Every slice is a rich mix of flavors and textures. Try your hand at it for some good eating.

The Times Top Ten List

It's that time of the year when lists come out and the New York Times Food section is no different.  Today's issue is no different. The best recipes, drinks and restaurants are listed along with the hottest food terms of the year. It's an interesting look at how treats and toddies influenced the year that was.

What are the top recipes of the year? Ones that I would certainly like to try, There is roasted chicken provencal, a melange of thighs and wings roasted with shallots, lemons and garlic in a vermouth bath infused with herbes de Provence,Chicken is also top again, this time with an Mediterranean flavor.,oven roasted chicken sharwanaIt 's an easy fix of piling the sliced meat onto a platter and decorate with salad and topping. It's a fun light New Year's dish after heavy holiday feasting..It's tahini gracing chopped cucumbers and tomatoes along with parsley, olives and feta. Fried eggplant also adds flavor along with hummus swirled with harissa. Pile it on pita for a sandwich/salad mash up. Summer pasta with zucchini,ricotta and pasta was also popular.It's just a simple dish that you could even make now using frozen squash.There's also another  refreshingly simple dish - salmon with anchovy garlic butter. Capers are also added for a zesty saltiness but it's really the anchovy butter that makes it sing.Three cup chicken , a famed Taiwanese braise of thighs and wings in a dark and pungent sauce.Some of the other recipes were a quick fresh tomato sauce and the only dessert to make it was summer berry buckle.

What drinks made the list?Auslese.It a German riesling made from very ripe grapes and oomphed up with Botrytis cinerea. Sherry ,an old fashioned classic  has also cracked the list.As per the Pour column writer, Eric Asimiv, it has an almost oceanic taste thanks to the note of saline and iodine. He also praises the moderately priced wines such as the 2014 Mojo cabernet franc from Shinn Estate, a famed Long Island producer. The Southern Rhone gives the tasty blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre. Another favorite was the 2013 trocken riesling fermented from grapes grown on limestone..The stone was reflected in the notes,stony, chalky and floral. Try these at the city's top restaurants.There's Gabriel Kreuther, named for the chef., is an homage to all dishes Alsacian, with its'rustic tarte flambees and liverwurst. Superiority Burger, the make is a  kind of a misnomer, is another yummy fave catering to vegans and vegetarians. Fans rave about the tofu Philly cheesesteak along with a sugary white sweet potato topped with chopped pickles, serranos and tarragon. Of course Momofuko Ko is right up there; New Yorkers love their boxed sushi and uni or sea urchin with chicken. Mexican food is also number one with Manhattanites  as seen in Cosme.with real Mexican tortillas along with celebrations of traditional dishes.

These are the lists to guide you to good eating and dining along with good drinking. It's a nice culinary salute to 2015. It's was an interesting year, flavorful and tasty in so many ways.