edible gifts
How to make Brandied Cherries
2 cups simple syrup
6 cups pitted dark sweet cherries
2 cups vodka
2 cups brandy
1 vanilla bean
1 large cinnamon stick
4-6 whole cloves
4-6 whole allspice
Makes 1 quart Brandied Cherries… [more].
Bring sugar and water to boil, then boil 1 minute. Place cherries, vodka, brandy, 1 cup of the simple syrup and allspice, if using, in glass/ceramic storage container of at least 4 quart capacity. Cap
a trio of Christmas confections
I have my favorites. I decided not to make a dozen different kinds of cookies this year, but rather to hand-select a few of my favorites to bake for my best of friends and under-appreciated teachers. In fact, I narrowed it down to a small selection of yumminess. The chosen few—I knew—were sure to please. I would be giddy happy if someone handed me a tiny little, twine-wrapped box of … [more]
Gifts from your Kitchen (plus: recipe for candied chipolte pecans)
I am lucky to be on the Top 50 blogs for www.delish.com… [more]
. It is a fantastic network of online food and lifestyle content (Hearst Magazines and MSFT). I love browsing their slides of ideas—if ever I need inspiration for carving a pumpkin, making quick holiday appetizers or creating gifts from my kitchen DELISH is a worthy resource. Check it out for yourself: a series of 23 slides to peekmake your own vanilla extract.
I confess this is just one more reason I love jars… [more]… and making fun food-inspired gifts for my friends. Could this one really be that easy? How did it take this long for me to start making my own vanilla extract? Synonymous with ‘where have you been all my life?’ I have a hunch I will never go back… to buying super expensive bottles of vanilla extract from nearby
make your own Italian herb blend
I love herb blends! Here I am, situated in Italy—with no thyme. (Couldn’t resist the cheesy pun, however, I actually haven’t found fresh thyme easy to find in Tuscany). I love thyme, as does Mario Batali… [more]
in his Italian Cookbook (Molto Italiano). That might feel like a side-note to you, but it is my main thumb-through cookbook during this year-abroad-in-Florence. So when one of his recipes calls for freshItalian Herb Blend
In Florence and around Tuscany, you can buy packages of [dried] herb blends at butcher shops, grocers, farmer markets and even souvenir shops. There are 2-3 varieties that consistently show up at the register, on a nearby shelf or in cute little 3 packs to take home for your friends—a little gift from your trip to Italy.
This easy little blend, I use often. I can go to any butcher,… [more]
5 last-minute gifts to make (from your kitchen)
It is almost too late to post about food gifts… [more]
for this Christmas… except that you might want to give some last minute gifts to teachers, friends and hostesses—especially gifts that are unexpected and show how much you appreciate someone.Many of these are so easy to put together, and if you are like me with a smaller budget this year: you can spend more time making something with your
Mahi RUB
Oh dear. Apparently I have a recent affinity for rubs. It isn’t that they are new to me, but most likely because I find them 1. tasty, 2. efficient, and 3. perfect little gifts.
They are tasty because they add layers of flavor to any number of proteins. Or you can toss a teaspoon or two of a spice rub into some olive oil to make a quick marinade or… [more]
default dinner: 1-2-3 steak
I love this new little addition to our family default dinner… [more]
list. I bought a grill book last summer, and have primarily used it to compile rubs and massage steak accordingly. During summer that meant lots of last minute skewers, but now that it is chilly outside I typically throw the steak under the broiler. The best best best part of this entree is that I can:1. Make it.
Borrow these Thanksgiving Recipes:
It is here! The week of Thanksgiving, where you stock your fridge and pantry and start making food. I just made this Brandied Cranberry Sauce, brimming with notes of orange (recipe follows). It keeps for days in the fridge.
If you haven’t figured out your whole menu, or are looking for last minute inspiration or simply some table-top adjustments, perhaps browsing my list of recipes will prove useful (click on… [more]
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