making life delicious blog
Eggnog is one of my family’s favorite holiday traditions. We drink it starting at Thanksgiving and all the way to New Year’s Eve. I like the traditional thick and creamy eggnogs, and as long as I don’t drink too much of it I will indulge a few times throughout the season. For those who want [...]
Polish krupnik staropolski is a traditional honey-spiced liqueur typically served during Wigilia, the Christmas Eve meal. Small glasses are passed around with hot, peppery krupnik, which will warm you up quickly. Family recipes may be passed down through the generations and vary widely, with up to 50 different spices.
Breakfast is one of our favorite things about Christmas day. We sit down together later in the morning after all the presents have been unwrapped but before Michael and the boys begin work on assembling toys, and enjoy a hot breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls, scones, pancakes, cranberry apple French toast, panettone, or waffles. These [...]
Making cakes for Christmas is a tradition that goes almost as far back as the holiday itself, and every family has their own favorite for celebrating. Here are some of our favorite types of Christmas cakes, and we hope you’ll share your favorites in the comments, too. Michael’s family makes prune cake, a moist, dense [...]
With so many parties and gatherings during the holidays, it’s nice to bring a homemade hostess gift or a little something to share with everyone or something unique to take to the neighborhood cookie swap. These are some of my favorite homemade gifts for the holidays, and I hope you’ll share your favorite homemade Christmas [...]
The week after Thanksgiving, Monkey Boy asked me, “Mommy, is Thanksgiving over?” “Yes,” I answered. He jumped up and down and shouted, “That means it’s Cookie Season!” A boy after my own heart. In the spirit of Cookie, ahem, Christmas Season, we’re sharing our top five favorite Christmas cookies (with input from the whole family), [...]
Ticonderoga Farms began their Christmas tree destination 50 years ago, so this is a very special time of year for the farm. They start their celebration the weekend after Thanksgiving with breakfast with Santa and of course cut your own Christmas tree. They grow White Pines, Weymouth Pines (aka Virginia Pine), Scotch Pine, Red Cedar, [...]
When it comes to big holiday feasts, one oven just isn’t enough, and I always find myself trying to sort out the intricate timing of turkey, stuffing, rolls, and any roasted or baked vegetables. I sit down with recipes and a schedule and plan it all out. If the turkey is done too early, it [...]
For years Michael has been telling me about the Easter bread his mother made, and for years I’ve been trying to obtain the recipe. I finally succeeded in getting two recipes: one from his mother, a scan of a page taken from an unknown cook book over 50 years ago; and the other from his [...]
I grew up on pork, as did both my parents, though by the time my parents met and got married their families were no longer raising pigs. Dad’s family raised pigs when he was younger and did the butchering at Thanksgiving. They would salt the meat down for six weeks and then hang it for [...]
It's spring in the U.S. and the following foods may be in season in your area:
artichokes, fennel, fiddleheads, radishes, broccoli, rhubarb, kale, cresses, spinach, spring lettuces, chard, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collards, tatsoi, mustard greens, spring onions, asparagus, rosemary, wild garlic, ramps, strawberries, blueberries, cherries
Eat fresh seasonal produce to stay healthy and help your food budget.Learn more about seasonal and sustainable cooking at Sustainable Table - In the Kitchen.
