spritz blitz Don’t ask me what “spritz” means, but I think essentially a spritz cookie is just a butter cookie, shaped and done up however tickles your fancy! This was one of my favorite cookies as a kid, I think because my grandma would make them in these fun shapes and they were always sprinkled …
handmade is better I don’t know if it’s even possible to be Ukrainian without loving pierogies. And it’s not even just the fact that they’re made up of fluffy, savory potato or cabbage filling swaddled in a tender blanket of dough, but it’s also the feeling of nostalgia and familiarity that comes with eating and …
cheery, merry, and berries Let me just say that when I drink a cocktail, I tend to like it pretty stiff. Not straight liquor, but also no foo-foo drinks for me. This holiday cocktail is like a festive twist on a classic negroni. It incorporates gin, vermouth, and Campari, with a little juicy splash of …
pining for pignolis These Italian Christmas cookies are a real treat. They’re easy to make, but they feature one of the most coveted and tasty of nuts–pine nuts (or pinolis in Italian). They can be pricey, and this recipe uses a whole lot of them, but I think the holiday season calls for a little …
in seventh heaven This is one of my favorite Christmas cookie recipe, and I honestly can’t think of a single year in my life when we didn’t have these on our cookie platter. The nice thing is they’re super easy to make, and the result is gooey, delicious bite-sized cookies. The recipe only requires–you guessed …
persimply delicious When I see something in the produce section at my grocery store that isn’t always there, I snatch it up immediately. Usually that means it’s in season and not for very long. One of these said produce items is persimmon. I can’t say I’m the biggest connoisseur of the late autumn fruit, they …
a punch of pom I always want to like holiday cocktails, but the truth is they’re usually just too sweet for me. I can only really stomach cocktails if they’re very low on the sweetness and have a nice citrus or herbal flavor. I really love a good mule, with it’s fresh and gingery flavor, …
a piece of the pie Pecan pie was never my favorite during the holidays, but I think I might be turning a new leaf on it. Especially after making these pecan pie bars. It’s a simplified and mess-free approach to making pie, and the result is an ooey, gooey delicious dessert. These are very easy …
a cranberry jewel When it comes to holiday sauces and sides, I’ve never been much for cranberry sauce. Generally, I think it’s too sweet and has a consistency that’s too close to jelly. I do, however, love a good salsa, so what’s been stopping us from taking fresh cranberries and making a good salsa out …
it’s not all gravy, baby Sometimes gravy gives me the ick, but this mushroom sauce is definitely not gravy. Sure, it has the similar methods and the same utility as gravy, but this sauce is delicious and it’s a keeper. Not to mention an absolute staple on my Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve dinner table. This …