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 …
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 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 …
there’s always a hot take on thanksgiving food My Thanksgiving hot take is that I hate traditional stuffing. It’s usually super dry and kind of flavorless. I don’t like big chunks of bread, and I definitely don’t like anything that comes out of a box. However, there’s one type of stuffing that I look forward …
when the French won the potato war Gratin dauphinois is an incredible Thanksgiving (or any holiday) side dish. It’s not the most traditional, and I certainly didn’t grow up eating potatoes this way at my family Thanksgiving feast. It wasn’t until I started making Thanksgiving dinner with my French husband that he suggested this dish …
let the festivities begin One of my absolute favorite fall-time vegetables is Brussels sprouts. They’re hearty, you can eat the cooked or raw, and there are so many fun and festive ways you can dress them up. Every year I love trying a new Brussels recipe with different ingredients and flavors. Last year I did …