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Mulled Apple Cider Mocktail
Cider intensifies after a simmer on the stove with cinnamon, all-spice berries, and cloves – plus a touch of orange. Chilled and paired with white tea, it becomes a refreshing mocktail that can be enjoyed any time of day. Garnishes of crystallized ginger, rosemary, and orange peel accent the flavors and keep the festivity going once all the holiday decorations are packed away. I use sprigs of rosemary as cocktails picks because they are so fragrant and cozy. White tea is light, bright, and a little bit floral depending on the variety, which makes it a great mocktail component that doesn’t tend to overwhelm fellow ingredients. Both the tea and…
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Holiday Cheese Board
Spark holiday cheer by creating a festive board brimming with an assortment of cheeses, charcuterie, and accompaniments both beautiful and delicious. When I make a cheese board, I start with the vintage wooden round seen here then build around the moment it will be served. Heading into New Year’s Eve, I thought about the sweetness to be wished for the months ahead, incorporating raspberry jam, deep honey, blackberries, and gorgonzola dolce, which has a buttery sweetness. Aged gouda lends its own hint of butterscotch while truffle-laced pecorino and herb-crusted salami offer bold richness. As you build a holiday cheese board, here are tips on what to include and how to…
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Gingerbread Cookies
Ring in the holiday season with a batch of my classic gingerbread cookies, with patterns that fit your holiday mood. Snowflakes, trees, and a scattering of stars filled my baking racks over the weekend while I made the season’s first batch of homemade Christmas cookies. Since my family always made gingerbread without icing, I decorate the centers of each cookie with cut-out patterns so each one is unique. Save plenty of the little shapes and bake them to serve alongside the larger cookies. With warm spices and rich flavor, these cookies lend festivity to the table with their cheerful designs. Once you get into a merry rhythm of rolling and…
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Cranberry Curd Tarts
A vibrant filling surrounded by a festive wreath of pastry crust make these individual cranberry curd tarts destined for the holiday table. Since the braided edges and hand-cut leaves are unique to each tart, they make a beautiful presentation with details we celebrate even more this time of year. Sprinkle on some raw sugar for a bit of holiday sparkle. Certainly these tarts can be made without a decorative crust, and they will be just as delicious. If you would like to make ones similar to those pictured, I have included tips below. As with the crust details, the size of the individual desserts can be adjusted based on the…
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Wheat Berry Salad with Roasted Squash, Spinach and Pear
Finally there is a chill to the air, and we can settle into my favorite part of autumn, the stretch leading up to Thanksgiving. The leaves have been whipping around my yard, and blustery days have me craving heartier salads with ingredients such as those in this wheat berry recipe. Roasted Honeynut squash and pear deliver peak fall flavors while the wheat berries themselves lend the characteristic nutty, slightly chewy texture that give this grain salad the substance we seek as coats and mittens slowly become essential. Freshly made, this vegan dish can be enjoyed warm or room temperature and makes a great Thanksgiving side. Ahead of her time in…
