• Mulled apple cider mocktail
    Drinks

    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…

  • Quick pickles with ginger
    Food

    Overnight Quick Pickles with Ginger

    A homemade touch makes a simple picnic or impromptu feast all the more tasty. Rather than reaching for a jar of pickles at the market, pick up some mini cucumbers and fresh ginger, then make your own quick pickles overnight in the refrigerator with the help of some pantry staples. The resultant flavor is fresh and vibrant, plus it doesn’t require any special canning equipment. Certainly you can allow these pickles to sit in the brine longer than overnight, but I love being able to make them one day and enjoy them the next. While I enjoy pickled vegetables, I have never had an interest in the canning process, and…

  • Gingerbread with powdered sugar
    Baking

    Gingerbread Loaf

    If you’re going to make a gingerbread loaf, I say use the fresh version of the namesake ingredient instead of the ground. Finely grated ginger and its juices wend their way throughout the batter, imparting a bit more warmth without overpowering the overall flavor. As the oven heats up the spices and molasses too, your house will smell more and more like the holidays. Ingredients 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ½ cup milk ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses (not blackstrap) 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger ¼ cup canola oil 6 tablespoons unsalted butter…

  • Food

    Clementine Chicken

    Flavor-packed sauces are the key to making delicious stir-fry. In this recipe, sweet yet tangy clementine juice and fresh ginger complement the savoriness of sesame oil, garlic, and hoisin. Cooked until thickened and bubbly, the sauce hits all the right sweet, sour, and umami notes. Since clementine chicken is quick to cook, it makes an excellent choice for a weeknight dinner. There are times when we all need to put a meal on the table fast, but that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice flavor. Prepare for this quick and delicious meal by mixing the sauce ingredients the night before and letting them sit in the refrigerator. While you are…