All Posts Tagged With: "2008 holidays"

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Pumpkin Tart: Two Ways, with Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Ann, this post is for you. Over the past week I’ve tried my hand at two different pumpkin tarts. They are both equally good. Both tarts feature that soft, almost sugar cookie-like crust that is not too sweet, and a smooth, creamy pumpkin filling, flavored with just the right amount of spice. The topping is [...]

21Nov2008 | | 4 comments | Continued
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Chocolate Mousse Dream Cake

I’m a big fan of this one. Dense, flourless chocolate cake is topped with a light, creamy milk chocolate mousse, then drenched in bittersweet chocolate glaze. The entire delight is kept in the freezer, which surprisingly keeps all the layers at just the right texture. This dessert is best served within a few minutes of removing it [...]

20Nov2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Cranberry Crumble Tart

Forget eating cranberries as a side dish. Have them for dessert in this cheery tart. Cinnamon and orange zest help celebrate the taste of cranberries. The cranberries turn into an oozy bubbling garnet mixture as they bake beneath the sweet crumble topping. While they are still sweet-tart in taste, the buttery flaky crust and the [...]

20Nov2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Basic Pie & Tart Crusts

I never was a huge pie fan until I started making my own and I could control the crust. I know that’s a very food snobbish thing to say, but I say this with complete innocence! I like crusts to be tender, flaky, subtle- the real prize to a pie or tart is the filling. [...]

18Nov2008 | | 5 comments | Continued
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Mini Bourbon-Macadamia Nut Pies

Tiny, portable, cute. About the size of a muffin, these little nut pies ooze holiday charm. First of all, it’s nut pie season. Can you recall any other time of year when people eat them with passion, and not guilt? To step it up even more, these pies are made with macadamia nuts, an upgrade from [...]

12Nov2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Cookie Exchange: Crinkle Cookies

I did a little baking this weekend and these are the result: Spicy Ginger Crinkle Cookies and Cocoa-Coffee Crinkles. I love the way crinkle cookies look. It’s also easy to tell when they are done because they will start to crack. If you’re looking for the perfect recipe to bring to a cookie exchange, I suggest a crinkle [...]

10Nov2008 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Pears in Nightshirts

For this dessert, pears take center stage. Sometimes we forget how wonderful the simplicity of fruit is. While delicious on its own, fruit can also be beautifully dressed up with only a few ingredients. These pears are cooked in pear juice, water, and a little bit of sugar until they are soft and tender, then surrounded in a [...]

9Nov2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Snowball

This cocktail is perfectly fitting for the holidays. With a powdered sugar rim, slushy consistency, and snow white color, this cocktail lives up to its name. Slightly reminiscent of a White Russian, cinnamon sticks and coffee beans are heated with cream, then left to steep for half an hour. The coffee beans and cinnamon sticks are strained out of [...]

9Nov2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Sugared Cranberries

Cranberries are truly beautiful. They are so simple, yet evoke so much meaning and memories. Often times they are overlooked as a Thanksgiving table staple (you know, that dish with the red glob). When making Cranberry Cornbread Muffins, I was inspired by their distinctive oval shape and shiny garnet red color. They would look beautiful [...]

7Nov2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Cranberry Corn Muffins

Another holiday favorite. Delicate corn muffins are studded with fresh cranberries for a delicious Fall twist. Enjoy them two ways: sprinkle the tops with sugar before baking for a sweeter breakfast treat, or savor the heartiness of the cornmeal and serve them alongside dinner (or Thanksgiving meal). Cranberries are in season right now, and they should [...]

7Nov2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Maple Apple Tartlets

Looking for a sophisticated but simple dessert recipe for the holidays? You’ve found it. Dozens of flaky layers provide a tender base for fanned apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon, sugar, butter, and maple syrup. As they bake, they transform from a flat sheet of dough into  puffy, elegant tartlets, while simultaneously filling your house with [...]

4Nov2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust & Praline Caramel Topping

If you aren’t ready for November take a bite of this cheesecake. This dessert has “holiday” written all over it. Its chewy and spicy gingersnap crust mingles with creamy pumpkin, and is accented with just the right amount of sweetness by a praline sauce drizzled over the top of the cheesecake. This is much more fun [...]

26Oct2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Gingerbread Muffins

Nothing tastes better than a warm muffin in the morning for breakfast. Especially when you’re used to just eating cold cereal. Imagine being greeted first by wafts of cinnamon and cloves, wondering where that wonderful smell is coming from (and maybe what it is), then stumbling through the darkness of your house into the bright, [...]

22Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued