Holidays

Happy Easter! We’re not terribly religious around here, but we do take time to celebrate the major holidays, Easter being one of our favorites. This week’s #SundaySupper is all about the holiday feast, and Alaiyo over at Pescetarian Journal is hosting. Occasions such as this bring the family together and deserve a special meal, so […]

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It was in the wee hours of Christmas morning that my mother awoke to a stirring in the living room, followed by the exclamation, “Oh, Marvel! You did come!” The year was 1969, and at four, I was thoroughly obsessed with horses already. Of course, in San Francisco, you can’t actually keep a horse in […]

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Double Chocolate Sablés #TwelveDaysofSanta

by Anne Papina on December 17, 2013

Looks can sometimes be deceiving. Take, for instance, these cookies. At first glance, they might seem a bit, oh I don’t know, simple. But they’re chocolate, so you take one. Then with that first bite, you’re hit with a burst of chocolate so intense, you wonder how all that flavor got packed into such a […]

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Frosted Ricotta Cookies #TwelveDaysofSanta

by Anne Papina on December 5, 2013

With all the kneading, shaping, rolling, cutting of the last few weeks, these Ricotta Cookies are a nice change of pace. Sometimes there’s nothing better than a drop cookie. Sure, the frosting is an extra step, but guess what? They’re good without the frosting too! If you’re looking for something a little different this year, […]

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Viennese Crescents (Kipfel) #TwelveDaysofSanta

by Anne Papina on December 1, 2013

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, the holiday season is in full swing. That means baking. Lots of baking. As you know, I’ve been pretty busy in the kitchen these last couple of weeks. First there were the Spritz Cookies, then the Pepparkakor (ginger snaps), followed by the Cinnamon Stars (zimtsterne), and of course the […]

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Russian Tea Cakes #TwelveDaysofSanta

by Anne Papina on November 26, 2013

I think it’s safe to say, no Christmas cookie platter would be complete without a smattering of these little gems–Russian Tea Cakes. The cookies are a form of jumble, which has been around since the Middle ages. They’re dense and buttery, very similar to shortbread; however, they’re rolled into balls, and dipped in powdered sugar, […]

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Italian-American Turkey Dressing #SundaySupper

by Anne Papina on November 24, 2013

It seems hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a few days away–are you ready? I’m not! You probably figure I’ve forgotten all about turkey day considering all the Christmas cookies I’ve been baking lately, but nothing could be further from the truth. Once I get Thanksgiving on the brain, all thoughts turn to the […]

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Switzerland may be the land of sweet confections, but it’s not all about the chocolate come Christmas. Depending on where you are, customs  can be influenced by German, Italian, or French holiday traditions. In searching for something that could represent the country as a whole, I came across these Cinnamon Stars, which are largely a […]

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Pepparkakor #TwelveDaysofSanta

by Anne Papina on November 20, 2013

Gingerbread is practically synonymous with Christmas, and nothing quite beats that aroma wafting through the house. Whether it’s in the form of a gingerbread cake, a funny little man, or a house, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it. And in Sweden, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Pepparkakor–a crisp, thin cookie/biscuit spiced with ginger, cinnamon, […]

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Spritz Cookies #TwelveDaysofSanta

by Anne Papina on November 15, 2013

Let the baking begin! What better way to get into the spirit of the holiday season than to whip up some Christmas cookies? I know, it’s early, but if you get a jump on the baking frenzy now, you can stash them in the freezer so they’re ready for gift giving at a moment’s notice. […]

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