by Anne Papina on December 30, 2012
Sometimes these last two weeks of December feel like one long party. Heck, I think we may have been partying all month this year. Speaking of parties, one of my favorite treats during the holidays is my mom’s pizza. I’m not really sure why we save this for December as it’s good all year ’round, but it probably has something to do with parties and needing to feed a crowd. Traditionally, we have this pizza for dinner on Christmas Eve (along with martinis). A quick dinner means we’ll get to open presents sooner! Pizza and martinis. This pizza is also most excellent the next morning, cold, with a cup of coffee. That’s probably my favorite way to enjoy pizza. I mean, what could be better than pizza and coffee for breakfast, right?
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by Anne Papina on December 25, 2012
It’s the wee hours of Christmas morning, and my mom’s house is mostly quiet, finally–bellies are full from a big ham dinner, and everyone is tuckered out from the frenzied gift opening that followed. Oh, and then there was some additional grazing. We worked up an appetite, ya know. Now, all the shiny new gadgets are tucked away, at least until the morning, and the living room floor is a maze of air mattresses and sleeping bags, like a good old-fashioned slumber party.
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by Anne Papina on December 16, 2012
Last weekend Morgan and I hosted our annual holiday party–something we look forward to every year. Certainly, there’s nothing like enjoying the good company of family and friends. We are, after all, very social creatures. So, when the #SundaySupper crew announced a holiday party theme for this weekend, I dove in. This week I have the pleasure of serving up five appetizers that are sure to tickle your taste buds: Spiced Pecans, Mini Sweet Potato Frittatas, Sour Cream Dip Florentine, Pesto Brie en Croute, and Bacon Cheese Toasts. Plus below is an assortment of beverages and even more appetizers from the rest of the #SundaySupper team.
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by Anne Papina on December 9, 2012
Yesterday we had our annual holiday shindig, and this week totally escaped me! So I’m going to keep this one short and sweet. This week’s #SundaySupper is all about the Ultimate Holiday Cookie Exchange–with over 50 cookie recipes to tempt your taste buds below. My contribution is these boozy, chocolatey Spiced Rum Balls, which are melt-in-your-mouth good.
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by Anne Papina on December 2, 2012
In case you haven’t heard, Frank DeCaro’s new cookbook, The Dead Celebrity Cookbook Presents Christmas in Tinseltown
, has hit the shelves, and can I just tell you what an entertaining cookbook this is? Since I tend to collect cookbooks and love Christmas movies, this was right up my alley. More than a collection of recipes, though, DeCaro digs into the past, filling the pages with tidbits about some of our favorite holiday movies and the stars who played in them. I mean, who knew that Vera-Ellen’s voice was dubbed in White Christmas? Or that Bennie Haynes, the “dog-faced boy” who appears momentarily in a snapshot, was Alfalfa from Our Gang? Just from the White Christmas crew alone we get recipes such as Danny Kaye’s Stir-Fried Oysters and Shrimp; Bing Crosby’s Sugar Cookies; and of course, Rosemary Clooney’s Viennese Goulash.
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by Anne Papina on November 25, 2012
Have you ever gotten a song stuck in your head to the point of distraction? I really just wanted to get into the spirit of things while prepping our Thanksgiving meal, which included this luscious Kahlua Pecan Pie, and now the Andrews Sisters’ Merry Christmas Polka is swirling around in my noggin like a broken record. Apparently there’s no off button for that. Fortunately this recipe is “easy as pie” and required little concentration on my part. Funny enough, the origin of that phrase is “easy as eating pie” — but I think most would agree pies are pretty easy to make as well, especially if you start with a pre-made crust!
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by Anne Papina on November 18, 2012
In just a few short days, we’ll be stuffed to the gills and unable to even look at another bite of food. I know; I’ve been there. Many times, in fact. One of the great joys of Thanksgiving (besides the time spent with family and friends) is the food, especially the leftovers. This week’s #SundaySupper is all about making the most of your Thanksgiving leftovers, with dozens of recipes below ranging from breakfasts to desserts, and everything in between. My contribution makes good use of that leftover turkey.
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by Anne Papina on November 11, 2012
With fall being my favorite season, it’s only natural that Thanksgiving would be my favorite holiday, no? I’m not in it just for the food, I swear! But my family does put out an impressive spread. The turkey, of course, is the centerpiece of the meal. There will be garlic mashed potatoes, pan gravy, fresh rolls, and my favorite thing in the whole world, green dressing, or as we call it in Italian-American-speak, “ping.” It’s very similar to the “ping” we use to fill raviolis–a blend of spinach, fresh herbs, ground meat, and bread (when it’s getting stuffed in a bird). Any veggies gracing the table are likely there for show.
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by Anne Papina on November 4, 2012
This is one of those recipes that’s a cinch to throw together, yet admittedly, I don’t make this as often as I should. Chicken Cacciatore’s rich aroma and flavors are borne in its simplicity. Some may remember Pollo alla Cacciatora as a relic from the 1950s’ Italian-American food scene–just add drippy candles and a bottle of chianti wrapped in a straw basket, and you’re all set. But it’s still a staple in Italian homes and probably considered a timeless classic.
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by Anne Papina on October 28, 2012
I only discovered this recently, but Ossi di Morti, or bones of the dead cookies, are one of my mom’s favorite treats. How did I not know this? Apparently, my grandfather would often make the trek to North Beach in San Francisco and return with these cookies from Victoria Pastry for his girls. Sorta like the story in the Italian nursery rhyme my mom always sang, Batti le Manine. Although these cookies are traditionally meant to be part of the All Saints Day/All Souls Day celebrations, these were an everyday treat for my family. Crunchy and rich from the meringue style base, dotted with hazelnuts and almonds, it’s easy to see why.
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