Gingered Pumpkin-Pear Soup Recipe

I was lamenting that I had lost this recipe forever.  I cut it out of a magazine in the 1998 and couldn’t find it for a couple of years.  Guess what. I found it in a bag of stuff in the basement, which is a good thing because this is the best soup ever.  The [...]

Gingersnap Egg Nog Martini Recipe

Thanks to bostonkayakguy for this great holiday martini I found on his blog!  I taste-tested it and give it five stars!  Warning: it’s lethal.  One drink and you will not be able to feel your lips   Have a designated driver handy. GINGERSNAP  EGG NOG  MARTINI The ingredients: 1 ounce Canton Ginger Liqueur, 1/2 ounce [...]

Holiday Libations

Ah, the holidays.  I like to have people over, and you know what everyone asks to drink?  Water.  So, if you’re having a get-together, I recommend stocking up on plenty of bottled water (like Pellegrino) and lime slices, which everyone seems to like.  But some will also partake of wine and non-alcoholic beverages, so here [...]

Dinner Tonight: Taco Salad

So, by now I imagine you’re ready for a quick meal that doesn’t involve turkey or roast beef!  Here’s a vegetarian solution that’s ready quickly. I’ve listed my favorite brands for this recipe, but you can swap any of your favorites and get similar results.  You will need (all are available at Safeway) Lime juice [...]

How to Enjoy the Holidays without Gaining (Much) Weight

Holiday parties and dinners present all kinds of options.  I think all foods are fine in moderation.  The trick is moderation!  Here are some tricks for enjoying food in moderation, if, like me, you tend to over-indulge and pack on pounds… Don’t skip meals on the day of the party. You know what a beast [...]

Success Tips for Holiday Cookie Baking

I’ve discovered a few tricks and gadgets that are making my holiday cookie baking much more successful this year. Parchment paper. Most of my cookie recipes call for an ungreased cookie sheet.  This year, I’m lining my cookie sheet with parchment paper. I just discovered how much easier it is making my cookie-baking.  A sheet [...]

Recipe: Low-Fat Sweet Potato Casserole

I found this in First Magazine several years ago.  Try this instead of the marshmallow version to save calories and fat grams. 3 medium sized sweet potatoes (about 1-1/2 lb.), pared and cut into chunks 2 large baking apples (about 1 lb.), cored and cut into wedges 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 cup firmly packed brown [...]

Cool Yule Recipes: Cheese and Crackers!

Here are some delicious ways to enjoy Triscuit crackers (or any delicious cracker) during the holidays. Cream Cheese Christmas Tree (from Sylvia the Gift Shop Lady at Graves Mountain).  Take a block of cream cheese and shape it into a Christmas Tree (you can make a triangle).  Pour 1 jar of Graves Mountain green pepper [...]

Cool Yule Recipe: Now Bring Us A Figgy Pasta!

Figs and gorgonzola just taste like the holidays to me.  I love this pasta dish recipe from Valley Fig Growers and it is easy to make.  Once, I used bow tie pasta instead of orzo and it was just as good.  This sits well on a buffet and is a nice dish to bring to [...]

Recipe: Christmas Bark Candy

This is one of the easiest and most-impressive looking confections you can make during the holidays.  Melt the contents of a bag of white chocolate chips in the microwave (careful, it burns easily) or in a sauce pan (or over a double boiler, if you have one).   Spread the melted confection on waxed paper.  Sprinkle [...]