This cream cheese sugar cookie dough is my mother’s recipe. We used it every year to make Christmas cookies. I could be imagining but I think the recipe originally was on a stained index card printed from a typewriter. The egg yolk and cream cheese make a rich dough that is never dry or crumbly. When…
CITRUS FRENCH TOAST
Every Christmas Eve before bed my mom preps French toast for Christmas Day breakfast. This make-ahead French toast sits overnight and cooks entirely in the oven, allowing you time to open presents, prepare other morning treats or a leisurely cup of coffee! You can also make the Cranberry Ginger Compote in advance or cook it while the French…
CRATE COOKING CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST
With all the menu planning, Pinterest pinning, grocery lists and shopping that go into hosting a holiday dinner it’s easy to forget about breakfast. You don’t have to go overdo it to make a special breakfast. My mother, every year, makes French toast for Christmas breakfast. It’s the perfect dish to make for a morning occasion…
OVEN ROASTED BACON
I don’t care how snobby this sounds but microwaved bacon is a tragedy. I’ll never discuss politics on this site, but I have to voice my opinion on matters of bacon. Yet I understand why people do it – less mess, hands-free cooking to name a few. Oven cooked bacon is great for those same…
BROWN BUTTER SWEET POTATO MASH
When it comes to mashed potatoes I prefer them a little lumpy and just mixed. The same goes for this sweet potato mash. Beginning with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, I mix them briefly in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (you could use a potato masher instead but the mixer makes it easier on your…
BRUSSELS SPROUTS GRATIN
Cooking Brussels sprouts is sometimes challenging. I find boiling makes them water logged and mushy and pan sautéing leaves them a bit too al dente. But roasting, on the other hand, cooks the sprouts evenly and is my preferred method because the oven does all the work. For this dish I par-cook the Brussels sprouts…
DECEMBER GRANOLA
I call this December granola because it includes so many of the flavors I associate with holiday baking – tart cranberries, toasted pecans, sweet maple syrup and citrusy orange zest. Granola is great for the holiday season because you can make large batches of it in advance for snacking or gift-giving (it’s so pretty in…
THREE WAYS: APPLESAUCE
Applesauce is one of my favorite items to cook weekly during the fall and winter. It’s easy to make a big batch and it stores well in both the refrigerator and freezer. Perfect as a simple snack or a purée for babies and toddlers, applesauce pairs wonderfully with pork and chicken dishes and is also…
CRANBERRY APPLESAUCE
Quite often farmers markets sell bags of “seconds” – fruit that is bruised or blemished at a discounted price – which is my favorite for making applesauce. Since you’re cooking the fruit down completely a few bruises are fine. Instead of sugar I add fresh cider and orange juice to naturally sweeten the tart cranberries. You…
ROSEMARY APPLESAUCE
Quite often farmers markets sell bags of “seconds” – fruit that is bruised or blemished at a discounted price – which is my favorite for making applesauce. Since you’re cooking the fruit down completely a few bruises are fine. Rosemary, a very powerful, woody herb may sound like a strange ingredient to pair with applesauce…