Countries all over the world indulge in fruited holiday breads and cakes like the Italian Panettone, German Stollen, and American Fruitcake. The Czech Republic’s version called Vánočka is no exception. While called a cake, this simple Czech Christmas delight is a lightly sweetened, buttery, enriched, brioche-style yeast bread scented with nutmeg and dotted with driedContinue reading “Elegant Czech Vánočka: Beautiful Bread for the Holidays”
Author Archives: Summer
Addicting Finnish Pinwheels: Elegant but Simple Fruit-Filled Sugar Cookies
Cookies or mini tarts? Finnish fruit-filled pinwheels are tasty, sweet treats, perfect for the holidays. This version made with a tender shortbread artistic cookie dough and dollops of sweet homemade dried fruit filling is a must try. While prune filling is traditional, you can use your favorite dried fruit instead like cranberries, cherries, blueberries, dates,Continue reading “Addicting Finnish Pinwheels: Elegant but Simple Fruit-Filled Sugar Cookies”
Holiday Vegetarian Tamales: Gluten-Free, Vegan & Meat Friendly
Tamales are like the perfect Christmas dish. They can be wrapped like a present and tied off with corn husks like a bow. You can fill masa dough with red and green ingredients like tomatoes, scallions, zucchini, and cilantro (or parsley). Serve them with red or green tomato or tomatillo salsa and green guacamole withContinue reading “Holiday Vegetarian Tamales: Gluten-Free, Vegan & Meat Friendly”
How to Remove Pomegranate Seeds (Arils): 2 Easy Methods
Pomegranates contain beautiful ruby red seeds known as arils, the only part of the pomegranate you can eat. Crunchy, fruity, nutty, and nutritious easily characterize those gorgeous ruby red babes. They add color, flavor, nutrients, and texture to salads, appetizers, beverages, sauces, glazes, desserts, and make a wonderful healthy snack. This post highlights two easyContinue reading “How to Remove Pomegranate Seeds (Arils): 2 Easy Methods”
Holiday Rolled Baklava: Wonderful Spices, Pistachios, Pomegranate, & Orange
The smell, taste, and look of the holidays rolled into a sticky, crunchy, sweet confection does more than tickle your senses. My holiday rolled baklava recipe focuses on holiday flavors to include pistachios, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, brown sugar, and orange zest rolled in layers of buttered phyllo dough and coated in a honey-orangeContinue reading “Holiday Rolled Baklava: Wonderful Spices, Pistachios, Pomegranate, & Orange”
Holiday Spiced Squash & Cranberry Muffins: Wonderful Sweet & Fruity Bread
Warm spices, squash, and cranberries are significant flavors during the holidays. We usually have a week of guests during Thanksgiving, so I always make scones, muffins, and cinnamon rolls for our breakfasts. In light of the season, I really wanted to create a muffin recipe using my winter garden squash, warm spices, a sweet crunchyContinue reading “Holiday Spiced Squash & Cranberry Muffins: Wonderful Sweet & Fruity Bread”
My Grandma’s Coveted Crispy Crust Moist Skillet Cornbread
Another one of my southern grandma’s was best known for her crispy crust, moist skillet cornbread. I recall many New Year’s Days growing up eating it with a bowl of her vegetable soup and black-eyed peas with a side of hog jowl for luck. While many people have their own cornbread recipe, I find myContinue reading “My Grandma’s Coveted Crispy Crust Moist Skillet Cornbread”
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls: Just as Ooey, Gooey, & Satisfying
Cinnamon rolls are so divine that heaven must be filled with them. When I wasn’t eating gluten for a while, I created a gluten-free yeast roll recipe, mainly with the hopes of turning it into an incredibly tasty cinnamon roll. I’m happy to say… mission accomplished. Reality is, how can you go wrong with butter,Continue reading “Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls: Just as Ooey, Gooey, & Satisfying”
Canadian Tourtière: A Christmas Meat Pie Full of Holiday Spices & Herbs
The Canadian Tourtière is a hearty, savory mixed-meat pie full of traditional French herbs and warm holiday spices bound together with mashed potatoes and enveloped in a buttery, flaky double-crust pie crust. What could be more satisfying in both flavor and indulgence during the holidays? Canadian “Tourtière” Meaning The French word tourtière derives from theContinue reading “Canadian Tourtière: A Christmas Meat Pie Full of Holiday Spices & Herbs”
Gluten-Free Yeast Rolls: Interesting Rice Flour to Flour Mix Comparison
A homemade yeast roll hot out of the oven slathered with butter is my favorite bread, particularly during the holidays. For several years, I didn’t eat any gluten, and as a bread lover, I was determined to create a yeast roll recipe I could enjoy. I’m sharing with you two gluten-free yeast rolls. One includesContinue reading “Gluten-Free Yeast Rolls: Interesting Rice Flour to Flour Mix Comparison”