'Recipes'

As the end of the year comes rushing at us, completing our annual cycle, I feel the need to simplify. I think the holiday overwhelm always makes me feel this way, so why complicate things any more than they need to be?

You can’t go wrong with simple Champagne or sparkling wines served chilled in a tall flute to best …

A chocolate indulgence

Everyone knows they are going on a diet or will make noise about going on a diet come January 2. Before you do, considering going out with a big chocolate bang — a Mexican chocolate pudding cake for your New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day bash.

This unusual and deeply chocolate-y cake makes its own topping, …

Providing the world hasn’t ended–or isn’t in the process thereof–I thought I’d stray from the culturally expected norm of Christmas and delve a little into the natural change of seasons that happens this time of year at the Winter Solstice.

The shortest day of the year, this time marks the official beginning of winter even as the days begin …

Lemon tree very pretty
And the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon
Is impossible to eat

—chorus from Lemon Tree, as sung by Peter, Paul, & Mary

Of course there are plenty of people who love the tart pucker-power of fresh lemons. There are probably just as many, though, that enjoy this yellow citrus in …

Cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s that time of the year — Hot Cocoa time. Who doesn’t like hot cocoa? That’s what I thought, nobody. The KRUPS people sent me some ideas for hot cocoa and they were so enticing, I thought I would share. You can use your favorite hot cocoa recipe. Most …

When it comes to honoring other culture’s holy days with something as potentially flippant as a cocktail tribute, you have to walk a fine line between humor and reverence. So I’m going to apologize now for the very bad pun I’m about to make.

Most people know that Hanukkah is the Jewish celebration of the night when they had only …

From 1920 to 1933, the United States was technically dry, minus a few loopholes and a helluva lot of bootleggers.

See, the temperance movement thought that many of society’s ills would be cured if drinking were just outlawed. And even though President Wilson tried to veto it, Congress used their 2/3 vote to overrule him and they signed the 18th …

Our oven quit 3 hours before dinner on Thanksgiving day.

Oh, yes, friends, it was one of those holidays.

Strange thing is, the oven worked fine that morning. I’d gotten up in time to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as I prepped the sweet potato pie, cornbread for dressing, and chicken stock (also for the dressing).

About noon I …