Nothing says “Christmas!” like an old-fashioned gingerbread house, and this year, we’re going all out! These cookies are the ideal canvas for all sorts of decorative touches. The dough can be made and baked off in advance and stored in an airtight container until ready to decorate or finish. Use […]
Don’t Panic, It’s Just a Holiday Party
Reminders from a Reformed Over-Thinker Entertaining season is upon us, and there’s no time left to ruminate about the finer points of throwing a top-notch party. If you’re in the weeds (chef-speak for very overwhelmed!), here are some reminders to help you entertain like a person who has had plenty […]
Eggnog Bundt Cake
Makes one 9-inch loaf cake This recipe makes enough batter for one large bundt cake or one 9-inch loaf pan. If your bundt pan or loaf pans are on the smaller side, fill the pan about 2/3 of the way full. You can transfer any remaining batter to another cake […]
English Toffee
Makes one 10×15-inch sheet
Fried Calamari
Makes 6 small-bite servings Any place where squid swim you will find a different version of fried calamari. Be sure to rinse and dry the squid thoroughly before seasoning it. You can use both the tubes and the tentacles, but you may want to fry them separately. Sprinkle with sea […]
Gingerbread: History on Display
“And I had but one pennie in the world, thou should’st have it to buy Gingerbread” -Costard in Love’s Labour’s Lost, William Shakespeare c. 1598 When I was a child, one of my favorite holiday traditions was when my family and I would visit Mystic Seaport in Stonington, Connecticut for […]
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
Makes one pie, 8 servings Gluten-Free Pie Crust Pie Filling
Holiday Care Packages
The holidays look a little different this year, but luckily, an interruption in tradition doesn’t have to mean an absence of celebration! You may not be able to join together with your loved ones in person, but with just a little planning, you can craft a curated care package to […]
Holiday Gifting…for the Dogs!
There are two types of people in this world: people who give presents to dogs and people who do not. If you fall in the “do not gift presents to dogs” column, the following content may not appeal to you. If you do give presents to dogs, welcome to our […]
Holiday Hygge
If there has ever been a time to embrace the Scandinavian concept of “hygge,” now is certainly it. Hygge, pronounced hue-gah, is a Danish word that generally means cozy, intimate, or special, and it is used to identify small moments of comfort and contentment in the everyday. It can’t be […]
Hot Chocolate
Makes 4 to 6 cups In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Let it rest for about 2 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt. Stir until all of the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. If […]
How to Serve Cocktails for Your Holiday Crowd, from a CIA Beverage Expert
Upon reading the title, you may be thinking: “It’s a few weeks before the holiday, and I just started to write my shopping list. I still have to fight the crowds at the grocery store, to then go home and start preparing the meal. Now you want me to make […]
